LEADING OFF: Hamilton vs Angels; Kershaw tries to break skid

The Texas Rangers and the Los Angeles Angels face off on Saturday in Arlington in game two of their MLB series of American League West teams.

“I’m trying to do what I did my first outing and balls aren’t falling where I want them to”, Gonzalez said. “I’m in Texas now”, he said.

Hamilton and other Rangers players will wear special gear for their Fourth of July game against the Angels.

Hamilton said he asked Dipoto and team president John Carpino multiple times when he was struggling if he could meet with Moreno and let the owner know he was working hard to get better. “We have a good game plan going into it and we try to stick with it. It really comes down to me executing pitches”. He responded to the trouble in the sixth by shutting down Texas in the seventh and retiring the first two hitters of the eighth before Scioscia pulled him after Fielder’s second base hit.

“We did a great job getting guys on”, said Angels manager Mike Scioscia.

The Angels traded Hamilton after an offseason that included shoulder surgery and a self-reported substance abuse relapse.

Asked about when the Rangers go to Los Angeles for a series in three weeks, Hamilton said his focus has been on coming back from his hamstring injury. The 2010 AL MVP played only two seasons with the Angels after signing a $125 million, five-year deal during free agency after the 2012 season. “I had a great group of guys in Anaheim”.

Scioscia’s tone was a bit different before Friday’s game, when the Angels played their first road game since the resignation this week of general manager Jerry Dipoto.

Right-hander Nefali Feliz, the closer for both of the Rangers’ World Series appearances, was designated for assignment after throwing two scoreless innings. Los Angeles RHP Cory Rasmus (abdomen) was activated from the disabled list and optioned to Triple-A Salt Lake.3. He missed a month on the disabled list because of a strained left hamstring before returning to the Texas lineup Tuesday.

Hector Santiago says he’s looking forward to some time off during the All-Star break, but the Los Angeles Angels left-hander might not get that rest after all. Richards has put together a few good starts in a row, and tonight followed that trend in it’s upward trajectory, as he got his 9th win after going 7.2 IP, and giving up just ONE run on six hits, while also striking out six.

Santiago is 4-0 with a 2.15 ERA in five career starts in Arlington.

Rangers: Wandy Rodriguez (5-3) has won four of his last five decisions, but gave up a season-high eight runs in his last home start June 24 against Oakland. He falls to 2-4, and raises his ERA to 3.74.

The Rangers (41-40) played their 81st game, a night before Los Angeles (42-38) hits the midpoint of its season.