ARLINGTON, Texas _ Rangers starter Mike Minor continued to pitch in a pinch on Tuesday night.
Minor held the Los Angeles Angels hitless for six at-bats with runners in scoring position during the first three innings, giving the Rangers' offense time to get on track. Homers by Elvis Andrus and Adrian Beltre in the fourth inning led the way to a 4-2 win at Globe Life Park.
Minor gave up two runs, one on Shohei Ohtani's first homer of the season off a left-hander, in five innings. Holding the Halos to one run in the first three innings was an accomplishment. The Angels had chances to build an early lead.
Minor (11-7) has done this all season. He has held opponents to a .216 average for 102 at-bats with runners in scoring position. That is the fifth-lowest figure among American League qualifiers. Tampa Bay's Blake Snell leads at .092.
Jose Leclerc, the last of four relievers, closed the win with two strikeouts in one scoreless inning. Leclerc has a streak of 14 consecutive scoreless appearances during which he has allowed only two hits with 25 strikeouts in 14 innings.
