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Resilient Angels score 5 in the 9th to stun Rangers

Jim Cowsert / USA TODAY Sports

Needing three outs to clinch their first division title in four years, the Texas Rangers' overworked bullpen finally cracked on Saturday.

The Los Angeles Angels scored five runs in the bottom of the ninth to erase a four-run deficit en route to an 11-10 win that kept their postseason hopes alive.

"Crazy. I have no words," Angels starter Hector Santiago told reporters following the game. "Honestly, this is one of the best games I've been a part of. It's crazy."

With a four-run lead, Rangers manager Jeff Banister opted to go with Shawn Tolleson, despite the closer having pitched in each of the team's previous four games. Erick Aybar and Kole Calhoun hit back-to-back home runs off Tolleson to start the inning before Banister handed the ball to Ross Ohlendorf, but the Angels' offense was far from done.

ANGELS' 9TH INNING

Player Pitcher Result Score
Aybar Tolleson HR 10-7
Calhoun Tolleson HR 10-8
Trout Ohlendorf Out 10-8
Pujols Ohlendorf 2B 10-8
Murphy Ohlendorf Out 10-8
Cron Ohlendorf RBI 1B 10-9
Freese Ohlendorf 1B 10-9
Perez Ohlendorf RBI 1B 10-10
Giavotella Ohlendorf RBI 1B 10-11
Aybar Faulkner BB 10-11
Calhoun Faulkner Out 10-11

(Courtesy: MLB.com)

Angels right-hander Joe Smith retired the first two batters in the bottom of the ninth before Elvis Andrus reached on a single. With Rougned Odor at the plate, Andrus broke for second and slid in safely, but his left foot came off the bag and he was tagged out to end the game.

Both teams squandered big leads on the afternoon. The Angels led 5-1 in the fifth before allowing the Rangers to tie it up and eventually pull ahead.

The Rangers' bullpen had converted their nine previous save opportunities, while the team had won the last 21 games when leading after eight.

With the win, the Angels move within a half-game of the Houston Astros for the second wild-card spot, while the Rangers' magic number to clinch the division remains at one. Houston plays the Arizona Diamondbacks later Saturday.

"We know our backs are against the wall," Angels third baseman David Freese said. "We have to keep winning. We have one game left, maybe two, who knows."

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