Davis Daniel allows seven runs on eight hits in 3⅔ innings in his second straight rough outing since his strong rotation debut, and the Angels lose for the seventh time in eight games, 9-4.
Angels starting pitcher Davis Daniel throws to the plate during the first inning of their game against the Texas Rangers on Monday night at Angel Stadium. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
The Texas Rangers’ Corey Seager hits a two-run home run during the first inning of their game against the Angels on Monday night at Angel Stadium. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)
The Texas Rangers’ Corey Seager watches the flight of his two-run home run during the first inning of their game against the Angels on Monday night at Angel Stadium. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
The Texas Rangers’ Marcus Semien, right, looks back after scoring on a two-run home run hit by Corey Seager, left, during the first inning of their game against the Angels on Monday night at Angel Stadium. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Texas Rangers starting pitcher Jon Gray throws to the plate during the first inning of their game against the Angels on Monday night at Angel Stadium. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)
The Angels’ Anthony Rendon grounds out during the first inning of their game against the Texas Rangers on Monday night at Angel Stadium. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
The Angels’ Mickey Moniak, right, celebrates with third base coach Eric Young Sr., after hitting a two-run triple during the second inning of their game against the Texas Rangers on Monday night at Angel Stadium. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)
The Angels’ Logan O’Hoppe, center, celebrates with Manager Ron Washington, right, as he returns to the dugout after scoring on a two-run triple by Mickey Moniak during the second inning of their game against the Texas Rangers on Monday night at Angel Stadium. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Texas Rangers starting pitcher Jon Gray throws to the plate during the first inning of their game against the Angels on Monday night at Angel Stadium. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
The Angels’ Mickey Moniak, left, celebrates with teammate Anthony Rendon after scoring on a single hit by Jo Adell during the second inning of their game against the Texas Rangers on Monday night at Angel Stadium. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Angels starting pitcher Davis Daniel throws to the plate during the third inning of their game against the Texas Rangers on Monday night at Angel Stadium. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Angels starting pitcher Davis Daniel throws to the plate during the first inning of their game against the Texas Rangers on Monday night at Angel Stadium. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)
Angels second baseman Brandon Drury catches a pop fly hit by the Texas Rangers’ Wyatt Langford during the fifth inning on Monday night at Angel Stadium. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Angels shortstop Luis Guillorme, top, leaps to take a high throw but is unable to tag out the Texas Rangers’ Travis Jankowski as he steals second base during the sixth inning on Monday night at Angel Stadium. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Angels shortstop Luis Guillorme, top, is unable to tag out the Texas Rangers’ Travis Jankowski as he steals second base during the sixth inning on Monday night at Angel Stadium. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Texas Rangers pitcher Max Scherzer watches from the dugout during the sixth inning of their game against the Angels on Monday night at Angel Stadium. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Angels designated hitter Keston Hiura reacts after striking out swinging during the sixth inning of their game against the Texas Rangers on Monday night at Angel Stadium. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Texas Rangers relief pitcher Jose Urena prepares to throw to the plate during the sixth inning of their game against the Angels on Monday night at Angel Stadium. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
The Texas Rangers’ Wyatt Langford hits a two-run home run during the seventh inning of their game against the Angels on Monday night at Angel Stadium. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
The Texas Rangers’ Wyatt Langford tosses his bat as he begins to run the bases after hitting a two-run home run during the seventh inning of their game against the Angels on Monday night at Angel Stadium. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)
The Texas Rangers’ Wyatt Langford celebrates in the dugout after hitting a two-run home run during the seventh inning of their game against the Angels on Monday night at Angel Stadium. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)
Angels manager Ron Washington, center, speaks with relief pitcher Carson Fulmer, right, and catcher Logan O’Hoppe during the seventh inning of their game against the Texas Rangers on Monday night at Angel Stadium. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Angels shortstop Luis Guillorme throws out the Texas Rangers’ Jonah Heim at first base during the seventh inning on Monday night at Angel Stadium. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Texas Rangers left fielder Wyatt Langford fields a fly ball hit by the Angels’ Mickey Moniak during the seventh inning on Monday night at Angel Stadium. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Texas Rangers relief pitcher José Ureña throws to the plate during the seventh inning of their game against the Angels on Monday night at Angel Stadium. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)
The Angels’ Mickey Moniak, right, celebrates with teammate Nolan Schanuel after scoring on a single hit by Anthony Rendon during the seventh inning of their game against the Texas Rangers on Monday night at Angel Stadium. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Texas Rangers first baseman Nathaniel Lowe, right, speaks with the Angels’ Anthony Rendon during the seventh inning on Monday night at Angel Stadium. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Angels relief pitcher José Marte throws to the plate during the eighth inning of their game against the Texas Rangers on Monday night at Angel Stadium. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)
The Texas Rangers’ Marcus Semien tosses his bat after drawing a walk during the eighth inning of their game against the Angels on Monday night at Angel Stadium. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Texas Rangers relief pitcher José Leclerc throws to the plate during the eighth inning of their game against the Angels on Monday night at Angel Stadium. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)
Angels third baseman Anthony Rendon throws out the Texas Rangers’ Wyatt Langford at first base during the ninth inning on Monday night at Angel Stadium. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Texas Rangers left fielder Wyatt Langford catches a fly ball hit by the Angels’ Mickey Moniak during the ninth inning on Monday night at Angel Stadium. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Texas Rangers shortstop Corey Seager, left, celebrates with second baseman Marcus Semien after their 9-4 victory over the Angels on Monday night at Angel Stadium. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)
Texas Rangers shortstop Corey Seager, left, outfielder Adolis Garcia, center, and second baseman Marcus Semien celebrate after their 9-4 victory over the Angels on Monday night at Angel Stadium. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)
Texas Rangers center fielder Leody Taveras, right, celebrates with second baseman Marcus Semien after their 9-4 victory over the Angels on Monday night at Angel Stadium. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Angels third baseman Anthony Rendon walks on the field before their game against the Texas Rangers on Monday night at Angel Stadium. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Angels third baseman Anthony Rendon walks on the field before their game against the Texas Rangers on Monday night at Angel Stadium. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
ANAHEIM — After the Angels welcomed back a key piece of their team on Monday night and a large chunk of their payroll, the result looked just the same.
Other than a brief surge of offense in the second inning of the series opener, the Angels couldn’t keep up with the hot bats of the Texas Rangers and lost for the seventh time in their past eight games, 9-4, at Angel Stadium.
“He’s a pro, he’s going to figure it out,” Angels manager Ron Washington said. “It’s not going to take him long. As a matter of fact, it looks like he’s about ready.”
The Angels figured to perform better against Texas starting pitcher Jon Gray, who came in with a 10.00 ERA in his past four outings, but other than a four-batter stretch in the second inning, the Angels (37-53) did little to press the Rangers.
Still, the Angels managed to score more than one run for just the second time in the past six games, but also surrendered five or more runs for the eighth time in the past nine.
Gray (4-4) allowed three runs and five hits in five-plus innings, striking out two and walking one. That was enough to help the Rangers (43-48) win their fourth in a row.
Angels starter Davis Daniel (1-2) took another step back in his third major-league start. The 27-year-old right-hander surrendered seven runs and eight hits in 3⅔ innings, striking out three without issuing a walk.
Daniel’s first seven pitches were strikes and 12 of 15 hit the zone in the first inning, but he got burned on a pair of 0-and-2 pitches.
“He didn’t have anything to put them away,” Washington said of Daniel. “He gets two strikes and just couldn’t put them away.”
Rangers leadoff hitter Marcus Semien quickly fell behind to start the game, but dropped a single into left field. Daniel then threw two strikes to Corey Seager before he blasted a 457-foot home run onto the batter’s eye in center for a 2-0 lead.
The home run was the second-longest of Seager’s major-league career behind the 464-foot shot he delivered as a member of the Dodgers against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Sept. 26, 2021.
“He made a real good pitch to Marcus, but he stayed on it and he just pushed it over our shortstop’s head,” Washington said. “Then he got two strikes on Seager and then got the fastball up and he didn’t miss it.”
The Angels answered with four straight line-drive base hits in the second inning to move ahead 3-2.
Logan O’Hoppe started the rally with a one-out single to left, and Brandon Drury hit the first pitch up the middle for another single. Mickey Moniak then roped a line drive just inside the right field line for a two-run triple that tied it 2-2.
Jo Adell followed with an RBI single to left with the infield in to put the Angels in front 3-2.
The Rangers moved back ahead with five runs in the fourth.
Wyatt Langford grounded a double just inside the third base line and Adolis Garcia followed with a single to put runners on the corners.
Daniel then stumbled as he was making a delivery to Nathaniel Lowe, resulting in a run-scoring balk that tied it 3-3. Lowe then singled up the middle to score Garcia for a 4-3 lead.
After a strikeout and hit batter, Leody Taveras dropped an RBI single into right field. Taveras stole second to put runners on second and third before Semien came through with a two-run single that stretched the lead to 7-3 and ended Daniel’s day.
“They just had a pretty good approach,” Daniel said of the Rangers. “They saw that in my games in the past, I was around the zone a lot, so it looked like they shortened up and took their singles and took advantage of a couple bad pitches. I’ve just got to learn to adjust when they do. Obviously, they came out and made an adjustment in the fourth and I didn’t make the adjustment.”
Langford added a two-run homer in the seventh inning off Carson Fulmer to stretch the lead to 9-3.
Rendon’s RBI single up the middle trimmed the lead to 9-4, but the Angels left the bases loaded in the inning.
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