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GAME LOG
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) -- In between handling five Anaheim
pitchers, rookie catcher Bengie Molina also had three hits and
played a part in both runs as the Angels beat the Texas Rangers 2-1
on Friday night.
|  | | Angels catcher Bengie Molina had three hits and three RBI in a 7-6 victory over the Twins on Friday. |
"He's done a terrific job working pitchers and calling the
game, and that's the No. 1 priority we have for him to do," said
Anaheim manager Mike Scioscia, who was a major-league catcher for
15 seasons. "He's having a special year for a guy with so little
experience."
Of course, he's also doing pretty good with the bat.
It was the fourth time in eight games that Molina had three
hits. During an eight-game hitting streak, he is hitting .500
(16-for-32) and now has 66 RBI, the most by an Angels catcher
since Lance Parrish had 69 in 1990.
Texas' Rafael Palmeiro went 0-for-3 to snap a 10-game hitting
streak and remained one home run shy of becoming the 32nd major
leaguer with 400 career homers.
The Angels went ahead 2-1 in the seventh after Molina led off
with a single, advanced on a sacrifice bunt by Adam Kennedy and
scored on Darin Erstad's two-out RBI single.
Erstad's hit chased Texas starter Darren Oliver (2-8), who is
0-5 in his nine starts since his last win May 31. Oliver is 0-2 in
his four starts since returning from the disabled list Sept. 1.
Oliver gave up two runs and six hits over 6 2/3 innings. He
struck out one and walked four.
"I feel good out there. At this point, we just have to wait
until next year, basically," Oliver said.
Despite allowing two hits and two walks over 1 2/3 innings, Ben
Weber (1-0), the third Anaheim pitcher, got his first major league
victory.
Weber was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in 1991, but had only
two major league decisions -- both losses -- before Friday night. His
parents, who drove six hours from Beaumont, Texas, watched him
pitch in the majors for the first time.
"That made it even better," Weber said. "I knew Scioscia was
going to keep putting me in those situations and I'm glad he has
the confidence in me."
Troy Percival pitched the ninth for his 31st save in 41 chances.
Molina's two-out RBI double in the fourth gave the Angels a 1-0
lead. The hit scored Tim Salmon, who led off with a single and
moved to second when Chad Curtis bobbled the ball in left field.
Angels starter Lou Pote lasted just 4 1/3 innings in his first
major-league start. He struck out five, but also allowed four hits
-- two in the fifth before he was pulled -- and a walk.
Pote was pulled after Randy Knorr, the No. 9 hitter, singled to
put runners at first and third. Reliever Mike Holtz then allowed an
RBI single to Frank Catalanotto, the only batter he faced, that
tied the game at 1.
The Rangers left the bases loaded in the fifth when Weber got
Royce Clayton on an infield popout and, after walking Palmeiro on
four pitches, got Gabe Kapler to fly out to the catcher behind home
plate.
Game notes
Salmon has a .430 batting average (64-for-149) with 13 home
runs and 43 RBI in 38 career games at The Ballpark in Arlington,
the average and RBI being the best for any opposing player with at
least 100 at-bats. ... Palmeiro drew his 100th walk. Only four
other Texas players have ever walked 100 times in a season, the
last Mickey Tettleton with 107 in 1995. Toby Harrah and Mike
Hargrove both drew more 100 walks in a season twice. ...
Catalanotto was ejected after being thrown out at first on a close
play. After arguing with first-base umpire Brian Gorman, he was
returning to the dugout when he slung his batting helmet back
toward the field. That's when plate umpire Mike DiMuro threw
Catalanotto out of the game. ... Pote was making his 49th career
appearance in the majors.
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