During one August series, beanbrawls erupted on consecutive nights
with Rangers right-hander Vicente Padilla hitting Angels outfielders Vladimir Guerrero and Juan Rivera to touch off the fireworks.
Eight players and both managers were suspended after that series, Padilla
drawing a five-game suspension. In their first series of 2007, Padilla started
the second game against the Angels and went high and tight on Guerrero with his
first pitch.
The buzzing did nothing to slow Guerrero's annual torching of the Rangers.
Guerrero reached base in all five plate appearances during Tuesday's 8-3 Angels
victory. He had two RBI singles and a solo home run in three at-bats against
Padilla, was intentionally walked and singled again against Rangers relievers.
In 56 career games against the Rangers, Guerrero has hit .440 (96 for 218)
with 21 home runs and 49 RBIs, including hits in his first 44 games against
them.
It
was the 20th four-hit game of his career.
As for last season's headhunting, Angels manager Mike Scioscia said he didn't
think either team would carry a grudge.
"From our side, you have to turn the page," he said. "It's well-documented
what Padilla did. We understand it. They understand it. I think the whole league
understands it.
"We're going to play baseball. You move on."
ANGELS 8, RANGERS 3: The Angels have dominated the Texas Rangers over the
last few seasons, especially in Anaheim. That trend has continued into the 2007
season, and the Angels have beaten the Rangers in 16 of their last 21 meetings
at Angel Stadium. Five Angels pitchers, led by starter Kelvim Escobar, held the
Rangers to just four hits in Tuesday's victory with relievers Justin Speier and
Scot Shields combining to retire the final nine batters in a row.
"I'm still locked in, (spring is) nothing like when the light switch turns on and the season starts," Shields said. "It brings out the
competitor."
Justin Speier has inherited five runners in his first two appearances
for the Angels and has not let any score. In the first two games of this series,
the Rangers have stranded 18 baserunners and gone hitless in 15 at-bats with
runners in scoring position.