ANAHEIM, Calif. – The managers come and go. The pitchers are up and down. But one element remains shockingly consistent where the Rangers and opening day is concerned.

The bats seem to disappear at the biggest moments.

On Monday, the Ron Washington Era began with a 4-1 loss to the Los Angeles Angels that was marked by offensive inefficiency. While the Rangers worked the Angels' pitchers hard, they were hitless in eight at-bats with runners in scoring position.

It's just more of the usual. The Rangers have lost their season opener in six of the last seven seasons and each of the last four. In those four losses, the club has gone 3-for-28 (.107) with runners in scoring position. They are 1-for-17 in the last three openers.

That was the whole story behind Monday's loss. The pitching staff kept the Rangers in the game, just as the new manager had planned. The bullpen kept the game close, just as the front office had planned.

The chances to move runners came frequently, but, alas, that plan still needs some work.

"We want to thrive in these kinds of situations and games," Michael Young said. "We didn't do it tonight, but we were constantly talking about it in the dugout, driving home the importance of these kinds of situations."

The Rangers had chances throughout the game, but none more pronounced than the sixth inning. And no offensive failure was more profound than the withered sixth-inning rally, either.

The inning started with former Ranger Darren Oliver on the mound for the Angels in relief of prematurely exhausted starter John Lackey. Oliver, brought on to face consecutive left-handed hitters, promptly allowed a single to Hank Blalock and walked Brad Wilkerson. That forced his departure.

As is Washington's style, the Rangers elected to play for a run. They had their best bunter at the plate (Gerald Laird) and one of their best bat handlers on deck (Ian Kinsler). The opportunity to make something happen was ripe. It spoiled fast.

Laird popped up the first pitch from reliever Justin Speier. Kinsler, who had homered in his first at-bat, lined a ball to third for the second out. Blalock was doubled off second to end the inning.

"That was our opportunity right there," Washington said. "I talked with Gerald and just reminded him to make sure he surveys the field in that situation. If he gets that ball down the first-base side, we've got runners at second and third. It's the first game and there are some nerves involved. But if we keep putting guys out there like we did tonight, I'll take our chances."

That's how the first night of the season went for the Rangers. Opportunities passed and faded with alarming quickness.

The Rangers made Lackey sweat far more than a guy should in 64-degree weather without a hint of humidity. While he broke a sweat, though, Lackey didn't break.

For the Rangers, it was one frustrating inning after another.

•Lackey walked the first two batters of the game, but Young, who led the AL in batting average with runners in scoring position last year, bounced into a double play. Former Ranger Gary Matthews Jr. leaped to grab Mark Teixeira's long fly to center to end the inning.

AP

Los Angeles' Garret Anderson is safe at home in the eighth inning.

•In the second, Blalock doubled to the gap in left center and went to third on a wild pitch, but Wilkerson and Laird each struck out.

•Kinsler led off the third with a homer to cut a 2-0 lead in half and, with two outs, the Rangers loaded the bases on Matthews' muff of Young's fly ball and a pair of walks. The inning ended, though, when Blalock lined out to center.

•And in the fifth, Sammy Sosa grounded out with runners on first and third to end the inning.

By that time, Lackey had thrown 96 pitches and was done for the night. Didn't matter. It was still opening night and that, it seems, is still a little early for the Rangers' hitters.