ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Mike Trout drove in three runs, two on a two-out single in the seventh inning, as the Angels opened a three-game series between the top two teams in the American League West with a 4-2 victory over the Rangers.
The Rangers, who have lost three straight games, lead the Angels by 4 1/2 games.
Trout's single in the seventh came after Colby Lewis (4-4) hit Erick Aybar with an 0-2 fastball and after second baseman Ian Kinsler booted a Maicer Izturis grounder off Alexi Ogando to load the bases. Both runs were unearned.
The Rangers led 2-0 through five on the strength of a two-out RBI single by Adrian Beltre in the first to plate Josh Hamilton and a fourth-inning RBI single by Mike Napoli to push Michael Young home.
But the Angels erased their deficit in the sixth, an inning they opened with only one hit. But No. 9 hitter John Hester led off with a double and Trout followed with a triple. Trout would score two batters later on a sacrifice fly by Albert Pujols.
Trout then saved two runs with catch in the seventh on an Elvis Andrus drive to center. Trout raced back, reached up and made a running grab at the warning track to end the inning with Rangers at second and third.
Lewis retired the first 10 batters he faced and surrendered only four hits in 6 2/3 innings. Jerome Williams (6-2) issued just the two runs in seven innings.
-- Jeff Wilson
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