Angels 7, Rangers 3
Angels 7, Rangers 3: David Freese collected two hits and two RBIs as host Los Angeles claimed the opener of the three-game series.
C.J. Cron homered among his two hits and former Ranger Josh Hamilton went 2-for-3 with an RBI and two runs scored for the Angels, who won for just the third time in eight games. Collin Cowgill added two hits and Garrett Richards (7-2) struck out seven while allowing a run and four hits in six innings.
Michael Choice belted a solo homer and Elvis Andrus recorded two hits and an RBI for the Rangers, who fell to 17-6 against Los Angeles since the start of last season. Former Angel Joe Saunders (0-3) was tagged for seven runs - four earned - and 10 hits over 4 2/3 frames as his winless streak reached six starts.
Andrus gave Texas a 1-0 lead in the top of the third with an RBI single, but Cron led off the bottom of the frame with his fourth home run. Los Angeles moved ahead for good in the fourth as two runs scored on first baseman Brad Snyder's throwing error before Freese plated Erick Aybar with a base hit.
The Angels scored three more runs in the fifth on RBI singles by Hamilton, Aybar and Freese to make it 7-1. Choice belted a leadoff homer off reliever Mike Morin in the seventh and the Rangers threatened to have a big inning in the eighth but managed just one run on Robinson Chirinos' groundout.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Richards has yielded just two runs and 16 hits in 27 innings over his last four starts. ... Texas' Adrian Beltre went 1-for-4, leaving him four hits shy of becoming the sixth third baseman in major-league history to reach 2,500 for his career. ... Andrus extended his hitting streak to 10 games while Los Angeles CF Mike Trout's run ended at 13 contests following an 0-for-3 performance.