Angels 8, Rangers 1
Albert Pujols had three hits, scored twice and recorded an RBI and Matt Shoemaker allowed one run in 6 2/3 innings as Los Angeles defeated host Texas for its seventh straight victory.
David Freese had three hits and Efren Navarro drove in two runs as the Angels increased their lead to nine games over the Oakland Athletics in the American League West. The Rangers have dropped 10 of their last 11 games.
Shoemaker (15-4) allowed seven hits and struck out two before exiting. The right-hander has won six consecutive decisions and has given up six runs in his last 41 innings.
Rangers starter Nick Tepesch (4-10) gave up three runs and 10 hits in 4 2/3 innings while losing his third consecutive decision. Ryan Rua drove in a run for Texas with a seventh-inning single.
Pujols smacked a line-drive down the first-base line in the first inning for his first triple since 2010 and scored on Kendrick’s single to right-center field as the Angels took a 2-0 lead. The score was 4-1 in the eighth when Navarro delivered a two-run triple during a three-run uprising and Kole Calhoun added a solo homer in the ninth.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Trout scored his 100th run on Pujols’ triple and joined Mel Ott, Buddy Lewis, Ted Williams, Vada Pinson and Alex Rodriguez as the only players to score 100 runs three times prior to their age-23 season. … Rangers C Robinson Chirinos (neck) could return to the lineup Thursday. … Angels LF Josh Hamilton (shoulder) missed his sixth straight game and will likely undergo an MRI exam when the club returns home later this week.