Angels 8, Rangers 2
ARLINGTON, Texas -- Erick Aybar had a career-high five hits, Kole Calhoun had four RBIs and right-hander Garrett Richards continued his mastery over the Texas Rangers in the Los Angeles Angels' 8-2 victory on Friday night.
Aybar, the shortstop, had a hit and Calhoun a three-run double in a decisive six-run sixth for the run-strapped Angels, who entered the game 0 for their last 25 with runners in scoring position.
Calhoun went 2-for-5, including another run-scoring double in the third for Los Angeles (42-38).
Richards (9-5), who gave up one run on six hits and a walk while striking out six, improved to 8-1 with a 3.12 ERA lifetime against Texas. He is 5-0 with a 1.85 ERA the past two years against Texas and has won his past six starts against the Rangers.
Richards encountered trouble only once, giving up a run on three hits, all with two outs, in the sixth.
Texas third baseman Adrian Beltre accounted for the Rangers' first run with an RBI single in the sixth inning that scored designated hitter Prince Fielder, who had two hits for the Rangers.
The outcome overshadowed the expected drama surrounding the first matchup between the Angels and their former outfielder Josh Hamilton, who was traded to the Rangers in April after two disappointing years with Los Angeles.
Hamilton, who signed a five-year, $125 million contract in December 2012, went 1-for-3 with a double for the Rangers (41-40), who have lost 11 of their past 19 games.
Ryan Rua, who came in for Hamilton in the seventh, hit a home run off Angels right-handed reliever Mike Morin in the ninth.
Right-handed pitcher Chi Chi Gonzalez (2-4) suffered the loss, giving up six runs on five hits and two walks over 1 2/3 innings. The Texas rookie has given up nine runs in his last two starts, both losses.
Los Angeles, which has had trouble scoring runs this season, improved to 29-9 in games in which it has scored four or more runs.
The Angels entered the game at a minus-2 run differential. The Angels entered Friday having scored three or fewer runs in 42 of 79 games.
Scoring wasn't a problem on Friday.
The Angels sent 12 hitters to the plate in a six-run second inning, loading the bases twice and capitalizing each time.
Designated hitter C.J. Cron got the first crack with the bases full, recording a run-scoring single to give Los Angeles a 1-0 lead.
Gonzalez struck out the No. 9 hitter, catcher Carlos Perez, and induced a pop out of second baseman Johnny Giavotella.
Calhoun then worked the count to 3-2 before clearing the bases with a three-run double, driving a ball that short-hopped the right-center-field wall, increasing Los Angeles' lead to 4-0.
A walk to center fielder Mike Trout, the next hitter, ended Gonzalez's night, but the Angels weren't done yet. Aybar followed a walk to first baseman Albert Pujols with a two-run single that had the Angels very much in charge.
Calhoun's double to almost the same spot in the third inning accounted for the Angels' seventh run, and third baseman David Freese added a run-scoring hit in the third.
Meanwhile, Richards put it on cruise control.
After putting runners on base in each of the first two innings, Richards set down nine straight.
NOTES: The Angels activated RHP Cory Rasmus (abdominal strain) before the game and assigned him to Triple-A Salt Lake. ... Los Angeles traded LHP Manual Rondon and cash to the Chicago Cubs for C Rafael Lopez, who was assigned to Salt Lake. ... Texas manager Jeff Banister said LHP Matt Harrison would likely make his season debut on Tuesday. Harrison has missed most of the past 2 1/2 years with back problems. ... Texas OF DeLino DeShields (hamstring) is "getting close," Banister said, and might be activated from the 15-day DL before the All-Star break.