Rangers 4, Angels 2
ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Colby Lewis held the Los Angeles Angels to two runs and five hits in 7 2/3 innings, leading the Texas Rangers to a 4-2 win Friday night at Angel Stadium.
With the win, the Rangers moved to within 7 1/2 games of first-place in the American League West. The Angels and Houston Astros tied for the top spot.
It was quite a turnaround from Lewis' last start against the Angels less than three weeks ago when he gave up 10 runs in four innings. In fact, Lewis had lost six consecutive starts against the Angels, going 0-6 with an 11.35 ERA, and his 10 career losses against them are the most vs. any team.
But he was a different pitcher Friday, striking out nine and allowing only a solo homer to center fielder Mike Trout in fourth inning. He was charged with a run in the eighth inning after he had left the game.
The big inning for Lewis was the sixth, when Angels left fielder Daniel Robertson and second baseman Johnny Giavotella began the inning with back-to-back singles, setting the table for the heart of the Angels' order.
But Lewis (10-4) struck out right fielder Kole Calhoun, Trout and first baseman Albert Pujols in succession to end the threat.
In the eighth, Lewis was removed with two on and two outs, as Rangers manager Jeff Banister went to his bullpen. He summoned right-hander Keone Kela, who allowed an RBI single to Trout.
But Kela escaped when he struck out Pujols on a called third strike with the potential tying runs on base. Shawn Tolleson pitched the ninth for his 16th save.
The Rangers offense was led by left fielder Josh Hamilton and shortstop Elvis Andrus, who each had two hits. It was the first game back at Angel Stadium for Hamilton, who was traded back to the Rangers after two disappointing seasons in Anaheim.
Hamilton doubled and scored in the fifth and singled and scored in the seventh, both at-bats coming against Angels starter Nick Tropeano.
Tropeano was making a spot start, the Angels needing a starter for the game because of last Sunday's rainout. He pitched well early, but gave up four runs on seven hits and one walk in six-plus innings.
Lewis held the Angels hitless through three innings, but Trout homered with one out in the fourth for a 1-0 Angels lead. It was Trout's 29th homer of the season, tying him with Pujols for the American League lead.
Tropeano, called up from Triple-A Salt Lake before the game to make the start, sailed through four innings, allowing only one hit. But things got away from him in the fifth, thanks in part to his own error.
Hamilton doubled with one out and went to third on a single by Adrus. Tropeano then tried to pick off Andrus at first, but threw the ball away, allowing Hamilton to score and Andrus to take third.
Right fielder Shin-Soo Choo followed with an RBI double, and catcher Robinson Chirinos had an RBI single, giving the Rangers a 3-1 lead.
NOTES: The Angels acquired 3B Conor Gillaspie from the Chicago White Sox for cash considerations. With 3B David Freese expected to miss at least three weeks with a fractured right index finger, Gillaspie figures to get most of the starts at third. Gillaspie, who had been designated for assignment by the White Sox, hit .237 (41-for-173) with 10 runs scored, 11 doubles, one triple, three home runs and 15 RBIs in 58 games this season. ... LHP Adam Wilk was designated for assignment to make room on the 40-man roster for Gillaspie, who is expected to join the Angels on Saturday. ... Rangers LF Josh Hamilton returned to Angel Stadium for the first time since he was traded by the Angels on April 27. "Any time you spend time in a place, having put some sweat and work in a place, it always means something coming back," Hamilton said.