Angels 5, Rangers 2
ANAHEIM, Calif. -- C.J. Cron drove in five runs with a single, double and triple, leading the Los Angeles Angels to a 5-2 win over the Texas Rangers on Friday night at Angel Stadium.
It was a big win for the Angels in the first game of a critical series against the Rangers, who lead the Angels by 2 1/2 games in the race for the American League's second wild-card spot. The Minnesota Twins, who lost Friday, are 1 1/2 games back.
While much of the Angels offense struggled over the last month, Cron has been a bright spot. With his three hits Friday, he is hitting .341 (31-for-91) with 17 RBIs over his last 25 games.
Cron had a two-run single in the third inning, an RBI triple in the fifth and a two-run double in the seventh, all three hits coming with two out. The first two hits came off Rangers starter Martin Perez (2-4), who got the loss after giving up three runs on five hits and four walks in six innings.
Angels starter Garrett Richards (13-10) got the win, but he had to work for every out it seemed. He gave up two runs on five hits, five walks and a hit batter in six-plus innings. The Rangers had a runner in scoring position against Richards in all but one inning.
Richards worked his way out of trouble in the early innings before the Rangers scored in the sixth, but just barely.
The Rangers had the bases loaded with one out when Rougned Odor hit a fly ball to left field. Left fielder Shane Victorino made the catch in foul territory, then threw to the cutoff man, shortstop Erick Aybar.
Aybar quickly threw to second base, catching first baseman Mitch Moreland drifting too far off the bag. Second baseman Taylor Featherston made the tag just as designated hitter Prince Fielder, who tagged from third, slid across the plate.
Angels manager Mike Scioscia asked for a replay review, claiming the out at second came before Fielder crossed the plate. But after a review that lasted several minutes, the call stood and the Rangers cut their deficit to 3-1.
An RBI triple by Rangers right fielder Shin-Soo Choo in the seventh inning cut the Angels' lead to 3-2, but Cron's two-run double in the bottom of the inning gave the Angels some breathing room.
Like Cron, Choo, who hit for the cycle on July 21, had a single, double and triple in the game.
Trevor Gott (seventh inning), Joe Smith (eighth) and Huston Street (ninth, 32nd save) closed it out.
The Angels snapped a scoreless tie with two runs in the third inning against Rangers starter Martin Perez.
Second baseman Taylor Featherston, hitting just .130 entering the game, singled with one out. Right fielder Kole Calhoun reached on the fielder's choice, Featherston being thrown out at second.
Center fielder Mike Trout singled and first baseman Albert Pujols walked to load the bases for designated hitter C.J. Cron, who singled to center, driving home Calhoun and Trout.
Meanwhile, Angels starter Garrett Richards managed to wiggle his way out of trouble in the early innings. The Rangers put a runner in scoring position in each of the first four innings, but were unable to score.
The Rangers also had at least one hit in each of the first five innings, but Richards held them scoreless.
The Angels increased their lead to 3-0 in the fifth inning on a two-out RBI triple by Cron.
NOTES: Angels 2B Johnny Giavotella, out since Aug. 20 with a previously undisclosed medical condition, has been diagnosed with fourth nerve palsy, a condition that causes weakness or paralysis of muscles in the eye and causes double vision. It's unclear if he'll return this season. In 119 games, Giavotella has hit .265 with 21 doubles, 40 RBIs, and 47 runs scored. ... Rangers 1B Mitch Moreland has a team-high 11 game-winning RBIs, tied for ninth best in the American League. ... Angels CF Mike Trout began the night homerless since Aug. 7, a stretch of 25 games. ... Rangers RF Shin-Soo Choo went into the game hitting .309 (42 for 136) with five homers, 11 doubles and 22 RBIs in 39 games since the All-Star break.