Angels 13, Rangers 7
ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Center fielder Mike Trout hit two home runs and drove in five runs to lead the Los Angeles Angels to a 13-7 win over the Texas Rangers on Sunday in front of 38,539 at Angel Stadium.
The Angels used their eighth win in 11 games to regain a one-game lead over the second-place Houston Astros in the American League West. Los Angeles also halted its three-game losing streak and ended the Rangers' stretch of four successive wins.
Trout also scored three runs and walked before finishing 4-for-4 to raise his average to .315. Right fielder Kole Calhoun, designated hitter C.J. Cron and left fielder Daniel Robertson contributed two hits apiece to the Angels' 15-hit attack.
Left-hander Andrew Heaney (5-0) registered his sixth quality start, all since being recalled June 24 from Triple-A Salt Lake. Heaney conceded just two runs in his six innings while allowing one walk and six hits, hitting two batters and striking out four.
The Angels broke a 2-2 tie in the bottom of the fifth inning. After Calhoun, Trout and first baseman Albert Pujols loaded the bases on singles, shortstop Erick Aybar hit a sacrifice to bring Calhoun home.
Pujols stole his 100th career base during that inning to become the fourth player in major league history with 500 home runs, 100 stolen bases and a .300 career average. The others are Babe Ruth, Willie Mays and Hank Aaron, all members of the Hall of Fame.
Then in the sixth, Trout's third career grand slam led a five-run outburst that resulted in an 8-2 advantage. After Johnny Giavotella hit a run-scoring single, Trout sent a 93 mph fastball from right-hander Spencer Patton into the third row of the bleachers in right-center field for his 31st home run of the year.
Texas first baseman Mitch Moreland hit a two-run single in the top of the seventh that narrowed the deficit to 8-4. Robertson responded in the bottom of the seventh by hitting a two-run double and circling the bases on second baseman Rougned Odor's throwing error.
Trout gave the Angels a 1-0 lead in the first with his 30th home run of the season. Trout propelled a 90 mph fastball from right-hander Nick Martinez off the yellow line on top of the right-field fence.
Trout thus became the first Angel to reach 30 homers in one season in less than 100 games. Troy Glaus set the previous record with 30 home runs in exactly 100 games in 2000. Trout established the standard in his 97th game.
The Rangers tied the score in the third. Left fielder Ryan Rua doubled down the left-field line, moved to third base on center fielder Delino DeShields' infield single and came home on Odor's single.
Texas then combined two hit batters, a walk and a hit in the top of the fourth to move ahead 2-1. Designated hitter Prince Fielder, who was hit by a pitch to begin the inning, scored when catcher Tomas Telis was hit with the bases loaded.
Los Angeles also received two scares on defense during the inning. While diving to make a one-handed catch of shortstop Elvis Andrus' fly ball, Trout somersaulted and grimaced in pain while holding his left hand. But after a visit from the trainer, Trout remained in the game.
Then left fielder Matt Joyce undercut Aybar, who fell on Joyce after making a one-handed catch of DeShields' pop fly. Aybar stayed in the game, but Robertson pinch hit for Joyce in the bottom of the fourth and took over in left field.
The Angels tied the score in the bottom of the fourth on Cron's sixth home run, a solo drive into the Rangers' bullpen in left field.
Martinez (5-6) suffered his fourth consecutive loss. In five-plus innings, Martinez yielded four runs and six hits, including two home runs, while walking three and striking out five. The right-hander has not won since June 9.
NOTES: Los Angeles' Andrew Heaney was the first left-hander in team history to pitch more than six innings and allow no more than two runs in each of his first five career starts -- and he increased the streak to six Sunday. ... Texas RF Josh Hamilton appeared in his 1,000th career game Saturday night. ... Rangers 2B Rougned Odor began Sunday with a .365 average since June 15, the major league's third highest since that date. ... RHP Spencer Patton became the 14th pitcher to earn a victory this season for the Rangers on Saturday night. ... Los Angeles 1B Albert Pujols passed Bobby Abreu and Hall of Famer Charlie Gehringer on Saturday night to move into 21st place in career doubles with 575. Pujols needs two RBIs to tie Sammy Sosa for 27th all time with 1,667. ... Entering Sunday's action, Angels RF Kole Calhoun led the major leagues with 20 RBIs this month. Neither Pujols nor Calhoun had an RBI Sunday.