Angels 4, Rangers 3
ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Albert Pujols' line drive into the left-center-field gap with the bases loaded and two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning scored the running run, lift the Los Angeles Angels to their first victory of the season, 4-3 over the Texas Rangers on Thursday night at Angel Stadium.
In a tie game, Johnny Giavotella got the winning rally started with a one-out single off Sam Dyson (0-1). He went to second on a four-pitch walk to Yunel Escobar, who homered and hit an RBI single earlier in the game.
Angels manager Mike Scioscia then sent up Daniel Nava to pinch-hit for Craig Gentry, and Rangers manager Jeff Banister responded by replacing the right-handed Dyson with lefty Andrew Faulkner.
Scioscia countered with pinch hitter Carlos Perez, who grounded out for the second out, moving the runners to second and third.
Mike Trout was intentionally walked to load the bases and bring up Pujols, but not before Banister went to his bullpen again. In came closer Shawn Tolleson, who one night earlier gave up five runs and five hits without getting an out in a loss to the Seattle Mariners.
This time, Tolleson lasted only two pitches. Pujols smacked a 93 mph fastball between left fielder Ian Desmond and center fielder Delino DeShields to end the game.
Angels reliever Huston Street (1-0) earned the win after throwing a perfect inning.
The Angels missed an opportunity to snap the tie in the bottom of the eighth, loading the bases with no outs on a single by Trout and infield singles by Pujols and C.J. Cron.
However, Dyson worked his way out of the jam by striking out Kole Calhoun and getting Andrelton Simmons to hit into a 5-4-3 double play.
Angels starter Hector Santiago gave up three runs (two earned) on four hits and two walks in six-plus innings, getting a no-decision. He was sharp in the middle innings, showing signs of the pitcher whose strong first half made him an All-Star last season.
After giving up a homer to Rangers catcher Robinson Chirinos to start the third inning, Santiago retired 10 Rangers hitters in a row before a single by Shin-Soo Choo with one out in the sixth.
Santiago took the ball to start the seventh holding a 3-2 lead, having kept his pitch count down to a reasonable 87. However, consecutive singles by Desmond and Mitch Moreland to begin the inning spelled the end of the night for Santiago.
Elvis Andrus' sacrifice fly later in the inning off reliever Fernando Salas tied the game at 3.
Rangers starter Derek Holland gave up three runs on four hits and two walks in five innings, also getting a no-decision.
The Rangers took a 1-0 lead in the first inning without getting a hit. DeShields led off the game with a walk and took second on a throwing error by third baseman Yunel Escobar, who was playing between first and second on an infield shift with Choo at the plate.
Adrian Beltre struck out, but the DeShields and Choo moved up to second and third on a balk by Santiago. That allowed DeShields to score from third on Prince Fielder's sacrifice fly.
The Rangers went up 2-0 in the third when Chirinos homered, but the Angels got a run back in the bottom of the third when Escobar hit a home run, the first by an Angel this season to make it 2-1.
The Angels rallied to take a 3-2 lead with two runs in the fifth inning, scoring both runs with two out. Escobar had an RBI single and Gentry an RBI double, but Holland escaped further damage when he struck out Trout with runners on second and third to end the inning.
NOTES: Angels LHP Andrew Heaney was placed on the disabled list due to a strained flexor muscle in his left forearm. Heaney threw six innings in a loss to the Cubs on Tuesday, when he felt tightness in the arm. The Angels hope Heaney will be able to return in three to four weeks because an MRI exam showed no damage to the ulnar collateral ligament. ... The Angels called up RHP Nick Tropeano from Triple-A Salt Lake to take Heaney's roster spot. Tropeano is expected to make his first start Monday in Oakland. ... Rangers RHP A.J. Griffin will be called up from Triple-A Round Rock to start Friday's game at Anaheim. Griffin last pitched in the majors in September 2013 for Oakland before missing the 2014 and '15 seasons while recovering from Tommy John surgery. To make room for Griffin on the roster, the Rangers will make a move Friday.