Angels Win 6th Game In A Row, 9-3, Over Rangers
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Kole Calhoun hit a leadoff homer, Collin Cowgill had a big eighth inning and the Los Angeles Angels stretched their winning streak to six with a 9-3 win over the Texas Rangers on Tuesday night.
Cowgill reached on an infield single to start a seven-run eighth. He scored on Mike Trout's triple and capped the outburst with a bases-loaded triple.
The Angels, with the best record in the majors at 89-55, matched their longest winning streak of the season. The AL West leaders have won 12 of 14 overall.
Hector Santiago (5-7) allowed only a solo homer in five innings.
Calhoun's third leadoff homer this season, and 15th long ball overall, came off Colby Lewis (9-13), who was lifted after Cowgill, the No. 9 batter, reached to start the eighth.
After Trout was thrown out trying to score on Albert Pujols' hard grounder to third baseman Adrian Beltre, six batters in a row reached base against two relievers. Robbie Ross was greeted by Erick Aybar's two-run double and then issued a bases-loaded walk before Cowgill tripled down the right-field line for a 9-1 lead.
Beltre had three hits and scored twice for Texas, which has the worst record in the majors and is 35 games behind the Angels. The last time the Rangers (54-90) were that far back in a division race was their 43-game deficit behind Seattle at the end of the 2001 season.
Beltre hit his 18th homer to straightaway center in the fourth, then singled in the eighth before scoring on Ryan Rua's two-run double.
Los Angeles led for good soon after David Freese reached on an error by right fielder Michael Choice to start the fourth. Brennan Boesch's sacrifice fly made it 2-1.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Angels: OF Josh Hamilton missed his fifth game in a row because of a sore right shoulder that is starting to concern manager Mike Scioscia. "Guys play banged-up when you're in a pennant race, so for Josh to not play, you know he's hurting," Scioscia said.
Rangers: C Robinson Chirinos (neck stiffness) took batting practice and could be close to playing again after missing his eighth game in a row. ... OF Engel Beltre, out all season with a broken bone in his right leg, is scheduled for surgery Wednesday on a stress fracture in his left leg.
UP NEXT
Rookie RHP Matt Shoemaker (14-4) goes for his 15th win and the Angels try to become the first 90-win team in the majors in the middle game of the three-game set. RHP Nick Tepesch (4-9) starts for the Rangers. He has allowed three earned runs or fewer six times in his last seven games.
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