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.
.@KoleCalhoun got right down to business! #HotKole #Angels http://t.co/vdyUDe8Cfp
— Angels (@Angels) September 10, 2014
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.
Preach. #Angels #FansInTheStands pic.twitter.com/Jm9QjkrVdl
— Angels (@Angels) September 9, 2014
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.
