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 The center fielder hit a solo homer and a grand slam, leading 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 scored three runs and walked before finishing 4-for-4 to raise
his average to .315. The five RBIs and four hits matched his
single-game career bests.
He collected his 30th and 31st homers of the year, becoming the 14th
player in major league history to hit at least 30 homers in three
seasons before reaching age 24.
"Obviously, the two home runs and the hits are great," Angels
manager Mike Scioscia said. "But when you see him every day, you see
the little things he does, whether it's in the outfield or cutting a
ball off to stop a runner going from first to third. He does so many
things well on a baseball field."
Trout leads the majors in homers, but he dismissed the idea of
finishing the season as the top home run hitter.
"I don't look at that stuff," Trout said. "At the end of the year,
if that's where I'm at, then that's where I'm at."
Right fielder Kole Calhoun, designated hitter C.J. Cron and left
fielder Daniel Robertson contributed two hits apiece to the Angels'
15-hit attack.
"Really, we shot ourselves in the foot," Texas manager Jeff Banister
said. "You've got to throw quality strikes early to these guys, get
in the strike zone and get some early outs."
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.
"Texas has a really good offensive club and made Andrew work for
every out," Scioscia said. "Even when he's not on top of his game,
he made it work. He threw some good changeups and used his fastball
very effectively."
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 fly 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.
In the sixth, Trout's third career grand slam led a five-run
outburst that resulted in an 8-2 advantage. After second baseman
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.
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.
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Trout became the first Angel to reach 30 homers in a season in fewer
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. However, 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.
"I took a pretty good knock on the chin from his knee," Joyce said.
"They say I was out for a couple of seconds. I was dizzy right
afterwards. I really don't remember walking off the field."
Joyce was diagnosed with a mild concussion, and he will be examined
Monday.
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) took 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 is 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 six career starts. ... 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 on Sunday.
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