Anaheim, CA – Grant Green drove in three runs, Mark Trumbo homered for the second straight day and the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim put themselves in position for a series sweep after posting an 8-3 win over the Texas Rangers on Saturday.
J.B. Shuck, Mike Trout and Chris Iannetta each added an RBI apiece to back a solid outing from Garrett Richards (6-6), who scattered two runs -- one earned -- on six hits and a walk over seven innings.
"I was able to pound the zone," said Richards. "My breaking ball came and I started getting ahead of hitters. I feel like I'm making strides, just keeping it simple."
Los Angeles ended a seven-game losing streak to Texas with Friday's 6-5 win, and will go for its first three-game sweep over the club in almost four years on Sunday.
The Rangers have dropped five of their last seven, with the recent skid placing them 1 1/2 games behind Oakland for lead in the AL West.
"You hate to go through this in September, but we're not going anywhere. We'll be around," said Texas manager Ron Washington.
Derek Holland (9-8) was tagged for eight runs -- four earned -- on eight hits over 5 2/3 frames.
Both teams scored in their first turns at the plate, but the Angels answered an RBI single from Adrian Beltre with a three-run inning.
Errors by the Texas infield helped propel LA's scoring, as J.B. Shuck reached after a throwing miscue from Holland and then coming home to score when Beltre threw away a grounder off the bat of Trout. Trumbo then sent the Angels in front with a two-run homer to center field.
The teams traded runs in the second, with Jurickson Profar knocking in a run with a two-out single, but Green countered with a sac fly in the home half for a 4-2 margin.
Erick Aybar reached with a leadoff double in the third, then came home to score on Iannetta's two-out single.
Texas than created a comfortable 8-2 advantage with a three-run sixth, with Green knocking in two with a double and Shuck bringing him in with a two- bagger of his own.
A.J. Pierzynski's homer to begin the top of the ninth accounted for the final margin.
Game Notes
The Angels last swept Texas Sept. 28-30, 2009 ... The Rangers lost their first series to LA this season ... The Angels were 3-for-13 with runners in scoring position.
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