Updated

Anaheim, CA (SportsNetwork.com) - Howie Kendrick was 4-for-5 with two doubles, an RBI and two runs scored to help the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim take a 5-3 win over the Texas Rangers in the middle test of a three-game set.

C.J. Cron, who had his contract selected from Triple-A Salt Lake prior to the game, finished 3-for-5 with two RBI while Albert Pujols and Erick Aybar drove in one run apiece for the Angels, winners in four of their last five.

"It's awesome. My dad was drafted and played with the Angels, so I'm just kind of following in his footsteps," said Cron. "I had a bunch of family out here tonight and it's just an awesome feeling."

Garrett Richards (3-0) allowed three runs on nine hits while striking out nine over six innings. Joe Smith stranded a runner in the ninth to earn his third save.

Shin-Soo Choo and Robinson Chirinos both had two hits and an RBI for the Rangers, who have dropped five of their last six games.

Shawn Tolleson (0-1) was pegged with the loss after giving up the go-ahead run in the sixth inning. Matt Harrison allowed three runs on 10 hits over 4 1/3 in the start.

"I'd have it on the outside one inning, then the inside the next inning, just could never get both sides of the plate working at the same time," said Harrison. "I was in a lot of jams every inning."

The Angels got on the board in the first. Mike Trout walked ahead of a Pujols fly out. Kendrick then singled to put two on with two outs. Cron followed with a base hit to left to score Trout for a 1-0 lead.

Kendrick scored on Aybar's grounder in the third. With runners at second and third, Aybar ripped a grounder to second. Donnie Murphy threw the ball to third to catch Cron, but Kendrick scored on the play.

Texas scored three runs in the fourth. Prince Fielder and Alex Rios reached on back-to-back singles before Moreland grounded into a force out at second to score Fielder. Murphy followed with a single to put two on and Chirinos singled two batters later to plate Moreland. Choo then laced a single off Richards and into center to put the Rangers in front 3-2.

Richards remained in the game.

The Halos countered with a run in the bottom of the inning. With two on and one out, Pujols singled to left to score Collin Cowgill.

Cron plated the go-ahead run in the sixth. Kendrick doubled with two outs then scored on Cron's single to left.

Kendrick's RBI double in the eighth made it 5-3.

Game Notes

The Angels were 4-for-14 with runners in scoring position and left 13 runners on base ... Cowgill finished 3-for-5 with two runs scored ... Earlier on Saturday, The Angels placed David Freese on the 15-day disabled list with a non-displaced fracture in his right middle finger ... The Rangers were 2-for-9 with RISP and left eight runners on base.