Anaheim, CA (SportsNetwork.com) - Mike Trout went 2-for-3 with a home run, two RBI and two runs scored to lead the Los Angeles Angels to a 6-1 win over the Miami Marlins in the rubber match of a three-game set on Wednesday.
Gordon Beckham also homered among his two hits, drove in two and scored twice for the AL West leaders. Los Angeles holds a one-game lead over Oakland with a pivotal four-game series starting between the two clubs in Anaheim on Thursday.
Albert Pujols and Josh Hamilton each knocked in a run for the Angels, who have won three of four.
Hector Santiago (4-7) grabbed the win after going 5 2/3 innings and allowing one run on three hits and two walks while striking out six.
"Everything was working tonight," said Santiago. "I got ahead in counts and got easy outs."
Henderson Alvarez (10-6) took the loss, yielding five runs on eight hits over 6 1/3 innings.
"We got down early and didn't get much going offensively," said Marlins manager Mike Redmond. "We just couldn't get it going."
Miami has dropped five of its last seven.
Adeiny Hechavarria hit his first homer of the season to lead off the third and give the visitors an early lead.
The Angels, however, answered in the home half with a three-run inning.
Beckham and Kole Calhoun each singled to begin the frame, then Trout brought Beckham in with a base hit to tie the game. Pujols followed with an RBI groundout before Hamilton doubled home Trout for a 3-1 edge.
Beckham added to the margin with a solo blast in the fourth and Trout poked his 30th of the season in the seventh to make it a 5-1 game.
"It was a changeup and I put a good swing on it," Trout said. "It's cool to reach 30 but we have other things on our mind. We need to win games."
Beckham's RBI groundout in the eighth accounted for the final margin.
Game Notes
Pujols and Hamilton each entered the game 0-for-7 against Alvarez for their respective careers. Pujols finished 0-for-3, while Hamilton went 2-for-4 ... Alvarez went 2-0 over three starts against LA prior to the game, but he last faced them in 2012 ... Miami went 1-for-4 with runners in scoring position ... The Angels went 2-for-11 with RISP.
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