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Angels give Santiago ball in opener with Rangers

Sep 9, 2014 - 2:48 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - Hector Santiago tries to stay undefeated since the All- Star break and help the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim pad their lead in the American League West on Tuesday when they open a three-game series with the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Park.

Santiago is 3-0 with a 2.06 ERA in eight starts and two relief appearances since the Midsummer Classic and a big reason why the Angels currently have the best record in the majors at 88-55 and an eight-game lead over the Oakland Athletics in the division.

He had been 1-7 with a 4.72 ERA in 12 starts before the break.

Santiago did not get a decision on Thursday in Minnesota, as he allowed four runs and eight hits in five innings of his team's 5-4 win. He is 4-7 overall on the season with a 3.46 ERA.

Los Angeles' bats exploded on Monday in a make-up game in Cleveland, as Kole Calhoun hit a two-run homer and David Freese connected for a three-run shot to highlight a six-run fifth inning in the Halos' 12-3 rout.

Albert Pujols and Howie Kendrick also homered for the Angels, who have won five straight and 11 of their last 13 games.

"Drove four of them out of the park, so that's a real good offensive day for us against a guy who's been really tough," said Angels manager Mike Scioscia.

Texas, meanwhile, snapped an eight-game losing streak on Sunday, as Adrian Beltre's sacrifice fly was all it would need in a 1-0 victory over the Seattle Mariners on Sunday.

Leonys Martin finished 3-for-4 with a triple and a run scored for the Rangers, who have won back-to-back games just twice since late June.

Derek Holland (1-0) earned the win after tossing six scoreless innings, limiting the Mariners to six hits while striking out five batters.

"I wanted to come back out and prove that I can bounce back and make sure that all the hard work I've been doing is going to pay off," said Holland, who suffered a severe knee injury and won his first game since September of 2013. "I've got to give a lot of credit to the staff."

Getting the call for the Rangers on Tuesday will be righty Colby Lewis, who is 9-12 with a 5.42 ERA. Lewis hasn't pitched since Sept. 1 when he lost for the fourth time in five starts.

For his career Lewis is a miserable 0-4 with a 5.86 ERA in five starts with six-plus days of rest.

The Angels have won 10 of their 13 matchups with the Rangers this season.