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Calhoun, Angels hold off Rangers

Aug 16, 2014 - 5:50 AM Arlington, TX (SportsNetwork.com) - Kole Calhoun smacked a three-run homer among his three hits and the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim held off the Texas Rangers, 5-4, in the opener of a three-game set.

David Freese posted two hits and scored a pair of runs, while Garrett Richards (13-4) struck out seven and allowed two runs on seven hits over 7 1/3 innings.

"I threw a lot more curveballs than I have in the previous starts," Richards said. "I had a good feel for it today."

The Angels have won four of their last five games on the heels of a four-game skid.

Huston Street spun a 1-2-3 ninth to notch his eighth save for the Angels since being traded from San Diego.

Adrian Beltre went 4-for-4 with two RBI and Nick Martinez (2-9) fanned six, but gave up four runs on six hits and a walk over six frames for Texas, which has dropped six of its last eight games.

"He's a tremendous example of how you play the game," Rangers manager Ron Washington said of Beltre. "He brings it every single day."

The game was tied 1-1 before the Angels plated three runs in the fifth and another in the seventh to go ahead. Freese and Chris Iannetta singled to begin the fifth before Calhoun launched his three-run shot into the front row of seats in the second deck to right.

Freese doubled and Iannetta singled to lead off the seventh to put runners on the corners. Freese came home when Calhoun grounded into a double play to give the Angels a 5-1 lead.

Texas got three runs back in the eighth. Four consecutive singles by Shin-Soo Choo, Elvis Andrus, Mike Carp and Beltre scored a pair and put runners on the corners. Alex Rios then grounded into a force out to bring home Carp, cutting the deficit to 5-4. Rios advanced to second on Howie Kendrick's throwing error on the relay toss to first.

Joe Smith came on to replace Kevin Jepsen on the mound and got Geovany Soto to bounce out to end the threat.

Josh Hamilton struck out with the bases loaded in the top of the ninth.

The Rangers opened the scoring in the first on Beltre's RBI single before the Angels answered in the third on Mike Trout's sacrifice fly.

Game Notes

Friday was the first of a 10-game road trip for the Angels, who have won eight straight against Texas ... The Halos were 2-for-7 with runners in scoring position, while Texas finished 3-for-10.