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Rangers top Angels, end four-game losing streak

May 3, 2014 - 6:09 AM Anaheim, CA (SportsNetwork.com) - Shin-Soo Choo went 3-for-4 with a homer and two RBI and the Texas Rangers took down the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, 5-2, on Friday in the opener of a three-game set.

Alex Rios also went yard for Texas, which broke a four-game losing skid. The Rangers had previously been swept at home by the Oakland Athletics.

Choo left the game after the top of the seventh inning with soreness in his left ankle.

Colby Lewis (2-1) scattered two runs on seven hits over 5 2/3 innings for the Rangers. Joakim Soria pitched a 1-2-3 ninth to earn his seventh save of the season.

"I was able to throw fastballs where I needed to," said Lewis. "Rios did a great job tonight and so did our bullpen. They came in and did their job."

Albert Pujols and J.B. Shuck had two hits apiece for the Angels, who saw their three-game winning streak come to an end. Hector Santiago (0-5) remains winless on the season after he was tagged for all five runs on seven hits in six-plus innings of work.

Texas trailed 2-0 through five innings, but a three-run top of the sixth proved to be the difference. Choo cut the deficit in half, taking the first pitch he saw from Santiago over the fence in center.

Santiago got the next two batters, but Prince Fielder extended the inning with an infield single to shortstop. Rios followed with his two-run blast to center.

"Hector pitched better than the linescore shows," said Angels manager Mike Scioscia. "He just couldn't get out of the sixth, but he pitched a strong game."

The Rangers put two more insurance runs across in the seventh inning. Leonys Martin singled and Michael Choice drew a walk to chase Santiago from the contest.

Kevin Jepsen took his place on the mound and struck out J.P. Arencibia, but Choo extended the margin with an RBI single and Elvis Andrus made it 5-2 with his RBI groundout.

Soria induced two groundouts around a strikeout in the ninth to secure the win.

Game Notes:

LA third baseman David Freese left the game after the third inning with a right middle finger contusion. Freese was hit by a pitch in the bottom of the third ... Five Texas relievers combined to allow just two baserunners in 3 1/3 innings.