Albert Pujols drove in a season-high four runs, Shohei Ohtani hit a three-run homer and the Los Angeles Angels beat the Texas Rangers 11-7 on a rainy Saturday night.
Pujols hit a solo home run in the second inning and a two-run single in the third against Rangers starter Martin Perez. He singled home another run in the seventh against losing pitcher Eddie Butler (2-3) for a 7-6 lead.
Ohtani then came on as a pinch hitter and homered to center field before Taylor Ward hit his first major league homer to complete the five-run inning.
Los Angeles Angels designated hitter Shohei Ohtani connects for a three-run home run in the seventh inning against the Texas Rangers in a baseball game Saturday, Aug. 18, 2018, in Arlington, Texas. (AP PhotoRichard W. Rodriguez)
Winning pitcher Cam Bedrosian (5-2), the second of five Angels pitchers, got two outs in the sixth.
Los Angeles took a 6-2 lead with two outs in the fourth on a three-run double by David Fletcher.
Texas came back with four runs in the bottom of the inning to tie the game.
Texas Rangers' Joey Gallo (13) is greeted by Elvis Andrus (1) after scoring in the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels on Saturday, Aug. 18, 2018, in Arlington, Texas. (AP PhotoRichard W. Rodriguez)
Pujols went 3 for 4 to tie 19th-century star Cap Anson for 23rd with 3,081 career hits. Teammate Eric Young Jr. had a triple and two singles.
Rougned Odor, Elvis Andrus and Joey Gallo each had three hits for the Rangers.
Odor led off the bottom of the first inning with a double and scored on a single by Andrus.
Los Angeles Angels right fielder Kole Calhoun (56) leaps to avoid colliding with second baseman David Fletcher (6) after chasing a fly ball by Texas Rangers' Adrian Beltre during the fourth inning of a baseball game Saturday, Aug. 18, 2018, in Arlington, Texas. Rougned Odor and Elvis Andrus scored on the play. (AP PhotoRichard W. Rodriguez)
Los Angeles tied the game when Pujols led off the second by hitting a 1-2 pitch into the visitors' bullpen in left-center field.
In the bottom of the inning, Gallo doubled and scored on Carlos Tocci's single that went off both Angels third baseman Ward's glove and shortstop Andrelton Simmons's leg.
Pujols struck again in the third with a two-out single for a 3-2 lead.
Los Angeles Angels catcher Rene Rivera (44) is late on the tag as Texas Rangers' Elvis Andrus (1) scores on a single by Adrian Beltre during the fourth inning of a baseball game Saturday, Aug. 18, 2018, in Arlington, Texas. (AP PhotoRichard W. Rodriguez)
The Rangers' four runs in the fourth came with two outs. Odor singled home a run and the second scored as Andrus struck out but reached base on a wild pitch. Adrian Beltre drove in two runs with a bloop single.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Angels: Before the game, manager Mike Scioscia said he hadn't seen information about RHP/DH Ohtani's bullpen session Saturday. He's scheduled for another bullpen. "His workout in Arizona will probably be more aggressive," Scioscia said.
Rangers: LHP Mike Minor (stiff back) was scratched from Friday's start, but has played catch and said, "I'll pitch in a couple days." . RHP Chi Chi Gonzalez, who underwent Tommy John surgery in July 2017, made his first appearance since 2016 on Friday night in the rookie Class Arizona League. He retired all six batters he faced, striking out two, and is expected to continue pitching in Arizona.
UP NEXT
Angels: RHP Jaime Barria (8-7, 3.50) will try to help Los Angeles gain a split of the four-game series. He's 2-0 against Texas this season with a 0.82 ERA in 11 innings.
Rangers: RHP Yovani Gallardo (7-2, 5.33) will with RHP Bartolo Colon (7-10, 5.19) bothered by what manager Jeff Banister called "a little stiffness."