Rangers score 2 in seventh, rally for 4-3 win over Angels

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) - Hunter Pence had a two-run single in the seventh inning, Shin Soo-Choo homered and Drew Smyly got his first win in almost three years as the Texas Rangers rallied for a 4-3 victory over the Los Angeles Angels on Friday night.

Smyly (1-3) went six innings to get his first win since Sept. 13, 2016 - 32 months - when he was with Tampa Bay. The left-hander, who allowed three runs on five hits, missed the last two seasons due to Tommy John elbow surgery.

The Angels committed two errors in the seventh that led to the go-ahead run. Choo led off the inning by reaching on an error by shortstop Zack Cozart and advanced to second when Logan Forsythe was walked. After the runners advanced on a ground ball, they scored on Pence's line-drive single to center off Cam Bedrosian (1-3) that Mike Trout misplayed, allowing Pence to advance to second. It was Trout's first error since 2017.

Choo also had two hits for the Rangers, who have won eight of nine to move two games over .500 for the first time since April 23. Choo led off the game with a home run to center.

Jonathan Lucroy and Brian Goodwin homered for the Angels, who have dropped their last five and are six games under .500. Griffin Canning allowed one run and three hits in six innings. The right-hander has allowed only one run and six hits over 11 innings in his last two starts.

After Choo put the fifth pitch of the game over the wall in center field for his eighth homer of the season, Los Angeles countered with three runs in the second.

Lucroy led off the inning with a solo shot to center for his seventh to tie it at 1. Tommy La Stella singled and scored three batters later when Goodwin sent Smyly's fastball down the right-field line for a two-run shot. It was Goodwin's sixth homer of the season, with three coming against Texas.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Rangers: SS Elvis Andrus (hamstring) is with the team and remains on track to be activated Saturday, which is the first day he is eligible to come off the injured list. OF Delino DeShields is likely headed to Triple-A Nashville when Andrus is activated.

Angels: LHP Andrew Heaney (elbow) will get his first start of the season in Sunday's series finale after his bullpen session went well Thursday. ... OF Justin Upton (turf toe) has been cleared to take batting practice and is fielding ground balls.

UP NEXT

Rangers: LHP Mike Minor (5-3, 2.64 ERA) is sixth in AL in ERA, seventh in innings pitched (64 2/3) and tied for eighth in strikeouts (67).

Angels: LHP Tyler Skaggs (4-4, 5.01 ERA) has won his last three starts against the Rangers and has allowed only two earned runs in 17 1/3 innings.