Mike Trout hit a first-inning two-run homer and rookie right-hander Walbert Urena pitched five strong innings as the Los Angeles Angels defeated the Texas Rangers 5-2 on Saturday night at Angel Stadium.
The victory secured the Angels' first series win since early May, following a 9-6 win in the series opener on Friday.
Trout's team-leading 13th home run came on a first-pitch cutter from Texas starter Nathan Eovaldi, after Zach Neto drew a leadoff walk.
"It's good," Trout said. "We had a good plan coming in, and we executed it.
Just having good at-bats, putting the ball in play. Over the last two nights, that's what we've been doing."
The early lead provided immediate run support for the pitching staff, reversing a recent stretch where opponents scored first against the Angels in 15 consecutive games.
"It changes a lot," Trout said. "The last couple weeks, we've been behind early.
So it's good to give pitchers some support and keep that lead."
Urena's Effective Pitching
Urena earned his second win of the season, throwing 93 pitches over five innings.
He allowed one run on five hits and three walks while striking out six batters.
The rookie utilized his secondary pitches effectively, registering nine of his 16 total swing-and-misses with his changeup to escape multiple scoring threats.
"After my sinker, that's the best that I have, so I have a lot of confidence in my changeup," Urena said.
"I can throw it whenever I want, so it's really good."
The Rangers loaded the bases in the third, fifth, and eighth innings but failed to capitalize.
Urena struck out Jake Burger twice to end the early threats, and Jose Fermin retired two consecutive batters to end the eighth-inning jam.
Texas left 11 runners stranded and went 1-for-11 with runners in scoring position.
"Big situations and they're coming through," Trout said. "Being out in center and seeing their pitches, they're tough.
I know how tough it is to hit and to see those pitches. And they made them in big situations, which is big for us."
The Angels added runs via an RBI double from Nolan Schanuel in the fifth and a two-run single from Oswald Peraza in the eighth.
Kirby Yates pitched a perfect ninth inning for his first save.
Texas scored on a second-inning sacrifice fly by Ezequiel Duran and a seventh-inning solo home run by Kyle Higashioka.
Alejandro Osuna contributed three hits before being pinch-hit for by Andrew McCutchen.
Angels manager Kurt Suzuki praised the comprehensive team effort.
"Good team performances the last couple nights," Suzuki said. "Timely hitting, pitchers making pitches to get out of innings and the energy is really good.
It's fun to be a part of when you're doing something like this on a nightly basis.
I know it's only two nights, but it's a good reminder of how we can play and, when things are going good for us, how good we can be."
Schanuel exited the game in the seventh inning due to left calf tightness and is considered day-to-day.
The three-game series concludes Sunday at Angel Stadium, with the Rangers yet to name a starting pitcher to face Angels left-hander Reid Detmers.
