Gallo stops slump, beats shift as Rangers top Angels 12-7

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Joey Gallo homered and grounded a tiebreaking single to the vacant spot at shortstop against the shift, helping the Texas Rangers beat the Angels 12-7 on Monday night in Mike Trout’s return after the Los Angeles star missed three games with a groin injury.

Gallo stopped an 0-for-16 slump by lining his fifth homer into the porch in right field . The left-handed slugger, who has faced four infielders on the right side and four outfielders among various alignments, hit a sharp grounder to left to spark a four-run fifth that broke a 4-all tie. Gallo’s third hit was a double in the eighth.

Trout, the designated hitter while the club waits a little longer before putting the two-time AL MVP back in center field, went 0 for 2 with three walks. Trout scored twice, including on Brian Goodwin’s second homer , a two-run shot in a three-run first. Goodwin added a sacrifice fly.

The Rangers topped their previous season high of 11 runs and rallied from three down a day after erasing a five-run deficit in an 8-7 win over Oakland. Texas, which lost the last three of four in the Angels’ home-opening series two weekends ago, has trailed in six of its eight victories.

Shin-Soo Choo, who had three hits, homered leading off the third for his first of the season. Asdrubal Cabrera matched Gallo for the team lead with his fifth homer , a two-run shot for an 11-4 lead in the sixth.

Reliever Kyle Dowdy (1-0) earned his first major league victory, giving up one run on one hit in 2 2/3 innings. Closer Jose Leclerc was forced to come on for his fourth save, getting Zack Cozart on a groundout after Kyle Bird hit a batter and walked two with two outs in the ninth.

Cam Bedrosian (1-1) allowed five of the seven hitters he faced to reach, starting with Elvis Andrus‘ leadoff double in the fifth. Two runs scored on Isiah Kiner-Falefa’s RBI single when right fielder Kole Calhoun’s throw home skipped past Kevan Smith, allowing Gallo to score.

Some LA sloppiness that didn’t result in an error helped Texas erase a 4-1 deficit in the third.

With Danny Santana at third and one out after Choo’s homer, Nomar Mazara’s high popup near home landed between Albert Pujols and Smith, with the first baseman gesturing to his catcher that it should have been Smith’s ball. Mazara’s groundout scored Santana before Gallo homered.

Calhoun had three hits for LA, capped by his third homer — a two-run shot in the eighth.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Angels: LHP Tyler Skaggs was placed on the 10-day injured list after spraining his left ankle in his start against the Cubs on Friday. Skaggs said he expects to be ready when he’s eligible to return. The Angels recalled RHPs Jaime Barria and John Curtiss from Triple-A Salt Lake City and sent down INF Taylor Ward.

UP NEXT

Angels: The starter is undetermined for the second game against the Rangers.

Rangers: LHP Mike Minor (1-1, 3.86 ERA) has allowed two runs in 14 innings of past two starts and will be working on an extra day of rest. Minor didn’t face the Angels in the four-game series in Anaheim earlier this season.