Angels Win 8-2 in 1st Game Vs. Texas Since Trading Hamilton

Kole Calhoun drove in four runs with a pair of early doubles, and the Los Angeles Angels won 8-2 in their first game against Texas since trading Josh Hamilton back to the Rangers.

Hamilton, who insisted beforehand he had no extra emotions facing the Angels, went 1 for 3 with a double and two strikeouts.

Erick Aybar had his first career five-hit game and scored twice. His two-run single in the second, his second hit that inning, made it 6-0 before Hamilton had even gotten an at-bat for Texas.

Garrett Richards (9-5) won his sixth consecutive start against the Rangers. The right-hander struck out six and allowed one run over 7 2-3 innings.

Rangers rookie right-hander Chi Chi Gonzalez (2-4) gave up six runs in 1 2-3 innings.

The Angels matched a season high with 15 hits and won for the fifth time in six games, a stretch when they have overtaken Texas for second place in the AL West.

Calhoun's three-run double in the second ended an Angels slide of 25 hitless at-bats with runners in scoring position. He added an RBI double in the third on a play when leadoff hitter Johnny Giavotella was also thrown out trying to score from first.

Sports Connection

Connecting you to your favorite North Texas sports teams as well as sports news around the globe.

76ers' Tyrese Maxey wins 2023-24 Most Improved Player award

USWNT to play 2024 Olympics send-off match in Washington in July

Hamilton played only his 10th game this season for Texas, his third since being activated this week after a month on the disabled list with a left hamstring strain. He is hitting .303 (10 for 33) with two home runs.

His double was Texas' third consecutive two-out hit in the sixth, following Prince Fielder's double and Adrian Beltre's RBI single.

Ryan Rua, who replaced Hamilton in the field to start the eighth, homered leading off the ninth.

Los Angeles traded Hamilton on April 27, after an offseason that included shoulder surgery and a self-reported substance abuse relapse. The 2010 AL MVP played only two seasons with the Angels after signing a $125 million, five-year deal during free agency after the 2012 season.

Texas is responsible for $6 million through 2017 after Hamilton agreed to give up $14 million he was due from the original deal.

Hamilton said before the game he has moved forward since returning to the franchise he led to a pair of World Series appearances.

"There's no searching or closure for me. It's over. I've moved on. I'm in Texas now," he said. "I've got a great group of guys here. I had a great group of guys in Anaheim."
 

Contact Us