Hamilton steps up despite Big A boo-birds

ANAHEIM -- Josh Hamilton came back, he got booed, and then he conquered. For one night, Hamilton got the upper hand on all those Angels fans who are still frothing over his two subpar years in Anaheim.

Hamilton answered the boos by going 2-for-4 with a double and a single, starting both Rangers rallies and scoring two runs in a 4-2 victory over the Angels.

"It is important to have a good game anytime, no matter where I'm at or who we are playing against," Hamilton said. "It was nothing special tonight."

Video: TEX@LAA: Hamilton on his return to Anaheim

• Hamilton opens up before Angel Stadium return

Rangers manager Jeff Banister said Hamilton handled the whole situation just fine in his first game at Angel Stadium since being acquired by the Rangers on April 27.

"He has been booed in other stadiums before," Banister said. "Getting booed in opposing stadiums, that's part of the business. He showed up for us, had a smile on his face and a lot of energy."

Hamilton delighted the crowd by striking out in his first at-bat. But then he doubled with one out in the fifth after Angels starter Nick Tropeano had retired 13 straight hitters. He went to third on a single by Andrus and scored when Tropeano bounced a pickoff throw past first baseman C.J. Cron.

Video: TEX@LAA: Hamilton scores on error to tie game at 1

Hamilton also had a single in the seventh and later scored on Robinson Chirinos' squeeze bunt.

"He just looks like Josh," Angels outfielder Mike Trout said. "He's in a new place. I'm sure he's happy there, and we turned the page here."

"At times when he was with us he swung the bat well," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "At the beginning of last season he swung the bat well. He hit a couple balls hard for them."

Video: TEX@LAA: Hamilton scores on squeeze bunt in the 7th

Hamilton has now played in all seven games since the All-Star break and is 8-for-24 (.333) in his last six games. The Rangers were being careful with Hamilton before the break, giving him time off to rest his hamstrings. Now he wants to play every day in the hopes it will get him going at the plate.

"I am starting to feel better," Hamilton said. "If you play every day, you don't like days off because you come back sore and out of sync. I'm trying to get my body used to playing every day and getting into a groove."