Rangers show late fight, but Halos' homers too much

ANAHEIM -- The Angels are leading the league in runs scored, so they have roughed up more pitchers than just Colby Lewis this season. Lewis just happens to have the honor of making more starts against the Angels than any other pitcher in 2014.

A couple were good, one back in July was really bad, and this one was not so good. Lewis gave up eight runs, seven earned, in five innings, and the Rangers' seven-game winning streak came to an end with an 8-5 loss to the Angels on Saturday night.

"It's the fifth time I've faced them. … My pitch selection was off," Lewis said. "My fastball was good, it was just up in the zone a little bit."

The eight runs were the most Lewis has given up in a game since the Angels scored 13 off him on July 10 in Arlington. Seven of the eight runs came across on home runs by Mike Trout, Albert Pujols and David Freese. It's the first time this season Lewis has given up three home runs in a game.

Lewis is 1-4 with a 9.34 ERA in five starts against the Angels, and 9-10 with a 4.58 ERA in 23 starts against earth-bound teams. He beat the Angels in his first start against them on May 2 and then lost the next four.

"I should have a decent game against them," Lewis said. "I've faced them five times, they've faced me five times, it could go either way. I got out of my game. I'm disappointed in myself. I should have pitched better."

Angels starter Jered Weaver, pitching for the first time in a week, was at the top of his game for most the night. He had a two-hit shutout through six innings while his teammates built up an 8-0 lead. He ended up being charged with three runs in seven-plus innings but still earned his league-leading 18th win. It was his 15th career win against the Rangers, second most by an active pitcher behind Bartolo Colon, with 20.

"He was fantastic tonight," Rangers manager Tim Bogar said. "You have to give him a lot of credit. It doesn't matter what lineup he was facing, that was great stuff."

Adrian Beltre had three of the Rangers' eight hits with three doubles. That gives him 527 doubles for his career, in one night passing Ken Griffey Jr., Ted Williams and Dave Parker to move into 40th place all-time.

"Beltre is one of the best hitters I have ever been around," Bogar said. "The effort he gives and the swings he takes, he gives it nothing but his best."

Beltre's second double drove in the Rangers' first run off Weaver in the seventh. The Rangers added four runs in the eighth inning but could not overcome the Angels' eight-run lead after five.

The Angels picked up their first run in the first inning, when Trout walked with one out and scored on a two-out double by Howie Kendrick.

The Rangers had a chance to tie it in the top of the second when Beltre led off with a double and went to third on a single by Tomas Telis. But Weaver got Ryan Rua to ground into an inning-ending double play. Weaver then retired the next 13 hitters he faced.

Trout, after shortstop Elvis Andrus dropped a popup in shallow center field, hit a two-run home run in the third. The Angels then broke it open on a two-run home run by Pujols and a three-run shot by Freese in the fifth.

"Colby just left some pitches up in the zone, and that good lineup isn't going to miss it," Bogar said. "Colby is a guy who relies on location, and he couldn't get the ball where he wanted it, and those guys didn't miss it."