ANAHEIM -- The White Sox came just short of a dramatic comeback in Thursday night’s series opener at Angel Stadium. A four-run rally in the ninth got them close, but they ultimately fell to the Angels 8-7.

For a while, Chicago’s offense was basically all José Abreu. His pair of homers to drive in the first three White Sox runs were all the lineup could muster through eight innings, but it kept them in the game long enough to make that late bounce-back attempt.

• Box score

“I’m feeling very comfortable right now and seeing the ball very good,” Abreu said through team interpreter Billy Russo. “I was able to hit two homers and drove in three runs to try to help the team to compete and to win the game. We fell short today, but I think it was a good team effort.”

Abreu’s first homer off Angels starter Andrew Heaney was a game-tying two-run shot in the top of the fourth, his 25th of the season. It traveled a projected 388 feet over the center-field wall and left the bat at 105.5 mph, according to Statcast.

The second home run was a leadoff shot in the seventh. His 26th long ball went even farther out to center, a projected 415 feet.

Abreu now has a six-game hitting streak, during which he is 10-for-22 with the two homers, three doubles and six RBIs. In August, he has an OPS of 1.091, a pleasant contrast compared to his .628 OPS in July.

For Abreu, the improved results are as simple as putting in the work and believing in himself. Manager Rick Renteria suggested that it’s a matter of his first baseman having sharpened focus and being more rested.

“I do think he’s seeing the ball well,” said Renteria. “I do think he’s not trying to do too much. I think that he’s allowing his teammates to carry some of the load. I think, sometimes, he has a tendency to want to do a lot to help us out, and so that can affect a hitter. It takes you outside of the strike zone a little bit more. I think he’s shown a little bit more patience getting pitches that he can handle in the zone, and putting good swings on them.

“I think he’s also probably been a little more rested -- we’ve been able to give him some DH games with [Matt] Skole being able to pick him up over there and getting him off his legs a little bit, has helped. He’s only missed one game all season, so he’s been grinding. But he does look good.”

Thursday was Abreu’s 14th career multihomer game, and third against the Angels. Abreu had last homered nine days earlier on Aug. 6, against the Tigers in Detroit. With 172 career home runs, he is now sixth on the White Sox franchise all-time list, passing Robin Ventura, Abreu’s former manager.

“I didn’t know I passed Robin,” said Abreu. “I had the chance to play for him [from 2014-16]. He was an outstanding manager, great person, and now, knowing that is even more special.”

“Listen, he continues to impress everybody with everything he does,” said Renteria. “That’s an impressive feat. Some good names next to his in terms of what he’s doing as an individual. It’s impressive, no doubt about it.”