OC Register: Justin Upton, Parker Bridwell lead Angels past Cole Hamels, Rangers

[AngelsWin.com]

• Los Angeles Angels starter Parker Bridwell watches his pitch against the Texas Rangers during the first inning of a baseball game in Anaheim, Calif., Saturday, Sept. 16, 2017. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

• Texas Rangers starting pitcher Cole Hamels throws to the Los Angeles Angels during the first inning of a baseball game in Anaheim, Calif., Saturday, Sept. 16, 2017. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

• Los Angeles Angels’ Justin Upton watches his home run against the Texas Rangers during the first inning of a baseball game in Anaheim, Calif., Saturday, Sept. 16, 2017. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

• Los Angeles Angels’ Albert Pujols reacts to a called strike during the third inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers n Anaheim, Calif., Saturday, Sept. 16, 2017. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

• Los Angeles Angels’ Albert Pujols runs to first, but is out on an infield grounder during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers in Anaheim, Calif., Saturday, Sept. 16, 2017. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

• Texas Rangers’ Joey Gallo, right, is tagged out while stealing by Los Angeles Angels shortstop Andrelton Simmons during the seventh inning of a baseball game in Anaheim, Calif., Saturday, Sept. 16, 2017. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

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ANAHEIM — The Angels didn’t get much Saturday against the Texas Rangers.

Turned out they didn’t need much.

Or so it seemed at first glance of their 2-0 victory in front of 40,719 at Angel Stadium, which when coupled with the Minnesota Twins’ loss to the Toronto Blue Jays moved them within one game of the second wild-card spot in the American League.

Justin Upton homered twice to spark the Angels’ offense, Parker Bridwell threw six-plus innings of shutout ball to win a pitchers’ duel with the Rangers’ Cole Hamels and the bullpen sealed the deal with superb work in the late innings.

Upton gave Bridwell (8-2) the smallest of leads when he hammered a 1-and-1 pitch from Hamels (10-4) over the left-field fence for his second home run with the Angels and his 30th overall this season. It also tied his career high for RBI in a season with 102.

The first of Upton’s two homers was just the sort of offensive punch the Angels were looking for when they acquired him Aug. 31 from the Detroit Tigers. The Angels needed more than they were getting in what amounted to a one-two punch of Mike Trout and Albert Pujols.

The deeper and more balanced Angels grabbed a 1-0 lead and held onto it, thanks in great part to Bridwell’s standout pitching. He retired the first 13 batters he faced before Joey Gallo sent a laser just past the glove of leaping first baseman C.J. Cron for a fifth-inning double.

Bridwell struck out five in a row during one exceptional run in the second and third innings. He departed after walking Gallo to start the seventh, replaced by Keynan Middleton. Bridwell gave up three runs in six-plus innings with seven strikeouts and two walks.

The Rangers put Bridwell in jeopardy only twice, getting runners on first and second with one out in the fifth and putting runners on first and third with two outs in the sixth. He avoided further trouble in each inning, preserving the Angels’ 1-0 lead.

Most impressively, Bridwell retired Angels nemesis Adrian Beltre on a slow-rolling grounder to third baseman Luis Valbuena. end the sixth. Beltre went into the game with five homers and 12 RBI in eight previous games against the Angels this season.

Middleton, who had been bothered by ulnar nerve irritation, replaced Bridwell with Gallo on first and no one out in the seventh. Middleton struck out Robinson Chirinos, then watched as it was ruled via a replay that Gallo was out trying to steal second base.

Middleton fanned Rougned Odor to end the seventh. Cam Bedrosian then threw a 1-2-3 eighth and Upton extended the Angels’ lead to 2-0 with his second homer of the game, a shot to center in the bottom of the inning. Yusmeiro Petit threw a scoreless ninth for his fourth save.

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