Rangers hit 5 HRs, trim Angels' AL West lead

ANAHEIM, Calif.(AP) Omar Vizquel drove in three runs with four hits, including one of Texas' five homers, and Josh Hamilton hit an early three-run shot in the second-place Rangers' 11-6 victory over the AL West-leading Los Angeles Angels on Friday night.

Hank Blalock, Michael Young and Taylor Teagarden also connected for the Rangers, who trimmed the Angels' division lead to 3 1/2 games by chasing Los Angeles starter Joe Saunders in the second inning and battering three relievers for 15 hits. Saunders went on the disabled list after the game with tightness in his shoulder.

Texas hit three homers in the fifth inning alone, when Vizquel's fly found the short right-field porch for the 42-year-old infielder's first homer since Sept. 30, 2007.

Maicer Izturis hit a three-run homer and tied his career high with four RBIs for the Angels, who trailed 9-1 by the fifth inning of a rocky homestand opener. Los Angeles has lost three of four for the first time in five weeks.

Scott Feldman (11-4) recovered from a shaky first inning to pitch six strong innings for the Rangers, who lost the AL West lead to Los Angeles four weeks ago. But Texas has won eight of 10 meetings with the Angels this season, a success that could prove decisive with two more series meetings after this weekend.

Vizquel's leadoff single portended trouble for Saunders (9-7), the inconsistent left-hander who hasn't allowed fewer than four runs in a start since June. He gave up five hits and five runs in his shortest start of the season, and the Angels shut him down afterward, recalling right-hander Jose Arrendondo from Triple-A Salt Lake.

Vizquel drove in a run in the second before Saunders left, and the veteran added another RBI single in the fourth. Reliever Justin Speier gave up three solo homers in four at-bats in the fifth, including back-to-back shots by Vizquel and Young, who has a 14-game hitting streak.

Vizquel had his first four-hit game since April 16, 2007.

Before his homer, Hamilton had just one extra-base hit in his last 15 games during an 11-for-64 slump. His long shot to right-center was just his second homer since returning from the disabled list July 6.

Feldman walked in a run in the first, but eventually found a groove, striking out five straight at one point. He gave up eight hits and four runs in his sixth victory in eight starts.

Los Angeles didn't rally until the seventh, when Izturis hit his sixth homer off reliever Jason Jennings before Neftali Feliz got Kendry Morales to pop up with the bases loaded.

The Rangers designated Vicente Padilla for assignment before the game, abruptly moving to cut ties with an inconsistent, high-priced right-hander who apparently wasn't liked by many of his teammates. Padilla recently returned from a bout of swine flu, but lost his final start at Oakland on Wednesday.

NOTES: Bullpen coach Orlando Mercado coached first base for the Rangers while Alfredo Griffin attended a celebration of the Toronto Blue Jays' back-to-back championship teams. ... For all his struggles, Saunders has failed to pitch at least five innings only twice this season - both times against Texas. ... The Rangers' two sets of back-to-back homers were their seventh and eighth of the season.