KEY MOMENT: Jake Smolinski, who was drafted by the Nationals in 2007 — six picks ahead of Giancarlo Stanton — homered for the Rangers in the first inning, giving Texas a 3-0 lead five batters in. Smolinski has two career home runs. Stanton has 154.
AT THE PLATE: Mike Trout struck out twice and leads the American League with 175, nine shy of the franchise record set by Mark Trumbo last year. Brennan Boesch hit his second home run; the Pacific Coast League batting champion is hitting .183 in 60 at-bats with the Angels.
ON THE MOUND: Hector Santiago has gotten nine outs in his last two starts. He got three on Friday night, facing 10 batters and giving up seven runs. His earned-run average was 1.93 in August, but it is 9.69 in September.
ROSTER NEWS: The Angels recalled pitcher Drew Rucinski, meaning they have 39 active players, one shy of the September maximum. The only player on the 40-man roster not active: pitcher Jose Alvarez, acquired from the Detroit Tigers in March for shortstop Andrew Romine.
FAN NEWS: The Angels surpassed the 3-million mark in attendance Friday, extending their streak of selling 3 million tickets to 12 years. The Angels attendance had fallen in each of the three seasons preceding this one. The Dodgers, New York Yankees, St. Louis Cardinals and San Francisco Giants also topped 3 million this year.
UP NEXT: The Angels’ Jered Weaver (17-8, 3.50 ERA) faces the Rangers’ Colby Lewis (10-13, 5.12) on Saturday at 6:05 p.m. at Angel Stadium. TV: FS West. Radio: 830, 1330.
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