Mike Trout hit a leadoff triple in the ninth inning on Friday and scored on a tiebreaking single by Albert Pujols, sending the Los Angeles Angels to a 2-1 win over Texas that kept the Rangers from clinching the American League West title.
Los Angeles began the day tied with Minnesota in the race for the second A.L. wild card, and a game behind Houston, which played later on Friday.
Rangers closer Shawn Tolleson (6-4) appeared in his fourth consecutive game. Trout hit the second pitch deep into the right-center gap, and then slid headfirst into third base before emphatically pumping his right arm toward his teammates in the dugout.