Plauderecke » The Angels (72-49) are alone in first place in

ARLINGTON, Texas - It took the Los Angeles Angels 4 1/2 months to catch the Oakland Athletics and move into first place in the American League West. Albert Pujols and Howie Kendrick homered to give the Angels an early lead on the way to a 5-4 victory over the Texas Rangers on Saturday night. The Angels (72-49) are alone in first place in the AL West for the first time since 2011, but they are only two percentage points ahead the Athletics, who lost at Atlanta on Saturday. "We havent accomplished anything yet," Pujols said. "Lets not get too far ahead of ourselves. When we accomplish our goal, then we can talk about it." With his team in fifth place, Rangers manager Ron Washington talked about the division race. "I think its going to come down to who continues to pitch well," he said. The Angels finished 78-84 and in third place during an injury-plagued 2013 season. "It definitely feels good to be on the track we hoped to be on last year," manager Mike Scioscia said. One reason for their improvement to the best record in the major leagues is a better bullpen. Huston Street worked a scoreless ninth inning for his 33rd save in 34 opportunities. It was the second straight night the Rangers rallied before losing 5-4. Los Angeles has won nine in a row over Texas, tying the series record set during the 1985 season and matched a year later. Street hasnt allowed a run in 12 games with the Angels since being acquired from San Diego on July 18. "Hes just a bona fide closer," Scioscia said. "He has created an opportunity for us to shorten the game by moving (Kevin) Jepsen up to the seventh inning, and Joe Smith up to the eighth." Angels starter Matt Shoemaker (11-4) pitched three perfect innings before Shin-Soo Choo led off the fourth with a home run, but by that time, the Angels led 5-0. Kendrick added two singles in a 3-for-4 night. Kole Calhoun had a single and a double for the Angels, and Erick Aybar had two singles. Pujols hit a solo homer in the first against starter Colby Lewis (8-10). Kendrick hit another solo shot in the second. Los Angeles Chris Iannetta doubled home another run in the second, and Calhoun singled to drive in two more in the fourth. Both hits, like Pujols homer, were with two out. TRAINERS ROOM Angels: Los Angeles activated RHP Mike Morin (left foot laceration) from the disabled list. He pitched an inning in relief. Rangers: Rios made his fourth consecutive start after aggravating a sprained right ankle on Aug. 10. RHP Yu Darvish (inflamed elbow) wont travel with the team to Miami on Monday, and will continue treatment in Arlington. UP NEXT The teams three-game series concludes on Sunday. Angels LHP Hector Santiago (3-7, 5.84) defeated the Rangers 15-6 on July 10 in Arlington. Texas RHP Nick Tepesch (4-7, 4.29) last faced the Angels on July 11, when he lost 3-0. SLUMPING Rangers 1B J.P. Arencibia had been 0-for-19 before his run-scoring single in the fourth. RF Alex Rios was 0-for-16 before his two-run single in the seventh. LF Jim Adduci went 0-for-4, and is in an 0-for-20 slide. Angels CF Mike Trout went 0 for 5, extending his skid to 0 for 15. HOT HOT HOT Calhoun stretched his hitting streak to a season-high seven games. In six of those games, he has had multiple hits. He is batting .441 (15-for-34) during the streak. Calhoun has five RBIs in the series first two games. Texas CF Leonys Martin is 10-for-20 (.500) in his last five games, including two singles on Saturday. SUPERLATIVES Lewis struck out 10 batters for the first time since June 17, 2012. The 10-year veterans career high is 12, posted May 10, 2012. Kendricks home run was his ninth in Arlington — the most he has hit in any road ballpark. Custom Arizona Cardinals Jerseys .C. - NASCAR team owner Rick Hendrick headlines this years electees into the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame. Zach Allen Womens Jersey . Down 2-1 after Rick Nash scored on a penalty shot, the Oilers ran off four unanswered goals in the remainder of the second period on the way to a 6-3 victory on Sunday. http://www.thecardinalsshoponline.com/Youth-Pat-Tillman-Cardinals-Jersey/ . -- Jake Paterson made 39 saves as the Saginaw Spirit halted the Guelph Storms seven-game win streak with a 6-3 victory on Sunday in Ontario Hockey League action. Hakeem Butler Youth Jersey .C. -- Benn Ferrieros familiar with scoring important goals, just not in back-to-back games. Hakeem Butler Womens Jersey . The announcement was made by the hall on Friday, March 14. She joins Switzerlands Denise Biellmann as this years inductees to the Hall, based in Colorado Springs, CO.With LeBron James sticking around and some of the NBAs best players joining him, the U.S. basketball team could be better than ever. "The roster itself is the strongest roster weve ever had," USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo said. Even without Kobe Bryant, who had said the 2012 London Olympics was his last international competition, its a formidable group. James and 10 others from the 2012 U.S. Olympic team are remaining in the national team pool, joined by a group of newcomers hoping for their first chance at gold. USA Basketball selected 28 players Thursday to choose from for the World Cup of Basketball this summer in Spain and the 2016 Rio Olympics. Carmelo Anthony was also chosen, giving him and James a chance to play in a fourth Olympics and win a third gold medal. They wont play this summer, but might still put on the red, white and blue one more time down the road. "We really do want to give some of the younger players an opportunity in Spain this summer, but they want to remain there and stay in the mix for being on our roster in Rio," Colangelo said on a conference call. Also selected from the 2012 gold medallists were: Kevin Durant, Chris Paul, Kevin Love, Deron Williams, James Harden, Russell Westbrook, Anthony Davis, Tyson Chandler and Andre Iguodala. Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski is back to lead the Americans, as he has done since 2005. The other players picked were: Chicagos Derrick Rose, Houstons Dwight Howard, the Clippers Blake Griffin, Indianas Paul George; Stephen Curry, David Lee and Klay Thompson of Golden State; LaMarcus Aldridge and Damian Lillard of Portland; Sacramentos DeMarcus Cousins, Kyrie Irving of Cleveland; San Antonios Kawhi Leonard; Washingtons Bradley Beal; Atlantas Kyle Korver; Detroits Andre Drummond; Denvers Kenneth Faried; and Utahs Gordon Hayward. Its an experienced, star-filled group -- it includes the NBAs top 10 scorers -- and the Americans stressed it will be "fluid," meaning more players could be added over the next three years. And unlike recent U.S. teams, its big. The Americans have been undersized up front, but have plenty of post players to choose from with Howard, Chandler, Cousins, Davis and Aldridge.dddddddddddd "Those are more big guys than weve had before," said Krzyzewski, noting he had James and Anthony on the floor as his two big men late in the 2012 gold-medal game. "We do have a few more options now." Half of the 28 players have already won gold in either the Olympics or world basketball championships, which was renamed for this years event. James, Anthony, Paul and Williams all have played for the last two Olympic gold-medal winners. Howard missed his chance to join them when he had to pull out of the 2012 London Games because of injury. So did Rose and Griffin -- the latter after he had made the final 12-man roster. Durant and Love were the first to announce their return last summer and are expected to play in Spain. They, along with Iguodala, Westbrook and Chandler, won gold in both 2010 and 2012. The Americans will have to trim the roster to 12 before heading to Spain. If they defend their world title, they will automatically clinch a spot for Rio. If not, they would have to play in an Olympic qualifying tournament in 2015. As in 2010, when they won the worlds for the first time since 1994, the Americans will likely feature a younger roster. But its a deep one, with the potential to bring players such as Aldridge, George and Cousins, who have been among the NBAs best this season. Then James, who began his Olympic career with a bronze in 2004, could make his way back. He and Anthony have already tied David Robinson for the most among U.S. players with their three Olympic appearances. "LeBron has an incredible opportunity to do it a fourth time and the mere fact that his name is on the roster indicates his desire and interest in continuing to have that opportunity in front of him," Colangelo said. Krzyzewski saw James on Wednesday when Duke played at Miami, and said the NBAs MVP was excited to remain involved. "For him to do it a fourth time would be just another star or asterisk next to his name and his career, and it appears thats exactly what he wants to try," Colangelo said. ' ' '