Wilkerson had a three-run shot in the fourth, connected with the bases empty in the sixth and added a two-run blast in the seventh to become the first American League player with a three-homer game this season. He has 13 homers this year.
Alfonso Soriano of the Chicago Cubs and Carlos Lee of the Houston Astros have three-homer games in the National League.
Rangers starter Kevin Millwood (5-7) allowed two runs and five hits in eight innings, striking out four batters and walking none in his longest outing of the season. Millwood was in command from the second through the sixth, retiring 13 batters in a row before Vladimir Guerrero’s leadoff double in the seventh.
The Angels had won six of the first seven meetings with Texas this season by a total score of 42-22, but the Rangers have been playing better lately, winning nine of their last 13 overall. Los Angeles, which has lost five of seven, went in front in the second on Howie Kendrick’s two-run single.
Angels starter Ervin Santana (5-9) had a career-high 11 strikeouts in 5 1/3 innings but exited trailing 4-2. He allowed five runs and seven hits, walking two.
One of those strikeouts proved costly as Marlon Byrd reached first on a wild pitch after going down swinging to lead off the fourth. Frank Catalanotto singled and both runners advanced on Gerald Laird’s sacrifice bunt. Wilkerson followed with his first homer to put the Rangers up 3-2.
Wilkerson added a solo shot in the sixth. The Rangers added another run in the inning when catcher Jose Molina’s pickoff throw to third hit runner Desi Relaford for the Angels’ third error, with Relaford scoring when the ball rolled into left field.
In the seventh, Catalanotto’s sacrifice fly and Wilkerson’s two-run blast extended it to 8-2.
The last Ranger with three homers in a game was Mark Teixeira last July 13 at Baltimore. Wilkerson is the 14th Texas player with a three-homer game.
NOTES: Wilkerson’s previous career highs were two homers and four RBI. . . . The Rangers announced the signing of two draft picks: Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo pitcher Evan Reed (third round) and Arizona State outfielder Tim Smith (seventh).
