Angels rally past Rangers, 4-1

KEY MOMENT: Designated hitter C.J. Cron came to the plate with the bases loaded and the score tied, 1-1, with two out in the sixth inning. Cron lined a pitch from reliever Roman Mendez up the middle, and center fielder Leonys Martin dived but could not make the catch. Two runs scored on the play, putting the Angels ahead, 3-1.

AT THE PLATE: Outfielder Kole Calhoun had three of the Angels’ eight hits. Infielder Grant Green, recalled from triple A on Friday, had two. Albert Pujols, who hit the ball hard Friday night but came up empty, delivered a bases-loaded single against Mendez in the sixth inning that helped set the stage for Cron. Pujols also drew a bases-loaded walk in the seventh.

ON THE MOUND: C.J. Wilson, who was pushed back in the rotation because of elbow stiffness after his previous start, gave up one run and seven hits in 52/3 innings. He struck out four and walked three. He threw 103 pitches, 58 for strikes. In the sixth inning, Wilson walked Mitch Moreland, gave up a single to Elvis Andrus and then walked Shin-Soo Choo to load the bases. Wilson got Adam Rosales to pop out to shortstop Erick Aybar and then was replaced by Vinnie Pestano, who got Robinson Chirinos to ground out to Aybar. Pujols saved a run by scooping the ball on Aybar’s low throw to first base.

SEASON DEBUT: Green started at second base, and one of his hits started the Angels’ sixth-inning rally. Green was batting .328 at triple-A Salt Lake. Green, who can play multiple positions, said he was ready for whatever role is required. “I’ve always said, as long as I have an Angels uniform on, that’s all that really matters and go from there,” he said.

EXTRA BASES: Before the game, the Angels honored Don Baylor, Vladimir Guerrero and Mike Trout, all winners of the American League most valuable player award. Baylor won in 1979, Guerrero in 2004 and Trout last season.

ON THE FARM: Third-base prospect Kyle Kubitza, who was acquired from Atlanta for pitcher Ricardo Sanchez in January and is seen as a probable replacement for David Freese in 2016, is off to a hot start at Salt Lake. He batted .394 with a .429 on-base percentage and .621 slugging percentage in his first 16 games. The left-handed-hitting Kubitza had 11 doubles, two triples, six runs batted in, 19 strikeouts and four walks in 70 at-bats.

UP NEXT: Left-hander Hector Santiago (2-1, 2.45 ERA) will pitch against Nick Martinez (2-0, 0.45) in a 12:30 p.m. series finale at Angel Stadium. TV: Fox Sports West; Radio: 830, 1330.