Rangers’ Josh Hamilton makes big plays against Angels

It would be the ultimate indignity for the Angels if Josh Hamilton, the left fielder they are paying $60 million over three years to play for the Rangers after his winter substance-abuse relapse and April trade to Texas, delivered a key hit to knock them out of the playoff race.

Hamilton, who was sidelined for two weeks of September after undergoing minor left-knee surgery, did not deliver that kind of crushing blow Thursday night, but he had his fingerprints all over the Rangers’ 5-3 victory.

With Albert Pujols on third, David Freese on first and one out in the second inning, Hamilton raced back and made a superb over-the-shoulder catch of Shane Victorino’s drive before sliding on his knees and into the wall.

Pujols did not immediately tag. He took a few steps back to the bag after Hamilton’s catch and made it home for a 1-0 Angels lead, but the Rangers nearly threw him out. Hamilton’s play helped prevent a bigger inning.

“That was a big catch, a big play in the game,” Angels center fielder Mike Trout said. “Freeser was on first. If he missed that ball and it hits off the wall, maybe he has a chance to score.”

Hamilton was often criticized by Angels fans who felt he didn’t exert enough effort on defense, but his catch Thursday night was Gold Glove-caliber, even though it took a toll on him physically.

“It hurt, but it’s fine,” Hamilton said of his knee. “The surprising part was I didn’t think he hit it that well. I was more excited about getting up and throwing it in and having a close play at home.”

Hamilton doubled to left in the second and didn’t score, but he drove in a big insurance run in the seventh, following singles by Adrian Beltre and Prince Fielder with a sacrifice fly to deep center for a 5-3 lead.

Hamilton’s two years in Anaheim after signing a five-year, $125-million deal before 2013 were marked by injury and underachievement, and after his relapse, he was banished from the team, ordered to remain in Houston to rehabilitate from shoulder surgery. He was not welcome at the team’s Arizona spring-training complex or in Angel Stadium.

But Hamilton claimed Thursday night that he didn’t have any extra incentive to stick it to the Angels.

“It’s not anything different than if it was any other team,” Hamilton said. “Like I’ve said before, I appreciated my time there and had some good teammates and coaches over there who I kept in touch with. I don’t want them to do bad, or anything like that.

“The fact it was them, is just how it worked out. Just looking around baseball and looking at everything that’s going on and how close everything is, like, who makes the schedule? Really? This worked out like this this year.”

Short hops

Rangers left-hander Derek Holland, who went 0-2 with an 8.59 earned-run average in his previous four starts, held the Angels to three runs and three hits in 6 1/3 innings, striking out six and walking three, to improve to 4-3. Closer Shawn Tolleson retired the side in order in the ninth for his 35th save, and Texas won for the 19th time in 29 games since Sept. 1.