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Angels’ Garrett Richards strong again in 6-2 win over Twins

Angels starter Garrett Richards delivers at pitch during the first inning of the team's 6-2 win over the Minnesota Twins on Wednesday.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
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KEY MOMENT: Kevin Jepsen relieved starter Garrett Richards in the eighth inning and gave up a run-scoring single to Kendrys Morales that cut the Angels’ lead to 5-2 and put runners on first and third with one out. But Jepsen struck out Oswaldo Arcia with a slider and got Eduardo Escobar, who fouled off two full-count pitches, to ground to first, ending the inning.

AT THE PLATE: Erick Aybar, who is hitting .315 since April 21, sparked a three-run second inning with a double. C.J. Cron singled, Grant Green hit a sacrifice fly, Chris Iannetta walked and Kole Calhoun ended a 1-1 tie with a two-run double to right field. The Angels scored twice in the third when Albert Pujols singled, Josh Hamilton doubled, Aybar hit a sacrifice fly and Howie Kendrick hit a run-scoring single. Aybar singled, stole second and third and scored on Cron’s single in the eighth.

ON THE MOUND: Richards may have secured his All-Star selection with a 7 1/3-inning, two-run, four-hit, five-strikeout, five-walk effort that improved the right-hander to 4-0 with a 1.05 earned-run average in five June starts and 8-2 with a 2.76 ERA overall. Arcia’s home run in the second, which ended an 0-for-31 skid, was only the third home run Richards has given up in 101 innings.

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EXTRA BASES: The Angels extended their winning streak to five games and improved to 43-33, a 10-game improvement over last season, when they were 33-43 after 76 games. … Twins shortstop Danny Santana injured his left knee while legging out a third-inning double and was replaced by Pedro Florimon.

FUTURES FILL-IN: Venezuelan shortstop Jose Rondon, who is batting .333 for Class-A Inland Empire, was selected for the Futures Game on July 13 as an injury replacement for Houston prospect Carlos Correa, giving the Angels two players — Class-A Burlington pitcher Alfonso Alcantara is the other — in the showcase event.

UP NEXT: Right-hander Jered Weaver (7-6, 3.47 ERA) will oppose Minnesota right-hander Ricky Nolasco (4-5, 5.52) at Angel Stadium on Thursday at 12:30 p.m. On the air: TV: FS West. Radio: 830.

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