Josh Hamilton powers Angels past Astros, 5-1

Angels 5, Astros 1

KEY MOMENT: Josh Hamilton, who struck out four times in his first five at-bats against left-handers this season, hit a two-run home run to right field against left-hander Dallas Keuchel to cap a three-run rally and give the Angels a 4-1 lead in the fifth inning.

BOX SCORE: Angels 5, Astros 1

AT THE PLATE: Hamilton beat the Astros’ exaggerated shift with two infield singles that would have been routine grounders to a normally positioned shortstop. He’s hitting .500 (nine for 18) with two home runs and five runs batted in. Howie Kendrick, Erick Aybar and David Freese had two hits each, with Kendrick (double), Freese (single) and Kole Calhoun (single) driving in runs.

ON THE MOUND: Joe Smith threw a one-two-three ninth for the Angels. Keuchel showed an excellent changeup at times but gave up four earned runs and eight hits in five innings, striking out five and walking two, to take the loss.

IN THE FIELD: Third baseman John McDonald atoned for a first-inning error that allowed a run, diving to his left for Chris Carter’s fourth-inning grounder and throwing to first for the out and making a backhand grab of Jesus Guzman’s sixth-inning chopper behind the bag and throwing to second to start a double play.

REHAB REPORT: Reliever Dane De La Rosa (forearm strain) gave up one hit and struck out one in one inning for double-A Arkansas. … Sean Burnett threw another simulated inning in Arizona, but Manager Mike Scioscia said the left-hander “still needs a little bit of work in a controlled environment” before he begins a rehab assignment.

UP NEXT: Right-hander Jered Weaver (0-1, 4.26 ERA) will oppose Houston right-hander Scott Feldman (1-0, 0.00 ERA) at Minute Maid Park on Sunday at 11 a.m. PDT. On the air: TV: FS West. Radio: 830.

mike.digiovanna@latimes.com