Angels defeat the Twins, 5-4

REPORTING FROM MINNEAPOLIS — AT THE PLATE: Mike Trout and Josh Hamilton walked ahead of Howie Kendrick’s run-scoring double over left fielder Jordan Schafer’s head in the fourth inning, and Hamilton scored on Schafer’s throwing error. Erick Aybar hit an RBI single to right, and David Freese hit an RBI double to left for a 4-0 lead.

ON THE MOUND: Hector Santiago escaped a second-and- third, one-out jam in the second. After giving up a run on doubles by Danny Santana and Brian Dozier in the fifth, he got Kennys Vargas to ground into an inning-ending double play with two on. But he walked a batter, gave up a single to Kurt Suzuki and grooved a 2-0 changeup to Eduardo Nunez, who crushed a three-run homer to center for a 4-4 tie in the sixth. Jason Grilli, Kevin Jepsen, Joe Smith and Huston Street each threw scoreless innings for the Angels.

HAMILTON HURT: Hamilton was pulled in the eighth inning because of a sore A/C joint in his right shoulder, an injury he sustained in Houston on Monday night and aggravated while making a throw from the wall to second to hold Trevor Plouffe to a single in the second Thursday. Hamilton received a cortisone injection after the game and will not play Friday. “It affects me swinging, running, everything,” Hamilton said. “It’s real sore.”

FOR STARTERS: Cory Rasmus will get his second start in place of the injured Garrett Richards on Saturday, but the Angels want him to approach it as if he were a reliever, much like he did last Saturday, when he allowed one hit and struck out six in three scoreless innings against Oakland. “He’s been a starter in the past and knows what it’s like to pace himself,” pitching coach Mike Butcher said. “We want him to compete and not hold anything back. Don’t leave anything in the tank.”

UP NEXT: Right-hander Matt Shoemaker (14-4, 3.14 ERA) will oppose Minnesota right-hander Ricky Nolasco (5-10, 5.96 ERA) at Target Field on Friday at 5 p.m. PDT. On the air: TV: FS West. Radio: 710, 830.