Mike Trout homers in fourth straight game to lead Angels past White Sox

Angels second baseman Danny Espinosa (3), left, leaps as White Sox second baseman Yolmer Sanchez (5) steals second base during a game at Angel Stadium in Anaheim on Monday, May 15, 2017. (Photo by Kyusung Gong/Orange County Register/SCNG)
Angels center fielder Mike Trout (27) hits a solo homer in the fifth inning during a game against the White Sox at Angel Stadium in Anaheim on Monday, May 15, 2017. (Photo by Kyusung Gong/Orange County Register/SCNG)
Angels center fielder Mike Trout (27) watches his solo homer in the fifth inning during a game against the White Sox at Angel Stadium in Anaheim on Monday, May 15, 2017. (Photo by Kyusung Gong/Orange County Register/SCNG)
Los Angeles Angels’ Mike Trout (27) is congratulated by Kole Calhoun, second from right, along with Martin Maldonado (12) after hitting a solo home run as manager Mike Scioscia, left, watches during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Chicago White Sox, Monday, May 15, 2017, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) ORG XMIT: ANS111
Los Angeles Angels’ Kole Calhoun, right, hits a three-run home run as Chicago White Sox catcher Kevan Smith watches during the fifth inning of a baseball game, Monday, May 15, 2017, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) ORG XMIT: ANS110
Angels right fielder Kole Calhoun (56), right, celebrates his three-run homer in the fifth inning with teammates during a game against the White Sox at Angel Stadium in Anaheim on Monday, May 15, 2017. (Photo by Kyusung Gong/Orange County Register/SCNG)
Angels’ Jesse Chavez delivers a pitch during a game against the White Sox at Angel Stadium in Anaheim on Monday, May 15, 2017. (Photo by Kyusung Gong/Orange County Register/SCNG)
Los Angeles Angels right fielder Kole Calhoun can’t reach a ball hit for an RBI triple by Chicago White Sox’s Tyler Saladino during the fifth inning of a baseball game, Monday, May 15, 2017, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) ORG XMIT: ANS107
Angels right fielder Kole Calhoun (56) is just short of catching White Sox’ Tyler Saladino’s hit during a game at Angel Stadium in Anaheim on Monday, May 15, 2017. (Photo by Kyusung Gong/Orange County Register/SCNG)
Angels’ Luis Valbuena (18) shatters the bat during a game against the White Sox at Angel Stadium in Anaheim on Monday, May 15, 2017. (Photo by Kyusung Gong/Orange County Register/SCNG)
White Sox starting pitcher Mike Pelfrey (50) delivers a pitch during a game at Angel Stadium in Anaheim on Monday, May 15, 2017. (Photo by Kyusung Gong/Orange County Register/SCNG)
White Sox first baseman Jose Abreu (79), left, celebrate his homer with White Sox third base coach Nick Capra (12) during a game at Angel Stadium in Anaheim on Monday, May 15, 2017. (Photo by Kyusung Gong/Orange County Register/SCNG)
Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Mike Pelfrey crouches on the mound as he gives up a three-run home run to Los Angeles Angels’ Kole Calhoun during the fifth inning of a baseball game, Monday, May 15, 2017, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) ORG XMIT: ANS109
Los Angeles Angels’ Kole Calhoun, right, is congratulated by Danny Espinosa, left, and Cameron Maybin after hitting a three-run home run during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Chicago White Sox, Monday, May 15, 2017, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) ORG XMIT: ANS108
Los Angeles Angels’ Mike Trout, right, hits a solo home run as Chicago White Sox catcher Kevan Smith watches during the fifth inning of a baseball game, Monday, May 15, 2017, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) ORG XMIT: ANS112
Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Jesse Chavez throws to the plate during the first inning of a baseball game against the Chicago White Sox, Monday, May 15, 2017, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) ORG XMIT: ANS101
Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Mike Pelfrey throws to the plate during the first inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels, Monday, May 15, 2017, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) ORG XMIT: ANS102
Chicago White Sox shortstop Tyler Saladino fields a ball hit by Los Angeles Angels’ Kole Calhoun during the third inning of a baseball game, Monday, May 15, 2017, in Anaheim, Calif. Calhoun was throw out at first on the play. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) ORG XMIT: ANS103
Chicago White Sox’s Jose Abreu, right, is congratulated by Avisail Garcia after hitting a two-run home run during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels, Monday, May 15, 2017, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) ORG XMIT: ANS106
Angels catcher Martin Maldonado (12), right, cheers starting pitcher Jesse Chavez (40) up as he is being removed from the game in the eighth inning during a game against the White Sox at Angel Stadium in Anaheim on Monday, May 15, 2017. (Photo by Kyusung Gong/Orange County Register/SCNG)
Angels bench greet Jesse Chavez (40) after he is removed from the game in the eighth inning during a game against the White Sox at Angel Stadium in Anaheim on Monday, May 15, 2017. (Photo by Kyusung Gong/Orange County Register/SCNG)
Angels catcher Martin Maldonado (12) watches his homer in the seventh inning during a game against the White Sox at Angel Stadium in Anaheim on Monday, May 15, 2017. (Photo by Kyusung Gong/Orange County Register/SCNG)
Angels catcher Martin Maldonado (12) rounds the bases after hitting a solo homer in the seventh inning during a game against the White Sox at Angel Stadium in Anaheim on Monday, May 15, 2017. (Photo by Kyusung Gong/Orange County Register/SCNG)
Angels catcher Martin Maldonado (12) celebrates his homer with the bench during a game against the White Sox at Angel Stadium in Anaheim on Monday, May 15, 2017. (Photo by Kyusung Gong/Orange County Register/SCNG)
White Sox right fielder Avisail Garcia (26) is just short of catching a hit by Angels first baseman C.J. Cron (24) during a game at Angel Stadium in Anaheim on Monday, May 15, 2017. (Photo by Kyusung Gong/Orange County Register/SCNG)
Angels relief pitcher Bud Norris (20) delivers a pitch during a game against the White Sox at Angel Stadium in Anaheim on Monday, May 15, 2017. (Photo by Kyusung Gong/Orange County Register/SCNG)
Los Angeles Angels relief pitcher Bud Norris throws to the plate during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Chicago White Sox, Monday, May 15, 2017, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) ORG XMIT: ANS113
Angels relief pitcher Bud Norris (20) pumps his fist after finishing the game against the White Sox at Angel Stadium in Anaheim on Monday, May 15, 2017. (Photo by Kyusung Gong/Orange County Register/SCNG)
ANAHEIM, CA – MAY 15: Kevan Smith #36 of the Chicago White Sox looks on after striking out as Martin Maldonado #12 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim walks off during the ninth inning of a game at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on May 15, 2017 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
Angels center fielder Mike Trout (27), left fielder Cameron Maybin (9), and right fielder Kole Calhoun (56) celebrate a win against the White Sox at Angel Stadium in Anaheim on Monday, May 15, 2017. (Photo by Kyusung Gong/Orange County Register/SCNG)
ANAHEIM, CA – MAY 15: C.J. Cron #24 congratulates Kole Calhoun #56, Andrelton Simmons #2, Danny Espinosa #3, and Luis Valbuena #18 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim after defeating the Chicago White Sox 5-3 in a game at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on May 15, 2017 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

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ANAHEIM — On Thursday night, Mike Trout returned to the Angels lineup after missing five days with a tight hamstring and went hitless.

That concludes the description of his re-adjustment.

“The first game he didn’t get a hit, and now he’s back to being Mike Trout,” Kole Calhoun said. “Every day he is going to amaze you with something.”

The latest amazement came when he homered for the fourth straight game in the Angels’ 5-3 victory over the Chicago White Sox on Monday night.

It was the first time in his career that he had accomplished that feat. It was the first time any Angels player had homered in four straight games since Mark Trumbo did it in 2012.

The franchise record is five, set by Bobby Bonds in 1977. Trout will have a familiar face in front of him as he takes a shot at that on Tuesday. The White Sox will start lefty Derek Holland, a longtime member of the Texas Rangers. Trout has faced Holland 51 times, and he’s hit .326 (14 for 43) with three homers.

Trout’s homer on Monday night was a 417-foot blast to straightaway left, a no-doubt-about-it shot. All four of his homers in the streak have traveled at least 400 feet.

Trout’s homer followed a three-run shot by Calhoun, which suddenly put Jesse Chavez in line for a victory.

To Chavez, the Trout streak is another item to add to the list of awe-inspiring accomplishments in his first year as Trout’s teammate.

“You have been spoiled,” Chavez said he tells people who have seen Trout every day for years. “I’m relishing every moment of it. Watching him go do his work every day. The way he goes about his business. Bar none, the best I’ve seen.”

Of course, Calhoun’s homer set the stage, erasing the three-run deficit and finally getting Calhoun the results he’d been waiting for while enduring a 2-for-21 slump.

“I feel like I’ve had some pretty solid contact in there and not getting a lot to fall in,” he said. “But that’s the ups and downs of the season. You just want to go out and help your team win games, and we’ve done that the last two games.”

Chavez got credit for this victory after allowing three runs in seven innings, one of his better outings of the season. Chavez, projected to be the Angels’ No. 5 starter, has performed about as well as could be expected, for that role.

After Monday’s game, Chavez has a 4.22 ERA, but it’s 3.75 as a starter. He gave up three runs in his one inning of relief when the Angels were forced to turn to him in the 13th inning of a game last month.

“I’m satisfied, but still not happy,” Chavez said. “There’s still a lot of work to do. It’s still early in the season. I don’t think any of us are happy where we’re at right now. We’re still coming in every day and trying to eliminate the bad that we did the night before.”

Chavez did not allow a baserunner through the first three innings, but then Leury Garcia singled up the middle to start the fourth. An out later, Jose Abreu drilled a two-run homer to right field.

An inning later, No. 9 hitter Tyler Saladino dropped an RBI triple just beyond the reach of a diving Calhoun in right, making it 3-0.

That was all Chavez allowed, though. He bounced back with two scoreless innings after the Angels took the lead on the Calhoun and Trout homers.

Chavez started the eighth, but he walked Tyler Saladino. Jose Alvarez came in and picked up two outs, and then Bud Norris got the final four outs to pick up his eighth save.

Mike Trout homers in fourth straight game to lead Angels past White Sox

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