Angels 6, Rangers 2: Jered Weaver won his eighth straight start, Albert Pujols hit two solo homers and rookie Mike Trout added a two-run shot as visiting Los Angeles moved within three games of first-place Texas in the American League West.

Weaver (14-1), who has won nine straight decisions since a 13-6 loss at Texas on May 13, saw his AL-leading ERA rise to 2.29. He snapped a three-game losing streak at Texas and improved to 3-7 lifetime at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington.

Torii Hunter delivered a two-run double for the Angels, who have won the first two in the four-game series.

Weaver yielded two runs and five hits in 6 2/3 innings and left with a 6-2 lead after allowing David Murphy’s two-run double in the seventh.

Derek Holland (7-6), who lost to Weaver and the Angels 6-1 on July 20, allowed six runs, five hits and walked four in 6 2/3 innings on Tuesday as Texas lost for the fourth time in five games.

Weaver, who has won all eight starts while posting a 1.86 ERA since coming off the disabled list June 20, didn’t allow a baserunner until Michael Young’s single to right with two outs in the fifth inning.

Pujols hit his 19th and 20th shots of the season – both on high fastballs – in the fourth and sixth innings, respectively, for his 43rd career multi-homer game.

Trout, who leads the American League with a .353 average, went 2-for-4 and delivered his 18th homer two batters before Pujols in the sixth.

GAME NOTEBOOK: The Rangers acquired RHP Ryan Dempster from the Chicago Cubs for a pair of minor leaguers – 3B Christian Villanueva and RHP Kyle Hendricks. Both were at High-A Myrtle Beach. Dempster is expected to start against the Angels on Thursday. … Rangers RHP Neftali Feliz needs Tommy John surgery and will miss the rest of the season – and most of 2013. … Weaver became the first Angels pitcher to win eight straight games since Chuck Finley captured 10 in a row in 1997. … With 465 career homers, Pujols moved ahead of Chipper Jones (464) into third place among active players. Only Alex Rodriguez (644) and Jim Thome (611) have more. … The Angels have won eight straight road games against left-handed starters. … Texas C Mike Napoli is 5-for-28 in his last nine games with five homers and eight walks.