Angels sweep doubleheader with Twins to bolster playoff push

The Los Angeles Angels are back in the American League wild-card hunt after taking a pair of contests from the Minnesota Twins on Saturday.

Los Angeles outlasted Minnesota 4-3 in 12 innings to take the first contest, and then rode the arm of Garrett Richards in the night cap to a 5-2 victory. The pair of victories pulled the Angels within 1 1/2 games of the Houston Astros for the final playoff spot in the AL.

Richards came within an out of a complete game, allowing two runs on five hits while striking out seven. The flamethrower ran into trouble in the ninth, though, and made way for closer Huston Street to record the final out.

MVP candidate Mike Trout added his 39th blast - a solo shot off Phil Hughes - in the eighth to put the Angels up 5-1.

Mike Scioscia's squad eked out a win in Game 1 of the twin bill after the Twins made a pair of mistakes in the 12th inning to set up a Kole Calhoun RBI groundout.

Dan Robertson led off the Angels' half of the 12th by reaching on second baseman Brian Dozier's error. Robertson later scored when Twins shortstop Eduardo Escobar dropped Calhoun's liner, and then threw late in an attempt to cut down the go-ahead run at the plate.

The early game was a makeup for Friday's rainout.

Los Angeles has taken all three games in the series, and will go for the sweep Sunday when it sends Matt Shoemaker to the hill to battle Tyler Duffey.