It takes all kinds.

The Angels mustered all of two hits off the Texas Rangers and ace C.J. Wilson on Thursday, and still found a way to win, 1-0.

This a day after they racked up a dozen hits and nine runs, going seven for 15 with runners in scoring position in a dramatic come-from-behind victory over the Rangers.

Jered Weaver allowed seven hits in seven shutout innings to improve to 13-4 and lower his major league-best earned-run average to 1.81, and the Angels scored the game’s only run on center fielder Endy Chavez’s second-inning error.


Scott Downs threw a scoreless eighth and Jordan Walden added a scoreless ninth for his 23rd save, a franchise record for a rookie, as the Angels won two of three games against their American League West rivals and trimmed the Rangers’ division lead to three games.

It was the first time in 15 years the Angels won a 1-0 game with two hits, the last coming on May 28, 1996, against the New York Yankees.

“You’re going to have games where you have great, exhilarating comebacks like [Wednesday night], and [Thursday] was more of a grind game,” Manager Mike Scioscia said. “I don’t think it matters how you do it; a win is a win.”

The Rangers have one of baseball’s most potent lineups, one that ranks second in the league in batting average, runs, homers and slugging percentage, but they reached third only once, when they loaded the bases with two outs in the sixth on a double by Adrian Beltre, a walk and an infield single by Nelson Cruz.


Weaver fired a 91-mph fastball, his 27th pitch of the inning, by Mitch Moreland for strike three, punctuating the out with a emphatic pump of his fist.

“That was huge,” said Weaver, who has won seven straight decisions and allowed only six earned runs in 53 2/3 innings of his last seven games. “Moreland is a great hitter with power, but I was lucky he chased a high fastball. I was definitely pretty excited.”

The Angels scored in the second inning without the benefit of a hit. With one out, Howie Kendrick was hit by a pitch and took second on a wild pitch.

Mark Trumbo struck out, and Mike Trout hit a relatively routine fly to right-center field. Chavez raced to the gap in time to make the catch, but he appeared to screen his eyes with his glove.


The ball clanked off Chavez’s glove and fell to the ground, allowing Kendrick to score.

“He put the glove in front of his face while he was running — that’s a no-no,” Angels outfielder Torii Hunter said. “I’ve been there before. That’s how I know.”

The Angels backed Weaver with superb defense, catcher Jeff Mathis nailing Elvis Andrus at third on the front end of a double-steal attempt in the first and Trout making a diving catch of Michael Young’s drive to the gap in right-center to lead off the second.

Third baseman Alberto Callaspo made a leaping catch of Mike Napoli’s seventh-inning liner, and shortstop Erick Aybar back-handed Chavez’s grounder and made a long, strong and accurate throw to first to end the game.


“I had to pitch my way out of a couple of jams,” Weaver said, “and the defense was incredible behind me.”

The offense? Not so much. The Angels are hitting .188 (43 for 229) with 21 runs and 63 strikeouts in seven games since the All-Star break. Take away Wednesday night’s outburst, and the Angels are batting .162 (31 for 191) with 12 runs.

“The defense is doing a heck of a job, the back of the bullpen and our starting pitching is keeping us afloat,” Scioscia said. “Right now, the cement shoes we have is the offense. We have to be more productive offensively. We’re still not where we need to be.”

mike.digiovanna@latimes.com