Angels’ big third inning thumps Phils

The Los Angeles Angels are finally getting the offensive production they’ve craved all season.

Mike Trout, C.J. Cron and Kaleb Cowart all homered in a seven-run third inning, JC Ramirez pitched eight strong innings and the Angels defeated the Philadelphia Phillies 7-0 Wednesday night.

It was the fifth consecutive game the Angels scored at least six runs.

“We’ve got some guys swinging the bats better,” Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. “We’re getting our lineup a little deeper and pressuring teams.”

Trout and Cron hit tworun homers and Cowart a solo shot in the third, all seven runs coming against right-hander Jake Thompson. It was the 20th home run of the season for Trout. Martin Maldonado hit two doubles in the inning.

“One bad inning really cost us,” Phillies manager Pete Mackanin said, “and we didn’t swing the bats very well.”

Ramirez (10-9) gave up six hits and two walks, while striking out three in the longest outing of his career. Edward Paredes threw a scoreless ninth to give the Angels their ninth shutout of the season.

This is the first season Ramirez has been used as a starter.

“JC just keeps going,” Scioscia said. “For him being in uncharted waters . now getting into some innings he’s never really been this deep as a starter. He just keeps doing it. His confidence is very high. That was a great eight innings he gave us.”

The victory was the fourth in five games as Los Angeles pulled three games behind the final American League wild-card spot.

“We’re just trying to win series,” Trout said. “We’re getting hot. It’s good to see. We knew we were capable of doing it. It’s fun to be out there.”

Thompson (1-1) went five innings for the Phillies. Only two of the seven runs were earned - thanks to Cesar Hernandez’s fielding error. It was Thompson’s second start since replacing Jeremy Hellickson in the rotation after he was traded to the Baltimore Orioles on July 28.

“He didn’t have good command,” Mackanin said. “He was spraying the ball all over the place.”

The Phillies lost to the Angels for the 11th consecutive time. Philadelphia was on a five-game winning streak until dropping the last two to Los Angeles.

The Angels hit three home runs in one inning for the first time this season.