LIKE MIKE TROUT’S SHIRT, the Angels are red-hot. He helped a lot with a three-run home run in the 9-5 win Monday night (Flickr/Keith Allison).

By Pete Zarustica

For the first part of the 2016 season, the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim have been as cold as a judge’s smile. But since the All-Star break, they have been as hot as Tabasco sauce sandwich.

The Halos rallied impressively Monday night at the Big A to defeat the Texas Rangers 9-5 to extend their winning streak to four. Not only are they unbeaten in this second half, they have now won eight out of 10 games, improving their record to 41-52. They’re still tied with Oakland for fourth place in the American League West.

Trailing 4-0 early, the Angels chipped away and went ahead 5-4 in the sixth. Texas knotted it in the top of the seventh, but the home team answered impressively with four runs in the eighth.

The big blow was Mike Trout’s three-run home run, his 19th homer of the season. The Angels totaled nine hits, with Andrelton Simmons getting three and Trout two. Daniel Nava was 0-for-2 but drove in two runs. Ji-Man Choi hit his first home run in the fifth inning.

“We’re putting everything together,” Trout said. “Pitching, defense, and obviously we’re getting big hits in big situations.”

Angel starter Nick Tropeano had a tough start, giving up three hits –all of them home runs – and four runs in two innings of work. After the game he reported elbow soreness.

The series with the Rangers continues Tuesday in Anaheim.