C.J. CRON hit a two-run home run that was the difference in the Angels’ 7-6 win over Texas Friday night (Flickr/Keith Allison).

There’s still some life in the old team yet. After losing five of seven games and falling three games back in the American League wild card race, the Los Angeles Angels outlasted the Texas Rangers 7-6 in Anaheim Friday night and gained ground in their struggle for a post-season berth.

The Angels (75-72) scored five runs in the bottom of the sixth to overcome a 4-2 Ranger lead, but the key blow was C.J. Cron’s two-run home run that gave the Halos just enough to win.

“We’re in a big race and every run matters,” Cron said. “We want to do whatever we can to make this playoff run. You can tell by the way the dugout reacts to pretty much every run we score, it’s exciting at this time, and hopefully we can continue playing well.”

With the victory, the Angels moved back to within two games of the Minnesota Twins – who lost 4-3 to Toronto – in the chase for the second wild card berth, with 15 games left in the regular season.

In the big sixth, Justin Upton, Andrelton Simmons and Luis Valbuena each drove in a run in the sixth and set the table for Cron.

The Angels used seven pitchers in the game, with the win going to Yusmeiro Petit (5-0) and the save to Blake Parker, his sixth. The series continues on Saturday with Parker Bridwell (7-2) slated to start for the Orange County team.