Anthony Rendon has RBI single in Angels return after missing 68 games

ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Anthony Rendon had an RBI single Monday night in his first game back after missing nearly three months due to a strained left hamstring.

"It's not going to take him long. He looks like he is about ready at least swinging the bat," manager Ron Washington said after Rendon went 1-for-4 in a 9-4 loss to the Texas Rangers.

Rendon missed 68 games after he strained his left hamstring while running out an infield hit during the first inning against the Cincinnati Reds on April 20.

He remained in Southern California last week while the Angels were on a six-game road trip and faced live pitching on Friday and Saturday at Angel Stadium.

"Long time coming,"Rendon said before the game. "Ready to keep on going and finish the second half strong."

Rendon said the main thing he did over the weekend was run the bases, which is something he wasn't able to do much until the past week.

After talking to Washington, Rendon will alternate between third base and designated hitter until he feels like he is comfortable being able to play the field on consecutive days.

Rendon was hitting. 267 with 3 RBIs in 19 games before the injury. He started the season 0-for-19 before going 20-for-56.

The 34-year old Rendon is in the fifth season of a $245 million, seven-year contract with the Angels, but has had a string of injuries over the past four seasons. He has played in only 168 games and missed 408 since the start of the 2021 season.

"He really wanted to perform this year,"Washington said. "Too bad the hamstring pushed him back. He had this date on the calendar and he's excited about it. He wants to come out here and show that he still wants to perform."

Rendon and three-time American League MVP Mike Trout have been in the same lineup in only 118 games out of 576 since 2021 (20.5%). Trout had surgery on his left knee May 3 and hopes to return to the lineup by late July.

Trout did some work on the field before the game, including jogging and hitting off a batting tee.

The Angels (37-53) have dropped seven of their past eight games and trail the Seattle Mariners by 11 games in the AL West.

With Rendon out of the lineup, the Angels batted .239 in the leadoff spot, the eighth-lowest average in the majors.

"We had a pretty good June and then the last road trip didn't go as well as we hoped," Rendon said. "Hopefully we can turn things around and try to get the ball rolling for the second half."

Infielder Miguel Sano was designated for assignment to make room for Rendon.