Trout sets new career high with 42nd homer

ARLINGTON -- Superstar Angels outfielder Mike Trout is putting together perhaps the best season of his career, and he reached a new personal milestone early in Game 1 of Tuesday's doubleheader against the Rangers, a 5-1 win for Los Angeles. Trout hit his career-high 42nd homer of the year, a two-run shot to left in the first inning off Joe Palumbo, to extend his American League homer lead and pull into a tie with the Dodgers' Cody Bellinger for the Major League lead.

Trout's previous high was 41 homers in 2015, and he has hit at least 30 dingers in a season six times, including 39 last season. He’s on pace to hit 53 homers in '19, which would surpass the Angels’ franchise mark of 47 set by Troy Glaus in '00.

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Is it possible that Trout, regarded by many as the best player in baseball today, is still getting better with age?

“I hope so, because I’ve got two years left on my contract,” Angels manager Brad Ausmus joked between games on Tuesday. “This is probably his best offensive year to date. He’s getting into what they consider the prime years of a player’s career, so hopefully he continues that trend.”

Trout also became only the second player to hit 10 home runs in a season against the Rangers, matching Oakland’s Khris Davis, who hit 10 against Texas in 2016 and '18. Trout has four games left against the Rangers, including two more in Arlington this series, in his bid to set the all-time record.