MILWAUKEE - Mike Trout had an RBI triple and sparked a four-run eighth inning with a solo homer, and the Los Angeles Angels avoided a three-game sweep by beating the Milwaukee Brewers 7-3 on Thursday.

Trout tied the game at 3 after leading off the eighth with a drive to right on a hanging curveball from Tyler Thornburg (2-1). Five batters later, pinch-hitter C.J. Cron drove in the go-ahead run after looping a two-out double.

Trout, a four-time All-Star,has 18 RBIs in his last 13 games after a slow start.

Fernando Salas (2-1) pitched a scoreless inning , and Joe Smith threw two shutout innings for his second save.

Milwaukee took a 3-2 lead in the sixth when Hernan Perez scrambled home from third on Cam Bedrosian's wild pitch.

After a solid start by Zach Davies, manager Craig Counsell turned the game over a relief corps that has performed well in late-game situations.

But Thornburg was hit hard by the heart of the Angels order, allowing four runs and three hits in two-thirds of an inning.

Trout, now hitting .317, led off the eighth with his seventh homer of the season. After Cron's double, Johnny Giovatella added a two-run single to give the Angels a three-run lead.

The rally got Hector Santiago off the hook for the loss after the starter gave up three runs and eight hits in 5 1/3 innings.

For the Brewers, Perez, who was called up from Triple-A Colorado Springs last week, hit a solo homer in the second and finished 2 for 4.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Angels: It's uncertain whether Garrett Richards will make his next scheduled start on Friday after the right-hander worked just four innings in his previous appearance on Sunday because of dehydration and cramping. Manager Mike Scioscia said Richards would most likely skip his bullpen session and just throw on flat ground to monitor his progress.

Brewers: RF Domingo Santana did not start because of right shoulder tightness. It was the second time in three games that Santana was a late scratch because of the injury. Alex Presley replaced Santana in right, with shortstop Jonathan Villar moving into the leadoff spot.

UP NEXT:

Angels: The team gets an off day on Thursday before returning home to start a three-game series with Tampa. Scioscia said he's a contingency plan in case Richards (1-3) cannot make the start.

Brewers: RHP Chase Anderson (1-3) is 2-0 with an 0.44 ERA in three career starts against Cincinnati, where the Brewers begin a four-game series on Thursday.

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Follow Genaro Armas at http://twitter.com/GArmasAP