Each time the veteran has taken the mound this season, he has managed to get better following two no-decisions early in the schedule. He allowed one hit over 5 2/3 innings against the Astros last weekend before the Giants managed just three hits in Anderson’s six scoreless innings Friday.

While Anderson walked 10 total batters over his first three starts, including four at Houston, he was far more efficient with two walks and six strikeouts against the Giants, who are in the thick of things early in a rugged National League West.

Anderson’s 96 pitches (64 strikes) came after he threw 95 pitches (56 strikes) at Houston.

The Angels offense got to Giants starter Logan Webb early. Nolan Schanuel doubled with two outs in the second inning and Neto followed with a one-hopper at Giants shortstop Willy Adames that registered 106.4 mph off the bat.

The screamer not only skipped past Adames’ glove and into the outfield for a hit, Neto turned it into a double to score Schanuel. The play came with a level of concern after Neto dived into second base to beat the throw from center field.

The dive looked similar to the one last September at Chicago that caused the shoulder injury which needed surgery and caused Neto to miss the first three weeks of the season. Neto then scored when Kyren Paris’ ground ball toward shortstop was deflected into left field by Giants third baseman Matt Chapman.

Anderson settled in from there. He gave up two singles in the third before he retired 10 of the last 11 batters he faced, giving up a walk to Chapman in his final inning of work.

The Angels bullpen, last in the American League with a 5.91 ERA heading into Friday’s game, took care of things the rest of the way. Brock Burke and Ryan Zeferjahn each delivered a scoreless inning before Kenley Jansen pitched the ninth inning for his fifth save in his first outing since Saturday.

The save was the 38th of Jansen’s career against the Giants, tied for his third most against any opponent.

Asked before the game if he needed to get Jansen some work, manager Ron Washington seemed to envision the evening before it even started.

“Today will probably be a definite day (to get Jansen on the mound) because we’re gonna go into the ninth with a lead,” Washington said, more hopeful than brash, but clairvoyant either way.