multi-homer games, most recently when Troy Glaus, Tim Salmon and Mo Vaughn did it in 2000.

Trout hit his fourth and fifth homers of the season. Trout’s first homer, which was hit down the right-field line, was the only one that was a true product of the cozy dimensions at Steinbrenner Field. The Rays are playing this season in a minor-league park because of hurricane damage to Tropicana Field.

“It’s really nice,” Trout said of the short porch. “I love it.”

The Angels hit 11 homers in the series, including four solo homers in a loss Wednesday. They could have had one more Thursday, but Nolan Schanuel was robbed of a homer by leaping right fielder Jake Mangum.

For Ward and Adell, the homers helped them change direction after getting out of the gate slowly.

Ward was hitting .190 without a homer in the first 10 games, but hit his first homer of the season Wednesday night. He then added another to lead off the game Thursday, and then one in the middle of the four-homer fifth.

Ward said he’s been focused on the same mechanical things since he started swinging the bat in November. He calls it a constant game of “teeter totter” trying to get his swing just right. For now, he’s there.

“It’s nice,” Ward said. “It’s biggest relief. Just what we’re wanting to do every at-bat is have success, have a good at-bat. It’s great to see my work paying off.”

Adell was hitting .185 without a homer prior to Thursday’s game. He said he’s “committed” to keeping the swing change he made last July, when he scrapped his leg kick in favor of a small step. Even though it wasn’t working, he’s been improving.

“I’ve developed better timing,” Adell said. “Start to see the ball, get close to what I wanted to do. Today is one of those days that reminds you that you know you’re on track. Just gonna continue with that. Keep making that work.”

Washington said both Ward and Adell benefitted from being more aggressive at the plate.

“Today they jumped on some pitches when they were in the strike zone,” Washington said. “They had been tentative, trying to see pitches. But today, when they saw the pitches they wanted, they really jumped on them.”

Considering the way the ball was flying over the fence Thursday, the Angels had the right pitcher on the mound: ground-ball specialist José Soriano.

Soriano gave up one run in 7 2/3 innings, throwing 93 pitches. Soriano is the only pitcher this season to work at least seven innings for the Angels, and he’s now done it twice. He improved his ERA to 2.70 through his first three starts.

Soriano induced 13 ground balls, compared to only two outs in the air. Three of those grounders were converted to double plays. Between Soriano and right-hander Ryan Johnson, who got the final four outs, the Angels recorded 20 of their 27 outs on the ground.

It was the perfect recipe for a victory, and another series win.

“I hope we can continue to stack up series wins, because that’s what gets you to the playoffs,” Washington said. “And our goal is to hopefully continue to play good baseball, and when that time comes, hopefully we’re there. You have to do it by winning series.”