ANAHEIM, Calif. -- A midseason plunge nearly destroyed the Los Angeles Angels' playoff chances. A late-season surge is reinvigorating them.

C.J. Cron hit a home run in the bottom of the eighth inning to give the Angels a 3-2 win over the Houston Astros on Saturday night in front of 41,130 at Angel Stadium.

The Angels used their third successive win and their seventh in 10 games to move within 3 1/2 games of the first-place Astros in the American League West and within two games of the Texas Rangers, who hold the second wild-card spot.

This month's surge comes after Los Angeles lost 26 of 37 games from July 22, when they led the division by two games, to Aug. 31.

"We're right in it," said Angels left-hander Hector Santiago, who did not receive a decision after pitching the first seven innings. "We have a lot of games with teams in our division, guys who are ahead of us. If we keep winning, we'll be fine."

Houston sustained its fourth loss in five games and has gone 7-10 record since Aug. 24.

Cron, who hit 11 home runs as a rookie last year, pounded a 92 mph fastball from right-handed reliever Will Harris (5-3) over the center-field fence for his 12th homer this season.

"He's one of the best relievers we have," Astros manager A.J. Hinch said of Harris, who entered the game with a 1.32 ERA. "He had good stuff and he had plenty of action on his pitches. The one fastball to Cron is the one he's going to think about the rest of the night. But I'll take Will Harris in that situation any day."

Cron, who was batting .204 before being sent to Triple-A Salt Lake on June 14 for the second time this season, has been hitting .301 since being recalled June 29. The first baseman attributes his improvement to regular playing time.

"I just think my timing's right," Cron said. "I wasn't playing much before I got sent down. Obviously, with getting sporadic at-bats, it's tough to be ready to hit. Ever since I came back, I've been in there mostly every day. I'm a lot more comfortable, and I think you can see it."

Right-handed closer Huston Street pitched a perfect ninth with two strikeouts to preserve the victory for right-hander Joe Smith (5-5). Street moved into the American League lead with 35 saves.

The Astros had a chance to break the 2-2 tie in the top of the eighth. Second baseman Jose Altuve doubled down the left-field line with one out. But Smith struck out shortstop Carlos Correa and induced center fielder Carlos Gomez to ground out to shortstop Erick Aybar.

"One little break, one little pitch, one two-out base hit with a runner on second, and things could be a lot different," Hinch said. "These are really difficult games and we need to find a way to come out ahead."

The Angels moved ahead in the bottom of the second by combining three hits and a groundout to score twice against right-hander Lance McCullers.

Cron began the inning with a single, moved to third base when Aybar slapped a double down the left-field line and scored on third baseman David Freese's single. Aybar took third on Freese's hit, then came home when catcher Carlos Perez grounded out.

In his five innings, McCullers allowed the two runs, seven hits and two walks, registered one strikeout, induced seven groundouts and threw 100 pitches.

But the Astros had a chance to take the lead in the top of the first. Altuve, who singled with one out, appeared to steal second base. Los Angeles manager Mike Scioscia appealed, and video replay showed Altuve popping off the bag after his slide and Angels second baseman Taylor Featherston tagging him.

Houston used home runs from Correa and catcher Hank Conger to tie the score. On the 12th pitch of his at-bat in the sixth, Correa propelled an 84 mph change-up from left-hander Hector Santiago into the left-field stands beyond both bullpens for his 18th homer, narrowing the deficit to 2-1. Then with two out in the seventh, Conger hit his 11th of the season off Santiago's first pitch onto the green batter's eye in center field.

Santiago scattered five hits and two walks in seven innings, allowed two runs, finished with three strikeouts and threw 100 pitches.

NOTES: Houston LHP Tony Sipp rejoined the Astros on Friday and will be available in relief this weekend. Sipp had not pitched since Aug. 26 because of lower back soreness but spent no time on the disabled list. ... Astros SS Carlos Correa and RF George Springer are the only players in club history to have at least 17 homers and 51 RBIs through their first 78 games with Houston. ... Los Angeles DH Albert Pujols hit a double in the fifth inning to move into 20th place with 579 career doubles, one more than Hall of Famer Wade Boggs. Pujols needs one home run to pass Manny Ramirez and take over 14th place with 556 homers all time.