Rangers Clinch AL West

The Texas Rangers clinched the AL West title for the 2nd straight year with a 5-3 victory over the Seattle Mariners followed by a LA Angels loss to Oakland.

The Rangers jumped out early, taking a 5-0 lead by the 4th inning.  Texas hit 3 home runs, including an inside-the-park homer by Craig Gentry.  It was Gentry’s first round-tripper in the big leagues.

Adrian Beltre hit his 29th home run, a 2-run shot, in the 2nd inning to start the scoring.  Josh Hamilton followed with a solo homer in the 3rd, his 25th.  Gentry’s feat came in the 4th inning.

Michael Young and Nelson Cruz each went 2-for-4 at the plate.

Starting pitcher Matt Harrison earned his 14th win, going 6 innings and giving up 3 runs on 3 hits.  Neftali Feliz earned his 30th save.

Though the division race is over, the Rangers can’t let up as they are fighting with Detroit for the 2nd seed in the playoffs and home-field advantage for the first round.  The Yankees have all but clinched the top seed in the AL.

Rangers shortstop Elvis Andrus is excited about the final weeks, “We’re playing our best baseball right now.  That’s what you’re looking for at the end of the season and that’s what we’re looking for going into the postseason. We wanted to get everything on track — defense, situational hitting, pitching — and that’s what we’re doing.”

Texas continues the final homestand against the Mariners tonight at the Ballpark in Arlington.