Rangers 8, Angels 7 (Game 2)
Mike Napoli homered twice and drove in six runs as host Texas held off Los Angeles and clinched a playoff berth.
David Murphy added a solo homer and Josh Hamilton doubled in a run for the Rangers, who ensured themselves of at least a wild-card spot. Texas, which leads the Oakland Athletics by two games, has a magic number of two to clinch the American League West.
Mark Trumbo hit a two-run homer and Howie Kendrick made it interesting with a three-run blast in the seventh for the Angels, who were pushed to the brink of elimination. Los Angeles trails the Athletics by three games for the second wild-card spot with three to play.
The Angels won the opener of the doubleheader 5-4 and looked to be in good shape in the nightcap by putting up four runs in the top of the first. But Ervin Santana (9-13) failed to hold the lead, surrendering a run in the first and two more in the second before the Rangers took control in the third on Napoli’s second homer, a three-run blast deep into the bleachers in left.
Napoli’s two-run double in the fifth made it an 8-4 gap and provided some valuable insurance. Derek Holland (12-6) was charged with seven runs but still picked up the win, and Joe Nathan worked the ninth for his 37th save.
GAME NOTEBOOK: The Rangers can clinch the division with a win Monday at Oakland, where they finish up the regular season. The Angels will try to keep their hopes alive at Seattle. … Los Angeles SS Erick Aybar left the game in the second inning with a strained right quad, and Texas 3B Adrian Beltre left after re-aggravating a left shoulder strain. … Napoli has hit six of his 23 home runs in 12 games since returning to the lineup Sept. 15. He had missed over a month with a quad strain.