Rangers 5, Angels 2
Adrian Beltre homered and Elvis Andrus drove in a pair of runs as visiting Texas overcame the absence of slugger Nelson Cruz to post its seventh win in eight games.
Jurickson Profar collected two hits and an RBI while Martin Perez tossed 6 1/3 effective innings for the Rangers, who moved one-half game ahead of Cleveland for the second American League wild-card spot and climbed within two of AL West-leading Oakland. Texas will have to make its playoff push without Cruz, who was suspended for the final 50 games of the regular season due to his involvement in the Biogenesis scandal, but would be eligible to return in the postseason.
The Angels grabbed an early 1-0 lead before David Murphy scored on a wild pitch by Jerome Williams (5-8) in the fifth inning to tie it. Andrus followed with a two-run triple and Beltre led off the sixth with his 24th home run for a 4-1 advantage.
Perez (4-3) yielded two runs on four hits and four walks while striking out seven. Two relievers bridged the gap to Joe Nathan, who worked around a walk in the ninth for his 33rd save in 35 opportunities.
Williams fell to 0-6 over his last nine starts after surrendering five runs and six hits over 5 1/3 innings. Mark Trumbo and Collin Cowgill each drove in a run for the Angels, who have lost five straight meetings with the Rangers.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Los Angeles 2B Howie Kendrick was helped off the field in the top of the fifth inning with a knee injury after colliding with Cowgill in right field while chasing a pop-up. ... Angels LF Josh Hamilton was hitless in four at-bats and is 14-for-40 in 10 games against his former team this season. ... Beltre is three homers behind Cruz for the team lead.