By winning the opener of a three-game series, Texas increased its AL West lead to a season-best five games over the Angels.
The winning streak is the second-longest in club history behind a 14-game run in 1991, and it has put the Rangers (56-41) a season-high 15 games over .500. They have outscored opponents 77-24 during this stretch, and the pitching staff has yielded two earned runs over the last six games — including four shutouts.
Ogando (10-3) won his third straight start and first since July 6, lowering his ERA to 2.72.
Endy Chavez , the No. 9 batter, hit a two-run homer in the eighth against reliever Michael Kohn . The rookie also gave up solo shots to Josh Hamilton and Adrian Beltre in the ninth.
In Baltimore, Jeremy Guthrie allowed two runs over seven innings in an effort that belied his title as the losingest pitcher in the majors, and Baltimore beat Boston to end a seven-game losing streak against the Red Sox.
Derrek Lee and Mark Reynolds hit successive homers in the eighth off Alfredo Aceves to turn a one-run lead into a more comfortable cushion for the Orioles, who lost their previous seven games against Boston this season by a combined score of 61-32.
Guthrie (4-13) gave up eight hits and walked one. The right-hander was 1-6 in his previous 10 starts and had lost seven straight decisions against Boston since May 13, 2008.
Jim Johnson worked two innings for his first save.
In St. Petersburg, Jeremy Hellickson pitched seven strong innings and Tampa Bay took advantage of sloppy New York defense to rally past the Yankees.
Hellickson (9-7) retired 13 of 15 batters after giving up a two-run homer to Robinson Cano in the third, helping his team stay close until the sputtering Rays offense could finally break through against Bartolo Colon (6-6) in the seventh.
That’s when things really went awry for New York.
With two on, center fielder Curtis Granderson lost pinch-hitter Justin Ruggiano’s fly ball in the Tropicana Field roof for a single off Boone Logan that loaded the bases. It looked as though the Yankees might escape the jam when the next batter — pinch-hitter Elliot Johnson — hit a tailor-made, double-play grounder back to the mound, but the ball glanced off Logan’s glove for an error that enabled the Rays to tie it at 2.
Rodriguez raced home from third for the go-ahead run on Johnny Damon’s sacrifice fly to shallow center.
In Minneapolis, Danny Valencia hit a two-run single off All-Star closer Chris Perez in the ninth inning, sending Minnesota to a victory over Cleveland.
Perez (2-5) walked Joe Mauer and gave up a double to Michael Cuddyer . Jim Thome was intentionally walked to load the bases, and Valencia followed with a bloop single.
Glen Perkins (2-1) picked up the win in relief of Francisco Liriano , who gave up one run and four hits in six innings.
It was a huge emotional lift for Minnesota, which was swept in a day-night doubleheader to start the series on Monday, falling seven games behind the Indians.
In Detroit, Miguel Cabrera and Carlos Guillen each hit a two-run homer in Detroit’s six-run fifth inning against Oakland.
The Tigers trailed 3-1 before they grabbed control in the fifth against Guillermo Moscoso (3-5).
After Magglio Ordonez brought Detroit within a run on a sacrifice fly, Cabrera hit his 20th homer of the season, putting the Tigers ahead to stay. It was his 600th career extra-base hit.
Detroit starter Rick Porcello (9-6) allowed three runs and eight hits in six innings.
Moscoso allowed six earned runs in 4 2-3 innings.
Guillen hit his first home run since Aug. 14 — shortly before his 2010 season ended because of a left knee injury.
In Kansas City, Missouri, Danny Duffy returned from the minors to toss seven sharp innings, Matt Treanor delivered a go-ahead, two-run single and the light-hitting Royals hung on to beat Chicago.
Melky Cabrera homered and Alcides Escobar drove in the other run for Kansas City, which came into the game batting .196 while scoring a measly eight runs during a recent three-game skid. The anemic output in part prompted manager Ned Yost to call a closed-door meeting a couple of hours before the first pitch.
Turned out the Royals didn’t need a whole lot of runs with Duffy (2-4) back on the mound.
He settled down after a shaky start to outpitch Jake Peavy (4-4), mowing down a lineup that White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen stacked with right-handed hitters.
In Toronto, Rajai Davis stole two bases before scoring on John McDonald’s sacrifice fly in the 14th inning and Toronto extended Seattle’s losing streak to 10 games.
It is the Mariners’ longest slide since a 12-game skid in 2008.
Davis hit a one-out single off Jamey Wright (2-3) in the 14th and stole second and third before scoring on McDonald’s fly to center. Activated from the disabled list before the game, Casey Janssen (3-0) pitched a scoreless inning for the win.
Greg Halman hit a three-run homer and Brendan Ryan added a solo shot for the Mariners, who held a players-only meeting on the field before batting practice, but couldn’t stop their slide.
