ARLINGTON, Texas: Texas slugger Josh Hamilton drove in four runs to power the Rangers to a 15-9 win over the Los Angeles Angels in an American League run-fest on Thursday.
The Rangers broke an 8-8 tie by scoring four runs in the seventh, including Hamilton’s two-run double, and added three in the eighth.
Ryan Dempster — acquired from the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday — made his first Rangers start and had a fortunate no-decision after allowing eight runs in just 4 2-3 innings.
Roy Oswalt (4-2) threw two scoreless innings in relief for the win.
Angels reliever David Carpenter (0-1) took the loss.
Atheltics 4 Blue Jays 1: In Oakland, Josh Reddick hit a two-run homer as Oakland downed Toronto, moving above L.A. and into second place in the AL West, 4-1/2 games behind Texas.
Oakland starter Bartolo Colon (8-8) pitched eight shutout innings, extending his scoreless streak to 16 1-3 innings.
Blue Jays starter Henderson Alvarez (7-8) ceded a season-high five walks, allowed runners on base in all but one of his five-plus innings, and struck out only one. Toronto has lost five straight, matching their season worst.
Twins 5 Red Sox 0: In Boston, Samuel Deduno pitched six scoreless innings in his third straight strong performance, guiding Minnesota past Boston.
Deduno (3-0), making his sixth major league start, has given up just two earned runs in 19 1-3 innings.
Brian Dozier had three hits for Minnesota, including a two-run homer in the ninth.
Red Sox starter Jon Lester (5-9) had allowed 25 earned runs over his previous four starts but gave up only three in eight innings on Thursday but got no run support.
Royals 7 Indians 6, 11 innings: In Kansas City, Alcides Escobar’s RBI single with two outs in the 11th inning gave Kansas City the win over Cleveland.
Escobar’s two-strike hit scored Eric Hosmer, who led off the inning with a single.
The Indians had rallied from a six-run first-inning deficit, but lost their sixth straight, their longest losing skid for two years.
Aaron Crow (2-1), the sixth Royals pitcher, worked a spotless 11th inning to pick up the victory.
Reliever Esmil Rogers (1-1), the fifth of six Indians pitchers, took the loss.
Rangers whip Angels 15-9 in slugfest
