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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

MLB: Rolling Texas Rangers are in thick of American League pennant race

Chris Gimenez, right, predicts the Rangers will keep rolling after sweeping the Astros. (Associated Press)
From News Services

The Texas Rangers finally had a good time at home.

After struggling so much on their own field this season, the Rangers completed a three-game sweep of the A.L. West-leading Houston Astros that wrapped up a 7-3 homestand against three playoff contenders.

“It put a lot of energy in that dugout and on that field, and solidifies the belief in where these guys think they can go, the confidence they have,” first-year Rangers manager Jeff Banister said. “It was a big series for us.”

Texas (54-53) enjoyed a day off Thursday with a winning record for the first time since July 3. The Rangers were the closest they had been to the Astros since the end of June, within five games of the division lead, and only two back in a crowded A.L. wild-card race with one-third of the regular season left.

“No one is running away with anything, and it’s relatively early, but these are the things I feel you can get on a roll with,” catcher Chris Gimenez said.

Newly acquired Cole Hamels makes his second start for the Rangers in the series opener tonight at Seattle, a week after Texas sent a package of prospects to Philadelphia before the non-waiver trade deadline.

The only loss for Texas its last eight games was Hamels’ debut Saturday night against San Francisco, even though the left-hander worked 7 2/3 innings and left the game with a three-run lead.

Texas opened the homestand with consecutive losses to the New York Yankees, including a 21-5 debacle after taking a 5-0 lead in the first inning. At that point, the Rangers had lost 12 of 13 home games, but then won the last two games for a series split against A.L. East-leading New York.

The Rangers took two of three from the defending World Series champion Giants before capping a sweep of the Astros that ended with consecutive one-run victories as the bullpen threw nine of the 18 innings.

While the Rangers are now 23-29 with some confidence at home, their 31-24 record on the road matches the Chicago Cubs for the best in baseball.

Texas has 23 games left against teams it is pursuing in the A.L. West and the race for the two wild cards (Houston, Los Angeles Angels, Toronto, Baltimore and Minnesota). The Rangers also have 10 games vs. Tampa Bay and Detroit, the two teams behind them in the wild-card chase.

“From now on, that’s the way we have to play, one day at a time, don’t try to do too much and enjoy it,” said shortstop Elvis Andrus, one of five Rangers remaining who were part of both 2010 and 2011 World Series appearances. “It was a really great homestand for us, and we’re going to carry that momentum.”

Mets’ Blevins re-breaks arm

New York Mets pitcher Jerry Blevins re-broke his arm after slipping off a curb and is expected to miss the remainder of the season.

The Mets made the announcement, saying he’ll have surgery in Boston next week on the radius bone that was fractured by a line drive during a game April 19 at Citi Field.

The team says the left-handed Blevins had resumed throwing, but fell on Monday.

In seven games with the Mets this season, he was 1-0 and hadn’t allowed a run in five innings pitched.