ARLINGTON, Texas _ This is why Bartolo Colon came back this year, putting up with the indignity of going to spring training on a minor-league contract at age 44 and opening the season in the bullpen.
Colon has earned about $120 million in the game. It is all about climbing the ladder of career accomplishments at this point for Colon.
He achieved one on Wednesday night. Backed by two homers and a career-high five RBIs from the revived Jurickson Profar, Colon rebounded from his worst start of the season to do just enough in an 8-2 victory against Oakland at Globe Life Park.
It was career win No. 243 for Colon, tying him with Hall of Famer Juan Marichal for the most victories by a native of the Dominican Republic.
Only one Latin American pitcher has more victories: Dennis Martinez with 245. That is Colon's ultimate goal.
"I know he wants to," manager Jeff Banister said beforehand. "I do know he wants to get there and how much he respects the number and what it would mean for his legacy in the game."
Banister said he had seen no signs of anxiousness, but Colon allowed six runs in two of his previous three starts. On Friday, eight days after celebrating his 45th birthday, he gave up six in only three innings in a loss at the Los Angeles Angels. His already limited velocity dipped.
"They're not machines," Banister said. "They all have nights when their stuff is a little sharper. Part of it is the attrition of throwing, the games."
There was nothing artful about the performance. Colon had to use all his wiles to make it through five innings to qualify for the win.
Colon lacked his usual crisp command. He entered with a 67.7 percent strike rate, seventh-best in the majors. He had 55 strikes in 97 pitches for a 56.7 rate. Colon went to a full count on seven of the 23 hitters faced.
When it mattered, Colon got the out. His only slip came in the fifth, when Rangers nemesis Khris Davis launched a two-run homer. Davis has 21 homers in 160 career at-bats against the Rangers.
Matt Olson followed with a fly ball that pushed right fielder Nomar Mazara to the wall. That was enough for Colon. The bullpen handled the final four innings.
The offense made it easy for Colon with four homers in the first four innings.
The Rangers hit nine homers, which produced 13 runs, in sweeping the two-game series. It marked the first time the Rangers had nine homers in two games since Sept. 2-3, 2012.
"This ballpark is a little bit conducive to that, especially when it's playing with the wind blowing," Oakland manager Bob Melvin said beforehand. "You've got to try to keep the ball down."
The long-ball flurry in 2012 included Profar's homer in his first major-league game, at Cleveland. That joyful moment seems like a long time ago for a player who essentially missed the 2014-15 seasons because of a shoulder injury.
Profar started the barrage against Oakland starter Daniel Mengden with a two-run homer in the first. Profar homered on his next swing for a homer in the third.
This was Profar's second career start at cleanup, both coming this season. He has three homers in eight at-bats in the spot.
Joey Gallo followed Profar's homer in the first with a longer drive to right. Ronald Guzman added a two-run homer in the fourth.
The Rangers also took six walks, giving them 100 in the last 22 games. They have 221 walks, second in the American League to the walk-master New York Yankees with 236.
