ARLINGTON, Texas _ The Texas Rangers hit four home runs, including two by Elvis Andrus, and held on late for a 7-6 win over the Los Angeles Angels on Sunday afternoon at Globe Life Park.
The Rangers moved back to .500 at 68-68 with the win and remained in the hunt for a wild-card berth.
The Rangers open a three-game series against the Braves in Atlanta on Monday night.
Martin Perez allowed two runs in the first inning on a two-out, two-run double by C.J. Cron but he rebounded for three scoreless innings until the fifth. The Angels scored on Albert Pujols' single to left to cut the Rangers' lead to 5-3.
"We're not going to give up. We're never, ever going to quit," said Andrus, who had his third career multi-homer home game and second this season. "We're going to keep battling here through the tough times, that's what's happening right now. But we're going to keep going. We've got to throw everything we have, and I think that's what we've been doing lately."
The Rangers tied it at 2-2 with a run in the second and Andrus' solo homer in the third. The Rangers added three more to take a 5-2 lead on Robinson Chirinos' two-run homer and Delino DeShields' solo homer in the fourth. Andrus' two-run homer in the sixth pushed Texas' lead back up to 7-3. Texas was then forced to rely on its beleaguered bullpen to cling to the lead the final three innings.
"I don't expect anything to be easy this time of year, especially (with the) landscape of the rosters, teams being able to match up, maneuver," Rangers manager Jeff Banister said. "Our guys continue to grind, that's who they are, that's their DNA. That's why I love these guys. Doesn't always look pretty at times, however they find a way to get things done."
Perez left after allowing three runs on nine hits and two walks after six innings. It was a performance Banister called Perez's "gutsiest of the year." He threw a season-high 117 pitches and improved to 11-10 with the win.
"He was grinding through every inning. Tremendous job," Banister said.
Nick Gardenwine and Jason Grill each pitched an inning of scoreless relief, but Grilli who came back out to start the ninth, left with no outs and runners on second and third. Tony Barnette took over and walked his first batter to load the bases.
Barnette got Pujols to pop out but Andrelton Simmons doubled over Nomar Mazara's glove in left field to drive in two and cut the Texas' lead to 7-5.
Barnette struck out Cron but after intentionally walking Kole Calhoun, he unintentionally walked Kaleb Cowart to pull the Angels to within 7-6.
He finally escaped the jam by getting Luis Valbuena to ground out to third to end the game.
"Going through that part of the order you've got guys that can do damage throughout," said Barnette, who earned his second save. "Walks almost came back to haunt me. At the end of the day, we got the win and that's all that matters right now."
