KANSAS CITY, Mo., Sept. 5 (UPI) -- Adrian Beltre staked Texas to an early lead with a three-run homer Wednesday and the Rangers outlasted Kansas City 7-6.
Texas boosted its advantage over Oakland in the American League West to five games by winning for the 10th time in 14 outings.
Kansas City trailed 3-2 heading into the seventh, but the Rangers scored three times in that inning with Michael Young contributing a solo homer. Nelson Cruz singled in Beltre to give Texas a 7-4 lead in the eighth and the Rangers held on to make a winner out of Ryan Dempster (10-6).
Dempster allowed two runs on four hits with eight strikeouts over six innings and improved his record to 5-1 since coming over from the Chicago Cubs.
Joe Nathan came on in the ninth to protect a two-run lead and gave up a two-out, RBI single to Alcides Escobar. Alex Gordon then flew out to left to end the game and give Nathan his 29th save.
The loss went to Everett Teaford (1-4), who gave up Beltre's homer and two other hits over 4 1/3 innings.
