ARLINGTON, Texas, July 5 (UPI) -- A grand slam by Nelson Cruz was one of three Texas home runs Friday, a power display that gave the Rangers a 10-5 win over Houston.
All but two of the Texas runs came on homers by Cruz, David Murphy and Adrian Beltre. Texas won for the 50th time this season, becoming the third team in the American League to reach that level.
Houston outhit the Rangers 10-9, but could not overcome the long balls that gave Texas a 10-run lead through five innings.
Murphy hit a two-run homer in the first, Cruz hit his grand slam in the second and Beltre added a two-run blast during a three-run fourth.
That made things easy for Texas starter Nick Tepesch (4-6), who threw five shutout innings before giving up four runs in the sixth. Tepesch allowed seven hits and struck out nine.
Lucas Harrell (5-9) was the victim of the Texas assault, giving up seven runs on five hits with six walks in 3 2/3 innings.
