Desmond's RBI Single In 9th Lifts Rangers Past Angels

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Ian Desmond had an RBI single with no outs in the ninth inning and the Texas Rangers moved closer to the AL West title with a 3-2 win over the last-place Los Angeles Angels on Monday night.

Elvis Andrus led off the ninth with a sharp single to left off Jose Alvarez (1-3) before Carlos Gomez turned an attempted sacrifice into a bunt single. Desmond, an All-Star center fielder, followed with his hit to right that scored Andrus.

Andrus also homered for the Rangers, who cut their magic number to four in pursuit of their second consecutive division title. Second-place Seattle was playing at home against Toronto.

Alvarez, the sixth Angels  pitcher, had gotten out of a bases-loaded jam in the eighth following a 38-minute rain delay.