ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) – The Texas Rangers clinched a wild-card spot and moved to the cusp of the AL West title, with Adrian Beltre’s three-run double backing Derek Holland in a 5-3 victory over the Los Angeles Angels on Thursday night.
The Rangers (87-72), in the playoffs for the first time since 2012 after a 95-loss season, are a win or a Houston loss away from their first division title since winning two straight and going to the World Series in 2010-11.
The Angels can’t defend their AL West championship, but still have a shot at the second wild card with three games left. Los Angeles (83-76) is a game behind the Astros and tied with Minnesota, which beat Cleveland 4-2.
Holland (4-3) allowed three hits and three runs in 6 1-3 innings for his first win since Sept. 5.
Beltre, who had the second-most RBIs in the majors in September with 29, broke a 1-all tie with a bases-clearing double off Andrew Heaney (6-4) in the fifth. Beltre scored an insurance run after a leadoff single in the seventh.