Byrd homers twice for Rangers in 9-5 victory that snaps Angels’ 6-game win streak

Byrd hits 2 of Texas’ 5 homers in win over Angels

ARLINGTON, Texas — Marlon Byrd homered twice to drive in five runs and the Texas Rangers again had their way at home against Joe Saunders, beating the AL West-leading Los Angeles Angels 9-5 on Tuesday night.

Ian Kinsler, Nelson Cruz and David Murphy also went deep for Texas, which ended what had been one of the worst offensive months in team history with a season-high five home runs — four in 3 2-3 innings off Saunders (8-5).

Rangers shortstop Elvis Andrus had four stolen bases, the first AL rookie to do that since 2000.

Saunders is 0-5 with an 11.67 ERA in five career starts at Rangers Ballpark. The left-hander is 21-4 with a 2.92 ERA in 31 starts as a visitor to other ballparks — and 3-0 with a 1.44 ERA in four home starts against Texas.

The Angels had their six-game winning streak snapped, but are still 1½ games ahead of Texas.

Scott Feldman (6-2) made it through six innings even after throwing 57 pitches the first two innings while giving up a three-run lead. The right-hander retired 13 of the last 14 batters he faced, 11 in a row after Torii Hunter’s RBI single made it 3-3 in the second.

Cruz snapped a 2-for-27 slide with a go-ahead homer in the third, and Byrd hit a three-run shot the next inning. Murphy’s fourth homer in six games came in the seventh to make it 9-3.

Texas had a quick 3-0 lead, scoring more runs through its first three batters off Saunders than in 10 of its June games.

Kinsler extended his team record with his 10th career leadoff homer, fifth this year. After Michael Young walked, Byrd hit a two-run homer to straightaway center.

The Rangers entered the final game of June hitting a majors-low .221 for the month. They also blew the division lead that was once as high as 5½ games by losing eight of 11 games while the Angels won 13 of 16.

Byrd personally took blame for a 5-2 loss Monday night, even though he went 3 for 4 with a homer in that game.

The only time Byrd didn’t reach base Monday was with two on in the fifth when he hit into an inning-ending double play when Texas still led 2-1. The five Angels hitters immediately after that reached, including back-to-back homers, and they won 5-2.

With two on and two out in the fourth Tuesday, and the Rangers again up by one, Byrd homered. Andruw Jones, the last batter Saunders faced, then walked, stole second and scored on a single by Cruz.

Saunders gave up four homers for the first time in his 80 career starts (40-20). He gave up three long balls and seven runs in 5 1-3 innings at Rangers Ballpark on May 15.

The Angels had five singles in the second to score three times, on hits by Mike Napoli, Bobby Abreu and Hunter. Erick Aybar was called out in the inning for stepping out of the batter’s box on a bunt.

NOTES: The last AL rookie with at least four steals in a game was Baltimore’s Luis Matos on July 30, 2000, when he had five against Cleveland. Colorado rookie Dexter Fowler had five steals against San Diego earlier this season. … Andrus stole second and third base in the fifth. He is the fourth Texas player with at least four steals. The team record is five by Scarborough Green on Sept. 28, 2000. … It was the second career multihomer game for Byrd.