Rangers’ Trip Ends With 7-3 Victory

In less than 90 hours, the Texas Rangers went from a team desperately clinging to a shrinking lead in the AL West to a club savoring its run toward the franchise’s first division title.

Mickey Tettleton hit a two-run homer and Dean Palmer added a two-run single as the Rangers reduced their magic number in the AL West to four with a 7-3 victory Tuesday over the Oakland Athletics.

The Rangers began the day with a two-game lead over the Seattle Mariners, who played at the Angels Tuesday night.

While the Mariners will have to play again today at the Angels before heading to Oakland for four games, the Rangers headed home for a day off Wednesday and then a four-game series against the Angels.

“We’re in control now. We’re going back home,” Palmer said. “I think everyone’s relieved to come out of this road trip. Everyone’s just looking forward to getting back home and relaxing a bit.”

Texas finished 3-6 on the West Coast swing--its last trip of the regular season--after losing the first five games.

Four consecutive defeats in Seattle and a loss last Friday night to the Angels chopped the Rangers’ lead over the Mariners to one game. But the Rangers won their final two games against the Angels and split a two-game series with the A’s.

“I think the atmosphere is different than when we left Seattle,” Texas Manager Johnny Oates said. “Now we can go home and get a chance to do what needs to be done at home.”

Tettleton’s 24th homer of the season broke a 1-1 tie in the fourth. Palmer’s two-run single came in a three-run fifth. Rusty Greer added an RBI double in the sixth. Juan Gonzalez had singled in a run in the first.

Dennis Cook (5-2), the third of five pitchers, got six consecutive outs--including three strikeouts--for the victory. He came in to strike out pinch-hitter Brian Lesher with men on first and third and two outs in the fifth after Oakland already had scored two runs in the inning.

Texas starter Roger Pavlik gave up three runs and four hits in 4 1/3 innings.