Rodriguez, Rangers Overpower Angels

Alex Rodriguez led another power display by the Texas Rangers.

Rodriguez homered twice to extend his major league-leading total to 46, and Hank Blalock hit his first career grand slam as Texas beat the Angels, 13-4, Saturday night.

The Rangers hit five homers to give them 137 at home this season, an American League record. Toronto held the previous mark with 134 at SkyDome in 2000.

Rodriguez had two bases-empty homers among his three hits. Mark Teixeira added a two-run shot for Texas, and Rafael Palmeiro hit a solo homer, the 526th of his career.

Rodriguez has 10 homers against the Angels, tying a single-season team record Palmeiro set against Seattle in 2001.

“They’re a club where if you get behind and have to go into the zone, they’re like sharks -- they smell blood,” Angel Manager Mike Scioscia said.

The Angels lost for the ninth time in 11 games, and their lead over last-place Texas in the AL West was trimmed to two games.

The Rangers have gotten power from veterans such as Rodriguez and Palmeiro, but they’ve also gotten breakout seasons from young players Blalock, Teixeira, Michael Young and Laynce Nix.

“It’s quite a feat when you look at the players involved, not only A-Rod and Raffy but Teixeira, Blalock, Young and Nix,” Manager Buck Showalter said. “You can really take pride in it.”

It was Rodriguez’s third multihomer game this season and the 33rd of his career.

Despite all the homers, the Rangers could finish last in the AL West for the fourth straight season, mainly because they are 27-48 on the road. Texas is 43-37 at The Ballpark in Arlington.

The Rangers have the third-highest home run total at home in major league history -- the Colorado Rockies had 149 in 1996 and 144 in 1999.

“It is great, but not if it doesn’t cover our problems on the road,” Showalter said.

Colby Lewis (9-9) took advantage of the early run support to win his third straight decision, retiring 15 in a row from the second through the sixth innings. He allowed two runs and four hits over seven innings, struck out six and walked one.

Adam Kennedy and Alfredo Amezaga homered for the Angels. Kennedy’s 13th homer gave them a 2-0 lead in the first inning.

Kennedy batted third in place of Garret Anderson, who was scratched from the lineup because of tightness in his lower back. Eric Owens started in left field for Anderson.

Aaron Sele (7-11) lasted 2 2/3 innings, matching his shortest outing of the season. He gave up six runs and seven hits.