ANAHEIM, Calif. -- The Texas Rangers needed a reason to feel good about themselves on getaway day before starting a pivotal six-game homestand that includes a series against the team theyre fighting for the AL West title. They got it from a bullpen that ate up 5 2-3 innings and prevented a three-game sweep by the Los Angeles Angels, a team they will face in a four-game series that wraps up the regular season schedule. Alex Rios homered in the first and drove in the go-ahead run with a bloop double in the seventh, Elvis Andrus also had two RBIs, and the Rangers hung on for a 4-3 victory Sunday. They remained 1 1-2 games out of first place, as Oakland beat Houston 7-2 to complete a three-game sweep. "It was a very big win. We needed it bad," manager Ron Washington said. "They took the lead, but we didnt give in. We just kept fighting and were able to make some good things happen. Its only one win, but it was huge." Angels rookie Buddy Boshers walked Leonys Martin with one out in the seventh and Ian Kinsler greeted Michael Kohn (1-2) with a ground-rule double into the left field corner. Andrus followed with a looper into right-centre and was robbed of a hit on a diving catch by right fielder Kole Calhoun, but Martin scored the tying run on the sacrifice fly. "Youve got to find a way to win games, and sometimes its going to be with bloopers," Andrus said. "It was a tremendous play by Martin, to be able to read that flyball and the fielder at the same time and then tag up." Centre fielder Mike Trout then attempted a diving catch on another Texas leaguer by Rios in left-centre, but missed it as Kinsler scored. "You could call it a break," Washington said. "Sometimes in a game, you need breaks. But you make your breaks by making contact. And when you make contact, things can happen." Alexi Ogando (6-4) got the victory with 1 1-3 scoreless innings. Neal Cotts gave up a leadoff double in the eighth to Calhoun, who advanced on Mark Trumbos groundout and was stranded when Tanner Scheppers struck out Hank Conger with the infield in and retired Grant Green on a flyball to centre. "Trumbo hits the ball to the right side to get the runner to third, and Im sitting there and saying: We need a strikeout here," Washington said. "We got the strikeout, then he made Green put the ball in play and we got a line drive to Martin. There was the good inning right there, and we certainly needed that." Joe Nathan, the seventh Rangers pitcher, got three outs in the ninth for his 39th save in 41 attempts and helped them avoid what would have been the Angels first three-game sweep against them since September 2009. "Fortunately weve got 12 or 13 guys out there in the pen, so weve got plenty of arms to stretch it out," Nathan said. "We feel confident in all of those guys -- not just to bring them out in the fourth and fifth inning, but to come in late in the game in tight situations. We love when our starters go deep -- but when this is what we need to do on a given day, were more than glad to do that. Weve got guys with experience who know how to throw the baseball." Rangers rookie Nick Tepesch was charged with two runs and four hits in 3 1-3 innings and struck out five in his first start off the disabled list, after pitching 3 1-3 innings out of the bullpen at Oakland last Monday in his first relief outing in the big leagues. The 24-year-old right-hander was winless in eight consecutive starts before beating Houston on July 5, then was sidelined with inflammation in his elbow. Tepesch was lifted after 63 pitches with a runner at first and the score tied 1-all. Trumbo was held at third on Congers double to left field, and subsequently erased in a rundown on Greens fielders choice grounder to third baseman Adrian Beltre. But No. 9 hitter Andrew Romine lined the next pitch down the left field line for a two-run double that put the Angels ahead 3-1. The Rangers got one of the runs back in the fifth on an Andrus RBI single against Jason Vargas, who allowed two runs and six hits over six innings and struck out eight. Rios, the third batter Vargas faced, homered to left-centre for his 16th this season and fourth against the Halos. Kole Calhoun tied it with his sixth of the season leading off the second. "You never know where numbers are going to end up for a young player, but theres absolutely no doubt that he has the ability to drive the ball," manager Mike Scioscia said. "Hes a strong little guy. What his numbers will end up being, thats just going to be a function of him just continuing to put good swings on the ball." NOTES: Rangers opening day starter Matt Harrison, whose season ended after his second outing on April 6 because of back problems that required surgery twice in a span of nine days to repair a herniated disc, is scheduled to undergo Thoracic Outlet Syndrome surgery on his right side in Dallas on Monday. Harrison missed the final three months of the 2009 campaign because of the same ailment, then won 18 games last season to tie Kenny Rogers 2004 club record for left-handers. ... Andrus stole his 36th and 37th bases, tying his career best from 2011. Robinson Cano Jersey . has left the San Jose Sharks to become the Boston Bruins director of player personnel. Jamie Moyer Mariners Jersey . Hoefl-Rieschs exit — from the downhill course into safety nets, then airlifted from the slope by helicopter — left Anna Fenninger of Austria favourite to win her first giant crystal trophy one month after becoming an Olympic champion. https://www.cheapmariners.com/2345k-dave-valle-jersey-mariners.html . - The Denver Broncos kept rookie wide receiver Tavarres King from joining the Green Bay Packers by promoting him to their active roster Tuesday. Taylor Guilbeau Mariners Jersey . Its Wu-Tang and Outkast in the final. Now, we all know youve played the role of Andre 3000 in the past, does that mean Outkast is getting your vote?AJ: You know it, you know it. Ichiro Suzuki Jersey . The England international had both goals in TFCs season-opening 2-1 win over the Seattle Sounders on Saturday.Malky Mackay says he wants to speak to Celtic about succeeding Ronny Deila as manager. Mackay, 44, was sacked by Wigan a year ago and has put himself forward after it was announced this week that Deila would be leaving Celtic Park in the summer.Former Everton, Manchester United and Real Sociedad boss David Moyes is the Sky Bet favourite to take over and both he and former Celtic manager Neil Lennon told Sky Sports this week that they were interested in the role. But former Celtic defender Mackay told Sky Sports News HQ on Friday: If Celtic wanted to talk to me, Id certainly be keen to do that.I think the next five-year period at Celtic is a crucial one. I think a record 10 titles in a row is achievable and a strong focus should be there.But for that to happen, I think there is a detailed and strategic plan needed going forward. I think I could help with that and bring a fresh approach. Moyes says he will wait until the summer to make a decision on the Celtic job Ive got an understanding of the club and an ability for that to happen.dddddddddddd.Mackay began his managerial career at Watford, keeping them in the Championship in 2010-11 before joining Cardiff, who he got promoted to the Premier League as second-tier champions in 2012-13.But he was sacked in December 2013 after falling out with owner Vincent Tan over his and sporting director Iain Moodys transfer policy and became the subject of an FA investigation over accusations of racist, sexist and homophobic text messages.The FA did not charge Mackay, who admitted the content of the messages was disrespectful of other cultures, but he missed out on the Crystal Palace managers job in the same period, where Moody had been working and later resigned.Mackay took over at Wigan in 2014 but, during his 138-day tenure, Wigan achieved 19 points from a possible 72, winning just five games out of 24 in the Championship. Also See: Griffiths targets Deila send-off Celtic v Ross County preview Evans: Leeds before Celtic Moyes: No rush for Celtic job ' ' '