Rangers put 6-2 win over Angels on Wednesday

ANAHEIM, Calif.—Michael Young thinks the Texas Rangers have done more than enough winning over the past few Septembers to know how to pay attention to what’s happening on the scoreboard and in their own game.

The Rangers got great news in both areas Wednesday night.

Derek Holland pitched seven innings of six-hit ball, Geovany Soto hit a late two-run homer and Texas hurt the Los Angeles Angels’ wild-card chances with a 6-2 victory.

“Of course we look at the scoreboard,” said Young, who has an eight-game hitting streak. “It’s that time of year. I’m a baseball fan. You can do both, though. Obviously, what we do on the field trumps scoreboard-watching, but you can be aware of what’s going on.”

Young, Elvis Andrus and Mike Napoli had run-scoring extrabase hits in the third inning as the Rangers chased former teammate C.J. Wilson, who flopped in his second-shortest start for Los Angeles.

Hamilton, the majors’ leader with 42 homers, sat out with a recurring sinus condition that affects his vision, while Beltre had abdominal trouble. Hamilton and Beltre both had MRI exams, but the results won’t be available until Thursday.

But Soto homered and Nelson Cruz had an RBI double in a three-run eighth for the majors’ most potent offense.

Holland (11-6) struck out four and walked just one batter to remain unbeaten since July 31 while getting his first victory of the season over the Angels. Working in harmony with Soto, the catcher with a curious habit of singing to his pitcher, Holland went at least seven innings for the fourth straight start.

Alberto Callaspo hit a two-run homer for the Angels (81-68), who had won 15 of 20.

Wilson (12-10) walked the bases loaded in the first inning and gave up three runs on four hits in the third, forcing Angels manager Mike Scioscia to pull him early for Jerome Williams.

“We know C.J. knows that we are a very aggressive bunch of guys,” Texas manager Ron Washington said. “Tonight, we waited and made him throw the ball in the strike zone, and it worked for us.”

Williams yielded one hit over 4 1-3 innings of relief.