Arlington, Texas ? Michael Young put the Texas Rangers ahead to stay while setting another home-run mark on the same swing.

With his two-run drive off Orlando Hernandez in the sixth inning Wednesday, Young joined the rest of the Rangers’ starting infielders with at least 20 homers – the second season in a row that group has accomplished that feat.

That was among five home runs hit by the Rangers in their 9-2 victory over Chicago, which finished its first losing month this season.

“We know we’re responsible for a lot our team’s offense, and that’s something that we take seriously,” Young said of the infield. “We take a lot of pride in being productive and helping the team win.”

Young’s 20th homer came after leadoff hitter David Dellucci was hit by a pitch. It put the Rangers ahead 3-2.

First baseman Mark Teixeira (34 homers) then walked and scored on a single by third baseman Hank Blalock (23 homers) before second baseman Alfonso Soriano hit his 32nd homer.

That chased Hernandez (8-7), who lost his fourth straight decision, matching his career high.

Angels 2, Athletics 1

Anaheim, Calif. – John Lackey held Oakland to three hits over seven shutout innings, and Los Angeles climbed back within a game of the AL West-leading Athletics.

Texas' Michael Young, center, is greeted by teammates Mark Teixeira, left, and David Dellucci after hitting a two-run home run. The Rangers defeated the Chicago White Sox, 9-2, Wednesday in Arlington, Texas.

Snapping a five-game losing slide and ending Oakland’s seven-game winning streak, Los Angeles got an RBI double by Darin Erstad and an RBI single by Maicer Izturis off Joe Blanton (9-9) in the fourth inning.

Lackey (11-5) struck out seven and walked four. Two of the three hits against him were infield hits on comebackers to the mound.

Yankees 2, Mariners 0

Seattle – Randy Johnson outpitched 19-year-old rookie Felix Hernandez. The five-time Cy Young Award winner limited his former team to three hits in seven innings, leading New York over Seattle.

The Yankees split the first two games of the series, but Mike Mussina lasted only three innings in a win Monday night, and Shawn Chacon gave up eight runs in a loss Tuesday night.

Johnson (13-8) won his second straight start as the Yankees remained 21â2 games behind the Boston Red Sox in the AL East.

Tigers 4, Indians 3

Cleveland – Ivan Rodriguez homered to break an eighth-inning tie, Mike Maroth pitched seven strong innings, and Detroit beat Cleveland to slow the Indians’ momentum in the AL wild-card race. Cleveland began play a half-game behind the wild-card leading New York Yankees, but lost for the third time in 13 games and completed a 19-8 August.

Red Sox 7, Devil Rays 6

Boston – Kevin Millar hit two homers, and David Ortiz hit his fifth in five games, helping Boston rally from a big deficit for the second consecutive night and beat Tampa Bay.

Millar hit 43 home runs in the previous two seasons, but had hit only one since a two-homer game on June 4.

But he led off the second with a shot to tie the game at 1, then broke a 5-all tie in the seventh with a two-run drive that gave Boston its first lead.

Orioles 7, Blue Jays 0

Toronto – Bruce Chen and Chris Ray combined on a two-hitter, and Baltimore ended a five-game losing streak. Miguel Tejada, Jay Gibbons and Eric Byrnes homered for the Orioles.