ANAHEIM, Calif. — Juan Gonzalez highlighted a seven-run third inning with a three-run homer as the Texas Rangers beat Anaheim 9-8 Thursday night, ending the Angels' four-game winning streak.

        Gonzalez went 3-for-5, as did Mike Lamb, who also hit a solo homer, helping Texas end a six-game road losing streak and avoid what would have been the Angels' first-ever four-game sweep of the Rangers.

        Garret Anderson hit a two-run homer in the ninth off reliever Anthony Telford. The Angels put the tying run on third after Tim Salmon doubled and pinch-runner Julio Ramirez advanced on a fielder's choice. Orlando Palmiero grounded out to Telford, who tagged him out for his first AL save.

        Kenny Rogers (7-3) went five innings, allowing four runs on six hits and escaping a bases-loaded jam in the fifth.

        The 37-year-old left-hander, who made a season-high 127 pitches in a complete-game victory over Kansas City last Saturday night, threw 102. He won consecutive starts for the first time since the end of April despite a four-run third by the Angels. He struck out one and walked two.

        Rogers handed an 8-4 lead to the bullpen, which entered with a league-worst 5.69 ERA. Todd Van Poppel was charged with two runs in the eighth after rookie Juan Alvarez gave up an RBI double by pinch-hitter Palmeiro and a run-scoring groundout by Bengie Molina.

        Alvarez then fanned Adam Kennedy and sprinted toward the dugout, forgetting it was only the second out. That was his last batter, anyway, as manager Jerry Narron replaced him with Telford, who retired David Eckstein with the tying run on deck.

        Kevin Appier (5-4) was charged with seven runs — four earned — and eight hits over 2 2-3 innings, matching his shortest outing of the season. The right-hander has lost three consecutive starts after going 5-0 in his previous seven.

        Alex Rodriguez singled home Jason Romano for his major league-leading 57th RBI, and Gonzalez drove in the next three with his fourth home run and second in two nights. It was his 401st career homer.

        Rafael Palmeiro walked and took third when Ryan Ludwick doubled down the left field line for his first major league hit. Third baseman Troy Glaus' fielding error on Bill Haselman's grounder brought home another run, and the Rangers capped the inning with RBI singles from Michael Young and Romano — whose one-out double ignited the rally.

        The seven runs were the most in one inning this season against the Angels, who got four of them back in the bottom of the third.

        Eckstein had an RBI double, Darin Erstad drove in Jose Nieves with a groundout, and Anderson hit a two-out, two-run homer — his first in 58 career at-bats against Rogers to that point.

        But Lamb, who played college ball about 10 miles north of Anaheim at Cal State Fullerton, led off the fourth with his fourth homer and second of his career at Edison Field. Gonzalez's RBI single made it 9-4 in the sixth.

        Notes: Appier has not allowed a first-inning run in his 12 starts with the Angels. But he has surrendered 16 in the third inning — six of them April 20 at Oakland in a no-decision. ... Gonzalez's 114 career RBIs against the Angels are the most he's had against any opponent. So are Rodriguez's 69 RBIs against them. ... Rogers is 9-8 with a 4.59 ERA in 24 starts against the Angels since his perfect game against them on July 28, 1994. ... Ludwick, called up Wednesday when Carl Everett was placed on the DL, is the fifth player to start in CF for the Rangers in the last seven games. ... Ludwick and Rodriguez stole the Rangers' 15th and 16th consecutive bases. ... LF Rusty Greer missed his fourth straight game because of a sore back and will be examined Friday by Dr. Andrew Dossett in Arlington. ... Nieves, the Angels' No. 9 hitter, drew his first walk of the season — in his 74th plate appearance. ... Telford's save was the eighth of his career, but his first in the AL.

Reds 3, Cards 2 Reds box, runs Schedule crunch squeezes Reds-Indians AL West foes ring a bell Boone returns home to start interleague play Haynes gives Reds their money's worth Reds at Angels series preview Rangers 9, Angels 8 Twins 8, Indians 3 Louisville 4, Pawtucket 0 Notes from Thursday's games Twins will play ball in 2003

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