(Sports Network) - Jeff Francoeur scored the go-ahead run on passed ball in the top of the 12th inning, as the Texas Rangers inched closer to a postseason berth with a 2-1 win over the Angels to avoid a three-game sweep. Francoeur doubled off Matt Palmer (1-2) to begin the 12th, snapping a string of 16 batters in a row retired by Los Angeles pitching. After Chris Davis walked, Bengie Molina sacrificed both runners into scoring position. Palmer then struck out pinch-hitter Mitch Moreland, but Francoeur scampered home when a pitch to Julio Borbon couldn't be reeled in by catcher Jeff Mathis. Neftali Feliz was flawless in the bottom of the inning to earn his 37th save of the season and match the major league record for a rookie set by the Mariners' Kazuhiro Sasaki in 2000. The win snapped a three-game skid for Texas, which lowered its magic number to clinching its first AL West title since 1999 to four after the Athletics lost to the Chicago White Sox earlier Wednesday. The Rangers open a four-game series in Oakland on Thursday. "This was big. You never want to be swept," said Texas manager Ron Washington. "We got a break when the ball got by Mathis. Our bullpen did a great job." Los Angeles first baseman Mike Napoli began the seventh by crushing a 3-1 pitch from Texas starting pitcher C.J. Wilson over the right-field wall, tying the game. The Angels threatened in the eighth, placing men on the corners with one out, but Rangers reliever Alexi Ogando got Torii Hunter to ground into an inning- ending double play. Matt Harrison (3-1) was credited with the win after tossing a scoreless 11th. "Two unearned earns. It was a tough night for us. We just didn't get it done," said Angels manager Mike Scioscia. Texas pushed home a run in the third. Angels starting pitcher Dan Haren issued a one-out walk to Borbon and induced a ground ball from Ian Kinsler. However, an errant throw to second by third baseman Kevin Frandsen put men on the corners. A sacrifice fly by Michael Young put the visitors on the board. Game Notes Haren scattered three hits over seven innings...Wilson also allowed three hits while pitching six-plus innings...The Angels had won six straight home games...Eight of the 15 meetings between Texas and Los Angeles this season have been decided by one run.
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