Helling of a Time for Devil Rays

Mark McLemore’s three-run double helped keep Rick Helling undefeated Wednesday night as the Texas Rangers rolled past the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, 7-2, at Arlington, Texas for their eighth victory in nine games.

Helling (4-0) gave up one run and four hits in 5 1/3 innings before letting the Ranger relievers take over. He joins teammate Aaron Sele and Houston’s Mike Hampton as baseball’s only four-game winners.

Texas scored four runs with two outs in the second inning to take a 4-1 lead against Tony Saunders (1-2).

Ivan Rodriguez was hit by a pitch with one out and Mike Simms walked. Kelvin Elster’s fly to center sent Rodriguez to third where he scored on an infield single by Fernando Tatis.

Roberto Kelly beat out an infield single to load the bases, and McLemore doubled down the left-field line to clear the bases.

Texas put it away in the seventh. Rusty Greer’s triple chased Saunders and reliever Albie Perry was tagged for a run-scoring single by Juan Gonzalez and a solo homer by Will Clark, his first.

Saunders went 6 1/3 innings, giving up five runs and 10 hits.

NEXT SERIES FOR ANGELS

WHO: Tampa Bay Devil Rays

WHERE: at Tampa

WHEN: Friday, 4 p.m.

Saturday, 3:30 p.m.

Sunday, 5 p.m.