Angels Have Rangers' Attention As Race Hits Final Stretch

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) -- Texas Rangers manager Ron Washington stands up from his office chair and starts shaking his knees.

He's exaggerating how nervous he is about the AL West race with the Los Angeles Angels. Still, the division-leading manager knows how much tighter things will be down the stretch this season. They already are.

Texas (75-59) went into its off day Monday with a three-game lead over the Angels with 27 regular-season games left.

At the same point last season, before the Rangers won their first AL pennant, they had an eight-game division lead.

That nevergot under seven the final month of the season.

The gap would be only one game had Texas not rallied against Angels ace Jered Weaver to win 9-5 Sunday night.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)