Rangers 5, Astros 4: Elvis Andrus hit a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the ninth inning as host Texas completed a three-game sweep and improved to 14-2 this season against Houston.

Andrus hit a fly to left field off Chia-Jen Lo (0-1) for the second out to score pinch runner Adam Rosales as the Rangers increased their American League West lead over the Oakland Athletics to 2 1/2 games. Texas has won 18 of its last 22 games.

Craig Gentry homered and scored three times and Joe Nathan (4-2) worked a scoreless top of the ninth for the Rangers. Jason Castro homered and scored three times for Houston.

The Astros took advantage of a shaky outing by reliever Tanner Scheppers to tie the contest in the eighth. Chris Carter’s bloop single pulled Houston within 4-3 and Scheppers hit the next two batters, including Max Stassi in the face to force in the tying run.

The Rangers had a 4-2 advantage in the seventh after Andrus laid down a suicide-squeeze bunt on a 3-0 pitch to score Gentry.

GAME NOTEBOOK: 2B Ian Kinsler and 3B Adrian Beltre each had two of the Rangers’ seven hits. … Astros SS Jonathan Villar (thumb) was held out of the lineup. … Texas starter Derek Holland allowed two runs and four hits in six-plus innings while Houston’s Erik Bedard gave up three runs (two earned) and five hits in 4 1/3 innings.