It was easy to see why Texas manager Ron Washington was in a good mood Friday night.

The Rangers’ 11-2 win over the Cleveland Indians was a team effort from top to bottom.

Alexi Ogando won his sixth game without a loss and Josh Hamilton and Nelson Cruz homered in a five-run seventh inning, sparking the Rangers to their ninth win in 12 games. The defending AL champions, who pounded out 19 hits, are 14-8 since May 10.

“I like what Ogando did,” Washington said. “I like what our offense did. We had balance throughout the lineup and we made all the defensive plays.”

The victory continued the Rangers’ dominance of the Indians over the last three seasons. Texas has beaten Cleveland 14 times in the last 17 games between the teams and has won nine of 10 at Progressive Field, including the first two games of this series.

“It’s one of those baseball things,” Washington said. “The past couple of years they’ve been young. Now those kids are becoming stars. The past two nights we’ve played some good baseball. I just hope we can continue it because at any moment they can rise up.”

The Indians have the best record in the American League, but are 13-14 since May 3 and have lost four straight at home. Despite the fact his team has lost seven of 10, Indians manager Manny Acta isn’t ready to panic.

“I feel good,” he said. “We’re going through a rough spot like everybody else. I’m very thankful we still haven’t gone through one of those long stretches like everyone else, and we want to keep it that way.”

Ogando (6-0) held the Indians to one run and four hits in eight innings. He has allowed two runs or fewer in nine of his 11 starts while pitching at least six innings in each outing. Washington gave his endorsement for the right-hander to be in next month’s All-Star game. Considering Washington will manage the American League team, one has to like Ogando’s chances.

“To be there would be a dream,” said Ogando. “It makes me feel good for my manager to say that.”

Texas took a 2-1 lead into the seventh before putting the game away with home runs off reliever Tony Sipp. Hamilton hit a three-run drive on an 0-2 pitch. After Adrian Beltre’s flyball fell between outfielders Michael Brantley and Shin-Soo Choo for a double, Cruz homered on Sipp’s next pitch.

The Rangers have managed to stay in first place in the AL West despite the fact Hamilton and Cruz have both missed time with injuries. Texas is 17-5 in games that both have played.

“I don’t know if it takes pressure off guys,” said Hamilton, the AL MVP. “It seems to flow a little better.”

Elvis Andrus, who had four hits, added a three-run double in the eighth.

Justin Masterson (5-4) allowed four runs in 6 1-3 innings, dropping his fourth straight decision. He hasn’t won since April 26.

Cleveland’s best chance against Ogando came in the sixth when singles by Brantley and Asdrubal Cabrera put runners at first and third to start the inning. Ogando then got Choo to hit into a double play, with Brantley scoring, and struck out Carlos Santana to end the inning.

Cabrera hit a solo home run in the ninth.

Endy Chavez, who was 4 for 4 on Thursday, had an RBI double in the second while Michael Young drove in a third-inning run with a fielder’s choice.

Masterson retired the first batter in the seventh, but was removed after Ian Kinsler walked and Andrus singled. Sipp was called on to face Hamilton, who was batting .179 against left-handers, but that strategy failed. Hamilton’s line drive cleared the wall in right near the Rangers’ bullpen.

“He missed his spot,” Hamilton said. “He was trying to go away with his fastball. He got it up and in.”

Following Beltre’s gift double, Cruz drove his home run deep into the seats in right-center.

Cleveland third baseman Jack Hannahan was a late scratch from the lineup because of a sore left hamstring. He was replaced by Adam Everett.

NOTES: OF Julio Borbon was activated from the disabled list and optioned to Triple-A Round Rock. He had been out since mid-May with a strained hamstring. … The Rangers’ 7-4 victory on Thursday was the first time they have rallied from a three-run deficit to win a game this season. … RHP Alex White (sore middle finger) has been sent to extended spring training to begin a rehab program. He’s expected to miss about 10 more weeks. … 1B Nick Johnson, signed by the Indians to a minor league contract in February, has been activated from extended spring training and joined Double-A Akron. Johnson had wrist surgery last season.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP)—Texas Rangers shortstop Elvis Andrus(notes) was out of
the lineup one day after a teammate accidentally stepped on his left foot.

Andres Blanco(notes) was Andrus’ replacement for Tuesday night’s game at Tampa Bay.

Andrus was going after a grounder up the middle in sixth inning of Monday
night’s 11-5 win over the Rays and crossed paths with second baseman Michael
Young(notes).

“Having a day (off) is not going to hurt him,” Texas manager Ron
Washington said.

Andrus, hitting .268 with two homers, 18 RBIs and 15 stolen bases in 51
games this season, could return for the final game of the three-game series on
Wednesday.

Josh Hamilton took off running, and kept up that pace even after his first swing in six weeks for the Texas Rangers sent the ball over the wall for his first homer this season.

“It was good to get it out of the way, good to get that nervousness over,” Hamilton said.

The Rangers have been waiting for their AL MVP and Nelson Cruz to get back in the lineup, and both delivered big blasts in a 4-0 victory over the Chicago White Sox on Monday night.

Cruz and Hamilton homered to back up Alexi Ogando’s five-hitter for his first career shutout.

“An exciting moment for us to be back,” Cruz said.

Their long-awaited comeback in many ways overshadowed another dominating pitching performance for the Rangers, who had their second consecutive shutout and third in eight games.

Hamilton pulled an 0-1 pitch off John Danks (0-7) over the right-field wall in the first to put Texas ahead to stay. Hamilton, who hit .333 without a homer in 11 games before breaking a bone in his upper right arm April 12, was quickly around the bases and back in the dugout.

“First one of the year, yeah!” he said. “I was already running hard because I didn’t know if it was getting out or not, so I just continued it all the way around the bases. But it was good.”

Cruz hit a two-run shot to left in the sixth to make it 3-0.

“That’s something we needed,” Ogando said through a translator. “You see as soon as they are at the plate they can make a big difference.”

Ogando (5-0), who was added to the rotation at the end of spring training after Tommy Hunter’s injury, struck out six and walked three while throwing 72 of his 105 pitches for strikes.

Danks also threw a complete game, his first this season and third of his career.

“I made a lousy pitch to pretty darn good hitter in the first, and I made a good pitch to Cruz that he hit out of the ballpark,” Danks said. “It changes their lineup, no disrespect to their other hitters.”

A setup reliever last season, Ogando was expected to pitch out of the bullpen again even though he was stretched in spring training.

Now Ogando has pitched at least six innings in nine consecutive starts to open the season, matching Kevin Millwood (2009) as the only Rangers pitchers in opening-day rotations to accomplish that over the past 10 seasons. And already has a shutout.

“You’re never thinking about that, you can’t predict the future,” he said. “But if you work hard and do your job, anything can happen. … I’m learning more every inning. I know that I’m getting more and getting more experience. I feel more confident every time I get out there.”

Danks, drafted ninth overall by Texas in 2003 and traded to Chicago three years later, struck out three and walked two while 71 of 105 pitches for strikes. The left-hander again got no run support, with the White Sox scoring only four runs for him in his five road starts this season.

“He threw the ball well, but made a couple mistakes, missed his location a couple of times. He’s giving up a lot of 0-2 hits on mistakes. It’s almost like he’s throwing too many strikes,” catcher A.J. Pierzynski said. “It’s frustrating for him, for me, for everybody because we know the ability John has and we want to get that out of him.”

For only the fourth time in Rangers Ballpark, which opened in 1994, both starting pitchers threw complete games.

It was the fifth shutout for the Rangers this season. Chicago was held without a run for the sixth time after being scoreless only five times last season.

The game was played in 2 hours, 5 minutes — the shortest game at Rangers Ballpark since a 2-hour game on May 29, 2006, when Texas beat Seattle 2-0.

Hamilton and Cruz wrapped up rehab assignments Sunday at Triple-A Round Rock, and were activated before Monday’s game.

The return for Hamilton came one day short of six weeks since he got hurt trying to score with a headfirst slide at Detroit. Cruz had been out since leaving a game early May 3 at Seattle because of a strained left quadriceps.

Hamilton, who was the designated hitter batting third, got a standing ovation when he was introduced in the first. He responded with his first homer, and later had a double while going 2 for 4.

Cruz got a similar response when he led off in the second, when he grounded out. He also struck out before his two-run blast in the sixth snapped an 0-for-16 slide.

After Adrian Beltre drew a two-out walk in the sixth, Cruz homered to left. Beltre added a sacrifice fly in the eighth.

Notes: When Pierzynski reached into the stands to try to catch a foul ball by Beltre in the sixth inning, he found himself face-to-face with former President George W. Bush. The ball didn’t hit anyone when it fell into the owner’s box where Bush and his wife, Laura, sat with Rangers president Nolan Ryan and his wife, Ruth. … PGA Tour player Vijay Singh attended the game. He missed the cut at the Colonial in Fort Worth last week and is a former champion in this week’s Byron Nelson Championship in Irving.

ARLINGTON — The first question Josh Hamilton was asked Monday afternoon in the clubhouse concerned whether or not the 2010 American League MVP had discussed his role as designated hitter with manager Ron Washington.

They had talked, but not about details.

“[Washington] said ‘It’s good to have you back,’” Hamilton said. “I said, ‘It’s good to be back.’”

Washington said both Hamilton and outfielder Nelson Cruz needed no alterations of strategy.

“I don’t want them to approach [the game] any differently,” Washington said. “I just want them to play baseball. They have to be smart in what they do [on the field.]“

The outfielder has been on the disabled list since April 12, when he fractured the humerus bone in his right arm sliding into home at Detroit.

But Hamilton said he wouldn’t be playing any less aggressively or tentatively upon rejoining the Rangers. He cited his Christianity as the primary reason.

“[I can play] however long God has planned for me,” Hamilton said. “He gave me the ability to play the game a certain way and it wouldn’t be giving Him glory and doing Him justice if I didn’t do it the way I need to do it.”

He however acknowledged it is hard to decide in a game situation whether to risk his body on a play or play it safe.

“When you’re in the middle of doing something you need to do to help the team win, [everything else] goes out the window, and you just think about [making the play,]” Hamilton said. “The season is getting later and I’d like to stay in there for the rest of the year, but I can’t say I will be. A play might come up where I go after it hard and something might happen, but I can’t not play hard.”

The subject of Hamilton’s injury history came up and he was asked if he was bothered by the suggestion his admitted history of drug use may play a role in his fragility. Hamilton missed 29 games due to injury last year and had DL stints in 2009 as well for bruised ribs and an abdominal tear.

Hamilton said you have to consider how his major injuries have occurred.

“Most of the time, it’s breaking bones, hitting the wall – which I guarantee you, yours would break just as easy, and y’know, diving into bases and playing the game the way it should be played,” Hamilton said. “Maybe I should kind of slack off and just hang out and let balls hit the fence and just play it nice and easy. But I don’t get paid to do that, and the fans don’t pay admission to watch me do that.”

Rangers make moves to accommodate returning stars:

In order to clear room for Hamilton and Cruz to return, the Rangers made a few roster moves Monday afternoon. First baseman Chris Davis, reliever Cody Eppley and third catcher Taylor Teagarden have all been optioned to Triple-A Round Rock.

In addition to reinstating Nelson and Cruz, the club recalled right-handed pitcher Yoshinori Tateyama from Round Rock.

Washington said Tateyama had been playing well for Round Rock and wanted to see if he could give the Rangers “a shot in the arm.”

“[Tateyama] throws strikes and keeps the ball down in the strikezone, I think he learned something about expansion of the strikezone and if he can do that, he can be effective,” Washington said.

The 35-year-old reliever made 14 appearances for Round Rock this season, allowing 17 hits and five earned runs in 21 innings. Additionally, he had 26 strikeouts to four walks and held opponents to a .215 average. Tateyama, who is from Japan, told reporters through a translator Monday it was a “big opportunity.”

“Every hitter hasn’t seen me pitch before, so [my pitches will be harder to hit,]” Tateyama said. “So I’m going to try to be as rested as I can, then the results will come after that.”

Davis was hitting .250 with three home runs and four RBIs for Texas, while Eppley pitched nine innings over 10 appearances with an 8.00 ERA. Teagarden didn’t see much time in the lineup for the Rangers.

Washington said Eppley and the other young players would be back for Texas and needed to use the time in Triple-A to work on their games.

“We feel like [Eppley] needs to get back down [to the minors] and get more consistent,” Washington said.

The Rangers had announced earlier Monday outfielder Endy Chavez would be on his way to the 15-day DL, but later said that had been a miscommunication. A team official said Chavez is not 100 percent, but he is game-ready to come off the bench and should be ready to start in a matter of days.

Cruz ready too:

Nelson Cruz hasn’t been missing from the Rangers lineup for as long as Hamilton, but he said it was hard watching his team struggle from his spot on the DL.

“It’s amazing how frustrated you can get to sit there and watch the game and know that maybe you can do something about it, but you can’t do anything,” Cruz said.

After hitting three home runs in the last three days with Round Rock, Cruz said he’s all set to get back to doing the same in the majors.

“I [had to get] my timing and approach right, and I feel like it’s there,” Cruz said.

He said he’s had no problems with the quad strain that put him on the 15-day DL and it got plenty of work yesterday as the Express scored 10 runs bolstered by Cruz and Hamilton. He hasn’t felt pain in the quad since his last action in the majors, May 3 at Seattle.

Michael Young said the Rangers were just as ready for the return of Cruz and Hamilton as the players themselves. Now they just need to stay in the lineup.

“Obviously to get back to a point where we can get our team healthy is a good thing,” Young said. “But you know getting healthy and staying healthy are two different things… It’s towards the end of May now, and I think this is our first crack for our team to build some momentum offensively. It’s something we’ve been looking for for a long time, so hopefully we can get going now.”

Read More: Josh Hamilton (LF – TEX), Texas Rangers

The Texas Rangers haven’t scored more than five runs in any of their last ten games, averaging 2.8 runs during that stretch. So if there’s anything more welcome than one of their sluggers returning from the disabled list, it’s two of them coming back from the disabled list on the same day. The Rangers activated Josh Hamilton and Nelson Cruz on Monday, significantly upgrading 22 percent of their lineup.

T.R. Sullivan of MLB.com notes that the Rangers optioned Taylor Teagarden to make room for one of the sluggers, while Lone Star Ball attempts to figure out who else is going down:

It may be that the Rangers are evaluating whether Endy Chavez’s hamstring issue is such that he will need to be placed on the 15 day disabled list. Mitch Moreland, as well, has been having hamstring issues, and it could be that the Rangers may need to make a move with him. Chris Davis and Craig Gentry are the other two likely candidates to be optioned to make room for Hamilton and Cruz.

After losing Hamilton, the Rangers went 15-21. While that can’t be completely attributed to losing last year’s MVP, his return along with Cruz’s gives the Rangers the lineup with which they started the season, and that team was almost unbeatable. Cruz was off to a bit of a slow start before his injury, hitting .219/.303/.438 over 105 at-bats, while Hamilton hit .333/.409/.462 in 38 at-bats before his fateful scramble towards home.

Read More: Barry Zito (P – SFG), Josh Hamilton (LF – TEX), Texas Rangers

Texas Rangers MVP outfielder Josh Hamilton will resume some baseball-related activities on Wednesday, as Jeff Wilson of the Forth Worth Star-Telegram notes that Hamilton will begin swinging a bat at a ball on a tee. Or, as the kids call it these days, “hitting against Barry Zito.”

Hamilton sustained a fracture of his humerus bone while trying to score on a wild pitch that didn’t bounce too far away from home plate on April 12. He was expected to be out for six to eight weeks, and it looks like that’s still the schedule.

Even without Hamilton, the Rangers have fared quite well offensively, with Chris Davis, Mike Napoli, and David Murphy all getting extra at-bats in the place of Hamilton. The Rangers’ team OPS+ is 116, and they’re tied with the Cleveland Indians for the league lead in scoring, but surely they’re eager to get Hamilton back in the lineup.