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ARLINGTON, Texas -- Erick Aybar hit a two-run home run early and eight Angels pitchers combined for a 7-3 victory over the Texas Rangers on Thursday night, giving Los Angeles its eighth straight win. Los Angeles won for the 14th time in 16 games and moved 10 games ahead of second-place Oakland in the American League West with 16 games to play. Aybar homered against Nick Martinez (3-11) in the second inning to put the Angels ahead 2-1. The shortstop entered the game batting .383 (36 for 94) since Aug. 16, best in the AL during that span. David Freese had a two-run single in the third and Kole Calhouns RBI single in the seventh made it 5-1. Pinch-hitter Grant Green added a two-run single in the eighth. Mike Morin (4-3), the fifth Los Angeles pitcher, got the win. He entered the game to retire Elvis Andrus with the bases loaded in the fourth and also worked a scoreless fifth inning. Leonys Martin and J.P. Arencibia had solo homers for the Rangers. Texas actually slowed down the Angels, who averaged nine runs over the first seven games of the winning streak. The Rangers have lost five of six under interim manager Tim Bogar, and 11 of their last 12 overall to fall 37 games behind Los Angeles in the division. During that stretch, Texas has totalled only 24 runs. Angels starter Cory Rasmus, who has made only three starts after 24 relief appearances, pitched a career-best 3 1-3 innings, allowing one run and three hits. Martin led off the bottom of the first against Rasmus with his seventh home run, which barely cleared the fence in the right-field corner. Arencibias homer in the seventh off Fernando Salas pulled the Rangers to 5-2. Rougned Odors RBI single in the eighth closed the scoring. TRAINERS ROOM Angels: LF Josh Hamilton (shoulder injury) missed his seventh game in a row, but said he was feeling better. "Hes not really going to test it for a couple of days," manager Mike Scioscia said. RHP Huston Street (right hamstring) hasnt pitched since Saturday. Rangers: C Robinson Chirinos (stiff neck) missed his 10th straight game, but did warm up Texas pitcher before one inning. Fingers crossed, Bogar said, "Hes going to come back in my office and tell me hes 100 per cent, and he will be starting (Friday)." UP NEXT Each team opens a three-game series at home Friday night. Los Angeles LHP C.J. Wilson (11-9, 4.64) is scheduled to pitch against Houston. Hes 1-2 with an 8.35 ERA in his first four 2014 starts vs. the Astros. Rangers LHP Derek Holland (1-0, 0.64) would face interleague opponent Atlanta in his third start after missing the first five months following knee surgery. He has never pitched against the Braves. Air Jordan Sale . LOUIS -- When Braves second baseman Tyler Pastornicky backpedaled into shallow right field to catch the popup and Jason Heyward didnt arrive fast enough to take charge, Kolten Wong got the green light. Under Armour Shoes Sale . Not Peyton Manning. Hes holding on to the heartache to stoke his competitive fire. https://www.wholesaleshoesforcheap.com/. Hes recovered from a scary injury and cleared to play. Mingo, who was hospitalized with a bruised lung he sustained in an Aug. Air Max 95 Sale . And former Maple Leafs coach Ron Wilson certainly knows his pain. "Its pretty hard to coach there without allowing some of these things to kind of affect you," Wilson told TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun in his ESPN. Air Max Plus Sale . Both sides came closest to scoring in the first half, when Roma had a goal from Mattia Destro waved off for offside and Inters Rodrigo Palacio headed high. "A draw was a fair result. Neither squad had many chances," Roma midfielder Miralem Pjanic said.LAS VEGAS, Nev. - Dale Earnhardt Jr. extended his run as NASCARs most popular driver with his 12th consecutive win.Earnhardt was presented with the NASCAR Sprint NMPA Most Popular Driver Award at Friday nights season-ending awards ceremony. Earnhardt last year broke a tie with 16-time winner Bill Elliott for most consecutive years as winner.He thanked his fan base, known as JR Nation, and said joining Twitter this year made him more aware of how determined his fans are to help him win the award. He said hed wake up each day and check his Twitter timeline to see it is just full of these fans, I voted, I voted, Earnhardt said. That was probably the most humbling experience. I got to know my fans in a whole new way this year.Completing the top 10 in total votes for this years award were (listed alphabetically): Carl Edwards, Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, Kasey Kahne, Matt Kenseth, Brad Keselowski, Danica Patrick, Tony Stewart and Josh Wise.Keselowski feigned shock over Earnhardts win while Earnhardt accepted the trophy.Darn, Really thought I had it this year! he posted on Twitter.Only 17 drivers have won the most popular driver award since its inception in 1956. Elliott removed his name from consideratiion following his 16th victory in 2002.ddddddddddddEarnhardts streak began the next season.His fan base this year was able to celebrate a banner season in which he opened the year with a victory in the Daytona 500. Earnhardt won four races and finished eighth in the final point standings.He was also honoured Thursday with the prestigious Myers Brothers award, which recognizes the winner for their contributions to the sport.After accepting the award Friday, Earnhardt revealed he gave his speech for the first time without prepared remarks. He said he didnt like how he sounded last year in accepting most popular driver — it didnt seem genuine to me, he said — so he went off the cuff on the stage this time.I hope my remarks came across well because I genuinely do appreciate all the effort from the fans, Earnhardt said. It really is overwhelming to be able to continue to win this award. This was a good year because of all the victories we were able to deliver on the race track. The other years, it was difficult to accept the award because of our performance.I feel like I have a good idea in other forms of sport or celebrity, and our fans are truly the most loyal, most devoted, most vocal. ' ' '