Updated

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) -- Cole Hamels won his sixth consecutive decision, overcoming a shaky start to strike out eight in six innings, and the AL West-leading Texas Rangers snapped a three-game skid with a 7-6 win over the Detroit Tigers on Tuesday night.

Texas started the night with a 1 1-2 game division lead over Houston and two games ahead of the Angels, who start a four-game series Thursday in Texas to end the regular season. The Astros were at Seattle and Los Angeles home against Oakland later Tuesday night.

Adrian Beltre had three hits and drove in two runs, including Shin-Soo Choo when they had consecutive doubles in the fourth to break a 6-all tie. Choo also had a two-run homer in the first.

Hamels is 6-1 in 11 starts since getting traded from Philadelphia at the end of July, and the Rangers have won his last nine starts after losing the first two. The lefty surpassed 200 innings for the seventh time in his career and 200 strikeouts for the fourth time.

Shawn Tolleson, the closer in only his third appearance in 14 days, gave up two hits in a scoreless ninth for his 34th save in 36 chances. The game ended when center fielder Drew Stubbs made a running catch of Ian Kinsler's drive.

J.D. Martinez became the first Tigers outfielder since 2008 to reach 100 RBIs with a two-run homer, his 38th of the season, in the first. But he couldn't reach Beltre's flyball to right in the fourth, running a long way and reaching out his glove only to have the ball bounce into the seats for ground-rule double.

The Rangers led 5-2 after Rougned Odor's RBI triple in the first, when Detroit starter Daniel Norris threw 54 pitches. Two errors led to four unearned runs.

Tigers catcher Bryan Holaday homered in the second. Hamels struck out Ian Kinsler and Miguel Cabrera to start the third before Detroit tied the game at 6 on a walk, a hit batsman, and run-scoring hits by Jefry Marte and Dixon Machado. Hamels retired 10 of the last 11 batters he faced after that.

Buck Farmer (0-4), the second of six Detroit pitchers, retired the first six batters he faced before the doubles by Choo and Beltre.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Tigers: 3B Nick Castellanos left the game after the first inning because of a bruised right index finger. The Tigers said he's day to day. ... Victor Martinez was out of the lineup because of a sore left quad.

Rangers: Josh Hamilton wasn't in the lineup after starting two of the previous three games. Manager Jeff Banister said Hamilton, who had arthroscopic surgery Sept. 11 for a small meniscus tear in his left knee, is not ready to start consecutive games. Hamilton stuck out as a pinch-hitter in the seventh.

UP NEXT

Tigers: Left-hander Matt Boyd (1-5), a distant relative of Hall of Fame pitcher Bob Feller, makes the final scheduled start of his rookie season.

Rangers: Yovani Gallardo (12-11), who has lost his last two decisions, tries to avoid matching his career high for losses set in 2009. The Rangers won his last start Friday in Houston, but he threw only 4 2-3 innings.