AMERICAN LEAGUE Teixeira leads Texas' rout of Indians

He became the second player in Rangers history to hit for the cycle.
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) -- After becoming just the second player in Texas Rangers history -- and first in more than 19 years -- to hit for the cycle, Mark Teixeira tried to contain his emotions.
"Anytime you're up 16-1, you never want to show the other team up, show too much on the field," Teixeira said.
Teixeira went 4-for-5 and drove in a career-high seven runs in a 16-4 rout of the Cleveland Indians on Tuesday night as the Rangers stretched their winning streak to five games and gave Scott Erickson his first victory in more than two years.
Step by step
Teixeira hit a two-run double in the third, a three-run homer in the fourth, a two-run triple in the fifth, and a leadoff single in the seventh for the club's first cycle since Oddibe McDowell accomplished the feat on July 23, 1985, against the Indians at Arlington Stadium.
"I was definitely happy and excited inside, but you don't want to be celebrating in a situation like that," Teixeira said.
The first baseman was removed for a pinch-runner after his single, leaving to a standing ovation from the crowd of 24,864 with his team ahead 16-1. He's the fifth player to hit for the cycle this season, joining Milwaukee's Chad Moeller, Pittsburgh's Daryle Ward, Philadelphia's David Bell and Eric Valent of the New York Mets.
The hardest part of the cycle for Teixeira, an average baserunner, was his first triple of the season -- and fifth of his career.
"Triples are a weird thing, especially for a guy like me," he said. "You need some bounces, you need a big outfield. For me, they're few and far between."
Before his at-bat in the seventh, his teammates made sure he knew he needed a single for the cycle.
"They were kidding me, telling me to trip over first base if I hit one into the gap," Teixeira said. "I just wanted to swing at a good pitch. I didn't want to get myself out on my last at-bat."
Rangers' support
Gary Matthews Jr. and Kevin Mench also homered for Texas, which had 17 hits. Mench went 3-for-5 and came within a triple of the cycle.
The Rangers' 17-hit attack helped Erickson (1-2) win for the first time since Aug. 7, 2002, while with Baltimore. He allowed one run and three hits over six innings.
Doug Brocail pitched the final three innings for his first save since July 7, 1999, with Detroit.
Teixeira's three-run homer in a seven-run fourth was his 29th, helping Texas remain a half-game behind Oakland in the AL West.
The loss dropped Cleveland 3 1/2 games behind Minnesota in the AL Central.
Cleveland starter Cliff Lee (10-5) allowed a career-high eight runs and seven hits in 3 1/3 innings. Lee is 0-4 in his last six starts, and hasn't won since July 16.
The Indians, 1-7 against the Rangers, took a 1-0 lead in the second on Jody Gerut's sacrifice fly.
"[The Rangers] have had our number all season," Indians manager Eric Wedge said. "We've got to separate ourselves from this, come out tomorrow and be ready to go."