ARLINGTON, Texas — Torii Hunter enjoyed the comforts of home and it showed last night.

Hunter homered twice, the first capping a six-run second inning, and the Los Angeles Angels held on for a 9-6 victory over the Texas Rangers.

Vladimir Guerrero, Jeff Mathis and Hunter all homered in the big second inning that gave the Angels an 8-0 lead.

Hunter spent the day with his family at his house in nearby Prosper — which is north of Dallas — before hitting two homers in a game for the second time this season.

"Baseball is all mental," said Hunter, who had an RBI single in the first and homered in the seventh. "Just coming home to my family, being around my brothers, it kind of relaxes you a little bit,"

Hunter, who signed a five-year deal with the Angels in the offseason, had driven in just one run over his past 15 games.

"I haven't been playing up to par like I should be," Hunter said. "I'm trying to get used to this team, my environment, the travel, the whole thing."

All three of Los Angeles' homers in the second were off Rangers starter Luis Mendoza (1-3), who allowed eight runs in 1 1/3 innings.

Mendoza, who has not won in five starts this season, allowed nine hits and two walks in the 14 batters he faced.

"We have to do a better job of pitching early," Rangers manager Ron Washington said. "If we keep the damage down to a minimum, we can stay with them."

Ervin Santana (10-3), who was named an All-Star for the first time, allowed six runs and 10 hits in seven innings. He struck out six in winning for just the second time in six starts.

David Murphy and Chris Davis homered off Santana in Texas' five-run fifth that nearly erased the eight-run deficit.

"In this park with their offense, you have to pitch well," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "Their offense got them back in the game. Pitchers have their work cut out for them. I thought Ervin did a good job."

Francisco Rodriguez pitched the ninth for his 35th save, the most ever before the All-Star break. Atlanta's John Smoltz had 34 before the break in 2003.

Ian Kinsler of the Rangers went 4 for 5 to extend his hitting streak to a career-high 19 games. Kinsler doubled in the third and scored on Josh Hamilton's double.

Royals 7, Rays 4: John Buck and Mike Aviles hit 10th-inning homers as visiting Kansas City snapped Tampa Bay's seven-game winning streak. Billy Butler reached on an error to start the 10th and after a walk, Buck lined his fourth homer down the left-field line off Dan Wheeler (2-4). Two pitches later, Aviles homered to make it 7-3.

Red Sox 1, Twins 0: Manny Ramirez hit a run-scoring single in the eighth to lift host Boston in a pitching duel between Daisuke Matsuzaka and Minnesota's Scott Baker. Matsuzaka pitched 7 1/3 innings, allowing six hits, walking three and striking out five. Baker gave up five hits, walked two and struck out seven in seven innings. Neither factored in the decision.

Athletics 4, Mariners 3: Wes Bankston hit his first career home run, Dana Eveland (7-5) won his third straight decision and Oakland ended an eight-game home losing skid to Seattle. Bankston, called up from Triple-A Sacramento on Wednesday when the A's placed shortstop Bobby Crosby on the disabled list, hit a two-run home run off Seattle starter Jarrod Washburn (4-8) in the fifth inning.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

Mets 10, Phillies 9: Pedro Martinez (3-2) pitched into the sixth inning then watched New York give back nearly all of a nine-run lead before holding on against host Philadelphia. David Wright homered and drove in four runs as the Mets built a 10-1 lead in the sixth, but the Phillies closed to 10-9 in the ninth before closer Billy Wagner got Jayson Werth for his 20th save in 26 opportunities.

Marlins 3, Padres 1: Jorge Cantu hit a two-run home run off Greg Maddux, which was enough to carry Ricky Nolasco and visiting Florida over San Diego. Nolasco (10-4) allowed one run and five hits in eight innings. Maddux (3-7) allowed one earned run and four hits in six innings.

Rockies 4, Brewers 3: Ubaldo Jimenez (4-8) allowed three hits over seven innings and Colorado beat host Milwaukee. All-Star Matt Holliday hit his 14th home run — and fourth in four games — for Colorado, which has won six of its past seven.

Pirates 10, Astros 7: Nate McLouth and Ryan Doumit both homered as host Pittsburgh snapped a three-game losing streak by beating Houston. The Pittsburgh bullpen worked 5 2/3 shutout innings, highlighted by Denny Bautista (2-1) going 2 2/3 innings.