C.J. Wilson followed Cliff Lee's lead, turning in another masterful performance by a Texas Rangers left-hander.
Wilson scattered four hits over eight innings, Michael Young homered, and the Rangers beat the Los Angeles Angels 1-0 on Friday night as the AL West leaders stretched their season-high lead over the second-place Angels to seven games.
Wilson (9-5) struck out three without a walk, retiring 17 of his last 18 batters to win for the sixth time in eight decisions.
Lee allowed five hits in 8 1-3 innings of Thursday night's 3-2 victory over the Angels for his first victory since he was acquired by the Rangers in a trade on July 9.
Wilson took mental notes from the dugout.
"We acquired Cliff so he would win games, but we also acquired Cliff because he would make everybody else better and that's been the big thing for me," Wilson said. "I've been watching his videotapes for two years now and now having him here and being able to actually talk to him and find out the methods behind his approach are already having an effect."
Lee's influence on Wilson has been obvious to teammates.
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"Having Cliff on the roster has been huge for C.J.," Young said. "Cliff is kind of the prototype for the lefty with great location, great tempo, who goes right after guys and challenges guys."
Neftali Feliz got three outs for his AL-leading 27th save, helping the Rangers improve to 5-2 against the Angels this season. Feliz has converted 18 straight save opportunities.
For the second straight game, Young's one-out solo homer in the first put Texas ahead, and from there pitching dominated.
Starter Joe Saunders (6-10) left a fastball out over the plate, and Young deposited the 3-2 pitch into the seats in left-center.
"I made one mistake there in the first inning, and it cost us," Saunders said. "I didn't realize it would cost us the game."
Texas' Ian Kinsler went 1 for 4 to extend his hitting streak to 16 games and teammate Nelson Cruz was 2 for 3 to stretch his career-best streak to 12 games.
Saunders kept the Angels close in a rare effective start against the Rangers, allowing one run and seven hits over seven innings with six strikeouts and one walk in a career-high 126 pitches.
Saunders entered the game 0-5 with an 11.68 ERA in five career starts at Rangers Ballpark and was 0-3 with a 16.88 ERA against Texas last season.
Angels manager Mike Scioscia said he isn't paying attention to the standings, that his team needs to concentrate on how it is playing, not on the competition.
Los Angeles has lost four of five and faces its largest deficit of the season in the AL West.
"What concerns you is how your team is playing," Scioscia said. "It's obvious right now where we've hit a tough spell and not supporting the pitching like we need to. It's building momentum and doing things on the field we need to do."
Alberto Callaspo, acquired by the Angels from Kansas City in a trade on Thursday, played third base and went 1 for 3.
Rangers catcher Matt Treanor left the game in the seventh inning with a sprained right knee. Treanor was running out a ground ball and tripped over the foot of Angels first baseman Kevin Frandsen. Treanor fell to the ground in pain, holding his right leg.
Treanor will have an MRI on Saturday.
The Angels find themselves in unfamiliar territory after having won five of the last six division titles.
But Torii Hunter refused to concede that maybe this year the Rangers are the better team.
"If I catch one guy saying that, that we have no chance, then we're fighting," said Hunter, who went 0 for 3 with a strikeout. "That's not professional sports, period. If you say that, you probably shouldn't be here. I don't care if they're 20 games up, I'd never say that."
NOTES: The Angels were shut out for the third time this season. Texas had its fourth shutout. ... The last time the Rangers won a 1-0 game in Arlington on a solo homer was May 7, 1982, vs. Boston, with Bobby Johnson supplying the power. ... Six of the seven meetings between the teams have been decided by one run. ... Rangers RHP Rich Harden threw in the bullpen four hours before the game, another step in his attempt to return to the rotation from the 15-day DL (left gluteal muscle strain). Harden has allowed 16 hits and three homers in 11 1-3 innings of three rehab starts for Triple-A Oklahoma City. Harden will start Monday night for Oklahoma City against Memphis. ... Scioscia rested OF/DH Hideki Matsui, batting .204 with no homers and one RBI in July.
