Arlington, TX (Sports Network) - Miguel Tejada had three hits a run batted in and scored twice, as the Houston Astros held on to defeat the Texas Rangers, 5-4, in the finale of a three-game interleague series.

Carlos Lee, Mark Loretta, Ty Wigginton, J.R. Towles each knocked in a run for the Astros, who salvaged one of the three games in the set. Houston has won six of its last nine games.

Brandon Backe (3-5) earned the win, tossing 6 1/3 solid innings. The righty surrendered three runs on five hits, while fanning five and not allowing a walk. Jose Valverde threw the final 1 1/3 innings for his 12th save, striking out three batters in the ninth.

Milton Bradley had a two-run homer and David Murphy added a solo shot for the Rangers, who lost for just the third time in their last 12 contests.

Kason Gabbard (1-1) pitched five innings in suffering the loss. The left- hander gave up five runs on nine hits, while striking out four and walking three.

After a scoreless three innings, Houston struck for three in the fourth. Tejada and Lance Berkman led off the frame with base hits, and one out later Hunter Pence's single loaded the bases. Loretta then drew a walk to plate a run and Wigginton bounced into a force out to score another. Towles' run- scoring double to the right-center field gap made it a 3-0 game.

Houston tacked on two more in the fifth when Kaz Matsui got things started with a base hit and came around to score when Tejada laced a double to right. Following a Berkman single, Lee lifted a sacrifice fly to right field, putting the Astros up 5-0.

A two-run line drive homer to right by Bradley, followed by a Murphy round- tripper in the seventh got the Rangers to within 5-3.

Frank Catalanotto's run-scoring double to left in the eighth brought home Ian Kinsler, who singled, making it a one-run contest. HOwever, Michael Young then grounded out.

Houston brought on the erratic Valverde to try and close out the game and struck out Bradley and Murphy before surrendering a single to Gerald Laird. Valverde then struck out Brandon Boggs to end the contest.