Washington, DC (Sports Network) - David Murphy and Ramon Vazquez drove in three runs each, as the Texas Rangers used a seven-run seventh to batter the Washington Nationals, 13-3, in the middle contest of a three-game interleague set.

Michael Young had three hits and two RBI, scoring twice and Josh Hamilton added two hits and two RBI with a run scored. Ian Kinsler added a home run and three walks while scoring two runs for Texas, which has split its last seven games.

Kason Gabbard (2-3) worked 5 1/3 innings, giving up three runs on six hits and two walks while retiring five on strikes for the win. Luis Mendoza picked up his first career save with three innings of scoreless relief.

"He (Gabbard) was more consistent," Texas skipper Ron Washington said. "If he does that with the good sink he's got, changeup, and breaking ball, he'll keep some lineups off balance. The key is for him to throw it over the plate."

Garrett Mock (0-2) pitched well in only his second major league start, surrendering four runs on eight hits and a walk through six innings. The righthander fanned eight in taking the loss for Washington, its fourth in the last five games.

Dimitri Young was 3-for-4 with a run scored and Lastings Milledge homered for the Nationals, who left eight men on base, often in key situations.

Texas broke open a close game in the seventh, batting around for seven runs off Nationals relievers. Charlie Manning loaded the bases on two singles and a walk before Brian Sanches entered to face Michael Young.

Young singled to left, plating two and Hamilton followed with an RBI single to right. Murphy then singled back up the middle, plating a run and Jarrod Saltalamacchia walked to load the bases again. Vazquez lined a bases-clearing double to right to finish off the punishment.

Hamilton and Chris Shelton added RBI singles off Jesus Colome in the eighth and ninth innings respectively, to cap the scoring.

"They (pitching) set the tone," Young said of his Texas pitching teammates. "It's no secret. If we get productive pitching and score runs, we are going to win some games."

Kinsler led off the game by driving Mock's second pitch out into the seats in left. Michael Young and Marlon Byrd singled around a Hamilton strikeout. Murphy then smoked a double over the head of Elijah Dukes in right scoring one. Dukes' relay was to second where Murphy beat the throw and Byrd took advantage by rounding third, and beating the throw home with a slide to the outside part of the bag.

Texas added a run in the fourth on a double-play groundout from Gabbard. Saltalamacchia and Vazquez singled to start the inning before Gabbard stepped to the plate.

The Nationals got on the board in the home half. Milledge ripped a home run to left leading off and Dimitri Young followed with a double to left. Young moved to third, then scored on consecutive groundouts.

Washington cut the lead to one in the fifth. Wily Mo Pena reached on an infield single, after the ball was deflected by Gabbard, and moved to second on a Mock sacrifice bunt. Mock also reached after Gabbard tried to get a sliding Pena at second. Cristian Guzman then loaded the bases with a single to left with nobody out. Dukes, however, grounded into a 6-4-3 double play, allowing only one run to reach home plate, as Milledge grounded out to third to end the frame.

Washington squandered an opportunity with the bases loaded and one out in the sixth with a fly out and a line out, opening the door for Texas' monster seventh.