ARLINGTON, Texas – Mark Teixeira hit a three-run homer. and Ricardo Rodriguez combined with three relievers on a shutout to lead the Texas Rangers over the Toronto Blue Jays 4-0 Saturday night.

Teixeira hit his 20th homer of the season in the fourth inning after Michael Young singled off Ted Lilly (7-7) and Alfonso Soriano walked. Soriano, the All-Star game MVP, added an RBI single in the eighth off Vinnie Chulk.

Teixeira became the fifth-youngest switch-hitter to hit at least 20 homers in his first two seasons. Mickey Mantle, Eddie Murray, Ruben Sierra, and Chipper Jones reached the milestone at a younger age than the 24-year-old Teixeira, who hit 26 as a rookie.

Rodriguez (3-0), coming off a three-hit shutout of Cleveland on July 8, allowed eight hits in 6 1-3 innings, giving him 15 1-3 consecutive scoreless innings. Rodriguez was sidelined April 17 to June 5 while recovering from appendicitis, then went to Triple-A Oklahoma for six starts.

Rodriguez, Brian Shouse, Frank Francisco and Ron Mahay combined for Texas’ fifth shutout of the season. The AL West-leading Rangers (51-37) matched the 1996 team for the best record after 88 games in club history.

Alex Rios had three hits for the Blue Jays, who lost their fifth straight and were shut out for the sixth time this year.

Lilly allowed three runs and four hits in six innings.

Toronto, which stranded 13 runners, threatened in the seventh when Eric Hinske hit a leadoff double off Rodriguez and advanced on a groundout.

Shouse relieved and struck out Carlos Delgado. Rangers manager Buck Showalter brought in Francisco, who struck out Gregg Zaun to end the inning.

Notes: Soriano made his first start at DH since June 25, 2001, for the New York Yankees. … Hinske extended his career-best hitting streak to 15 games.

AP-ES-07-17-04 2247EDT