ARLINGTON, Texas – Michael Young got the go-ahead hit and the Texas Rangers beat the San Diego Padres 5-3 to avoid a series sweep and a losing homestand.

Young’s two-run single in the fifth inning gave the Rangers a 3-2 lead before Hank Blalock’s two-run double, when Mark Teixeira scored the second run on a disputed call.

Teixeira was clearly tagged out by catcher Josh Bard before sliding across the plate. But when Bard gathered himself and reached up to show his mitt, the ball rolled out and umpire Tim McClelland signaled safe.

Padres manager Bruce Bochy was ejected after coming out to argue.

San Diego then pulled starter Clay Hensley (4-6), who didn’t allow a hit until Young singled leading off the fourth.

Rod Barajas had an RBI double after Jason Botts’ leadoff walk in the fifth for the Rangers, who finished 5-5 on their homestand. Gary Matthews Jr. had a one-out walk in the inning before Young’s second hit, and Teixeira walked.

John Rheinecker (3-1) allowed 11 hits over 5 1-3 innings, but the Padres managed only two runs against him – and had another taken off the board.

Akinori Otsuka worked the ninth for his 14th save in 16 chances.

After scoring the winning run with an aggressive play in the ninth Wednesday night, Ben Johnson cost the Padres a run Thursday when he slowed down.

Johnson was at second base when Mike Piazza hit a two-out single to left in the third. But Johnson slowed up coming home and didn’t cross the plate before Brian Giles was thrown out going to third, and the run was disallowed. The replay was inconclusive.

The Padres had seven hits before finally scoring on Vinny Castilla’s sacrifice fly in the fourth. Josh Barfield followed with an RBI double. Giles had a run-scoring single in the seventh.

Hensley retired his first eight batters before walking No. 9 hitter Jerry Hairston in the third. After shortstop Khalil Greene made a nifty play on a grounder with two on to end the fourth, Hensley couldn’t get out of trouble the next inning.

Hensley, 0-3 in his last four starts, allowed five runs and six hits over 4 1-3 innings. He struck out three and walked three.

Teixeira got a small dose of redemption on his play at the plate.

Teixeira thought he had hit a game-winning, two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth of the series opener Tuesday, but first base umpire Bill Welke ruled it foul. Teixeira then popped out and the Padres won 6-5.

In Wednesday night’s game, Welke was behind the plate when he ruled Young didn’t touch the plate when he slid into home ahead of a throw in the first inning. Young was called out, and the Rangers lost 3-2.

Notes: The Padres had 14 hits, pushing their total to 46 in four games. … Texas is 20-21 at home and 19-13 on the road. … Matthews finished 2-for-4 and is hitting .422 (38-for-90) over the past 20 games. … Texas had two doubles, increasing its major league-best total to 177. The Rangers have at least one double in 22 straight games, with at least two in 18 of the last 20 games.

AP-ES-06-22-06 1649EDT