HOUSTON -- As the Rangers mind their loose ends in advance of the postseason, small victories take on greater significance with the American League West title all but clinched.On Monday night, the Rangers parlayed three strong performances from a trio of vital relief pitchers into a 4-3, 12-inning victory over the fading Astros.Before left-hander Jake Diekman recorded his fourth save with a perfect 12th inning, right-handers Matt Bush and Keone Kela combined to work 3 2/3 scoreless innings to help Texas (86-59) overcome the fifth blown save from closer Sam Dyson.Diekman had allowed eight consecutive batters to reach base during one recent four-game stretch. Kela was charged with a blown save on Saturday against the Angels, allowing a season-high four hits and three runs. Bush is just 1-for-4 in save opportunities. All three stepped forward when the Rangers needed them on Monday, and collectively Bush, Kela and Diekman are key cogs in Texas bullpen.I think its huge for them, Rangers manager Jeff Banister said. Obviously theyve had some minor challenges. For them to show up big for us ... thats what weve seen in the past from these guys, thats what were going to need to see from them going forward.Right-hander A.J. Griffin (7-4, 4.92 ERA) will start for Texas on Tuesday night. He has won two previous starts against the Astros this season, posting a 3.86 ERA over 11 2/3 innings. Griffin is 5-0 with a 4.54 ERA in six career starts against Houston, including a pair of victories at Minute Maid Park. His seventh start against the Astros will tie the Angels and Mariners for the most against one team in his career.The Astros (75-69), meanwhile, continue to search for answers against their in-state rivals. Houston fell to 3-14 against Texas this season and has dropped 22 of the last 27 meetings between the clubs dating back to Aug. 3, 2015. The Rangers improved to a remarkable 32-10 in one-run games on Monday night, thus their success in close contests with Houston isnt much of a shock. Of the 17 games played between the clubs this season, 13 have been decided by two runs or less.They have finished the games, Astros manager A.J. Hinch said. We have battled them. These are small margins and small increments that have not gone our way. I dont know what to say. They have beat us in close games. They have beat us in blowouts. We have beat them a few times along the way. Its baseball, it happens. We have to find a way to beat them tomorrow.Right-hander Brad Peacock (0-0, 3.38 ERA) will make his fifth career start against the Rangers as the Astros attempt to even the series. Peacock is 1/3 with a 3.76 ERA over five games against Texas. Hell be facing the Rangers for the first time in 2016.Peacock is filling the rotation void left by left-hander Dallas Keuchel, who is sidelined by left shoulder inflammation. Cheap Custom Cardinals Jersey . -- Hunter Smith scored the winner with just 12 seconds remaining in the third period as the Oshawa Generals edged the host Sarnia Sting 5-4 on Friday in Ontario Hockey League action. Custom Cardinals Jersey China .C. - The Carolina Hurricanes have placed backup goalie Anton Khudobin on injured reserve with an unspecified lower-body injury. http://www.custommlbcardinalsjersey.com/ . -- In one brief spurt, Brazil turned a close game into a rout and proved again it will be a strong World Cup favourite. Custom Cardinals T-shirts . The winner Saturday will remain in the elite 10-team field next year. "We talked about wanting to be disciplined and stick with our game plan and good things will come," Draisaitl said, who had two goals for the victors. Custom Ozzie Smith Jersey . A big centre with all the tools to be an elite player, Johansen paced the Blue Jackets with a standout game Saturday night. He had a goal and two assists for a career-high three points as Columbus beat the New York Islanders 5-2 to snap a five-game losing streak. MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- Dedric Lawson scored 24 points and grabbed 10 rebounds and Memphis rallied in the second half to defeat UAB 62-55 on Saturday.Trailing by four at halftime, the Tigers fell behind by nine early in the second half -- the biggest lead for either team -- before building a seven-point lead with 4:32 to play.Memphis tied the game at 46 with 9:02 to play on a pair of Lawson free throws. His brother K.J. put the Tigers up for good with a layup a minute later. A Dedric Lawson jumper made it 56-49 with 4:32 to pplay.dddddddddddd A jumper by Chris Cokley and a layup by Javien Williams cut it to 56-53 but Markel Crawford and Jeremiah Martin answered with layups and the Blazers never got closer than five down the stretch.Crawford finished with 16 points and K.J. Lawson had 11 rebounds to go with nine points for the Tigers (7-2).Cokley had 16 points for UAB (5-5), which was outscored 40-28 in the paint. ' ' '