Catalanotto's pinch single leads Rangers to win

Frank Catalanotto delivered a tiebreaking, pinch-hit single in the eighth inning, and the Texas Rangers beat the Washington Nationals 5-3 on Sunday.

Vicente Padilla (10-3) gave up three runs and five hits over seven innings to win for the eighth time in nine decisions since April 27. He struck out five and walked two, but wasn't in line for the win until the Rangers put together a rally in the eighth.

Brandon Boggs reached on a walk off Luis Ayala (1-4), and after Joel Hanrahan came on in relief, Michael Young and Josh Hamilton went down on strikes. Boggs stole second, went to third on a wild pitch, and after a walk to Marlon Byrd, Catalanotta dribbled an RBI grounder to left.

Jarrod Saltalamacchia followed with a base hit to give the Rangers a 5-3 lead.

Eddie Guardado pitched a perfect eighth and C.J. Wilson worked the ninth for his 15th save in 17 chances, sending Washington to its 15th loss in 21 games.

Texas (39-38) once again moved a game ahead of .500, but that's where they've run into a wall all season. The Rangers are just 4-15 when they're at .500, and have never been more than one game above the break-even mark.

Texas took a 2-0 lead on leadoff home runs by Boggs in the fourth and Ian Kinsler in the sixth. Kinsler's was his 12th of the season and second in two games.

Padilla allowed just one hit in the first five innings _ an infield single to Washington starter John Lannan. Willie Harris, who was batting for Lannan, hit a homer to center field with one out in the sixth, his third of the season.

Texas added a run in the seventh on Ramon Vazquez's RBI single off Ayala.

Lannan hasn't won in his last six starts, but kept Washington in the game. He allowed two runs, four hits and struck out six over six innings, without walking a batter.

The Nationals have scored just four runs to support him in his last six starts.

It looked as if Lannan was going to lose his fifth straight decision, but Ronnie Belliard hit a tying two-run homer _ his fifth of the season _ with one out in the seventh.

Notes:@ Texas OF Milton Bradley did not start for the fifth straight game. Manager Ron Washington said there were no plans to place him on the disabled list. Washington expects him to be ready to play in Houston on Tuesday. ... RHP Steven Shell made his major league debut for Washington, pitching a scoreless ninth. ... Max Ramirez made his debut for the Rangers at 1B, going 0-for-3. Ramirez was recalled from Double-A Frisco on Saturday.