Rangers Mowed Down by Benes

PHOENIX — Andy Benes did his best Randy Johnson impersonation.

Benes, the Arizona Diamondbacks’ ace until they signed Johnson during the off-season, struck out a season-high 10 in eight strong innings Sunday night to lead the Diamondbacks to a 4-2 victory over the Texas Rangers.

“He had command of his fastball, and he had a good fastball,” catcher Damian Miller said. “I was looking up there and seeing 92 or 93 [mph]. He was really focused tonight, and he really picked us up.”

Jay Bell had an RBI single and scored on a double by Matt Williams in a three-run fifth that included a key sacrifice by Benes.

Benes (4-5) allowed two runs on seven hits and walked one. He struck out the side in the second and seventh innings for his 24th career 10-strikeout game and second for Arizona. He had 10 against Pittsburgh on Sept. 2.

“That’s a good team we beat, to beat them two out of three,” said Benes, who won his second in a row after ending a three-game losing streak. “It’s a good series for us. For the most part I kept the ball off the middle of the plate and kept it down, so that’s a good combination.”

Juan Gonzalez drove in both Ranger runs with a single and a home run, his 15th. The RBIs--his 50th and 51st--gave Gonzalez 998 for his career.