(Reuters) – Texas Ranger pitcher Cliff Lee helped his side to extend their American League West lead to six games with a 3-2 victory over the Los Angeles Angels on Thursday, hours after a judge ruled an auction of the bankrupt club could go ahead on August 4.

A federal judge ruled the auction could proceed, having first been convinced by Rangers’ manager Ron Washington that his players were not affected by the drawn-out proceedings.

The Rangers proved that on the field, winning their sixth game in eight starts and remaining in the hunt for their first playoff berth since 1999.

Texas snapped a 1-1 tie in the sixth on a run-scoring double by Josh Hamilton and a sacrifice fly by Bengie Molina.

Left-hander Lee, who joined the team as part of a six-player trade with the Seattle Mariners on July 9, limited the Angels to two runs on five hits while striking out four and issuing no walks.

The sole blemish on the performance of the two-time All-Star was Mike Napoli’s solo homer to lead off the seventh that trimmed the Rangers’ lead to 3-2.

Lee lasted 8.1 innings to get his first win for the Rangers. His previous two starts were a loss and a no-decision.

“Any time you go out and give the team a chance to win, it feels good,” Lee told reporters after the game. “Got the first one out of the way.”

Rangers’ third baseman Michael Young hit a solo home run in the first inning.

The Rangers filed for bankruptcy in May after owners Hicks Sports Group defaulted on a $525 million loan.

Among their creditors is New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez, traded from the Rangers in 2004, but still owed $24.9 million in deferred payments.

Tom Hicks, who owns Hicks Sports Group, also co-owns English Premier League soccer team Liverpool.

Washington described his players’ morale to U.S. Bankruptcy Judge D. Michael Lynn as “unbelievably good.”

“Everybody is behind them,” Lynn told Washington to tell his players. “We want this team to succeed.”

(Editing by Steve Ginsburg and Greg Stutchbury)

ARLINGTON, July 22 (Reuters) – Texas Ranger pitcher Cliff Lee helped his side to extend their American League West lead to six games with a 3-2 victory over the Los Angeles Angels on Thursday, hours after a judge ruled an auction of the bankrupt club could go ahead on Aug. 4.

A federal judge ruled the auction could proceed, having first been convinced by Rangers’ manager Ron Washington that his players were not affected by the drawn-out proceedings.

The Rangers proved that on the field, winning their sixth game in eight starts and remaining in the hunt for their first playoff berth since 1999.

Texas snapped a 1-1 tie in the sixth on a run-scoring double by Josh Hamilton and a sacrifice fly by Bengie Molina.

Left-hander Lee, who joined the team as part of a six-player trade with the Seattle Mariners on July 9, limited the Angels to two runs on five hits while striking out four and issuing no walks.

The sole blemish on the performance of the two-time All-Star was Mike Napoli’s solo homer to lead off the seventh that trimmed the Rangers’ lead to 3-2.

Lee lasted 8.1 innings to get his first win for the Rangers. His previous two starts were a loss and a no-decision.

“Any time you go out and give the team a chance to win, it feels good,” Lee told reporters after the game. “Got the first one out of the way.”

Rangers’ third baseman Michael Young hit a solo home run in the first inning.

The Rangers filed for bankruptcy in May after owners Hicks Sports Group defaulted on a $525 million loan.

Among their creditors is New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez, traded from the Rangers in 2004, but still owed $24.9 million in deferred payments.

Tom Hicks, who owns Hicks Sports Group, also co-owns English Premier League soccer team Liverpool.

Washington described his players’ morale to U.S. Bankruptcy Judge D. Michael Lynn as “unbelievably good”.

“Everybody is behind them,” Lynn told Washington to tell his players. “We want this team to succeed.”

(Editing by Steve Ginsburg/Greg Stutchbury; To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)