ARLINGTON – No one in the jubilant Rangers clubhouse knew what was discussed at the pitcher's mound before Hank Blalock stepped into the batter's box in the ninth inning Wednesday night.

No one really seemed to care, either.

Blalock launched the first pitch he saw from reliever Justin Speier over the center-field wall for a two-run, walk-off homer that gave the Rangers a 9-7 victory at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington.

The blast, Blalock's second of the game, helped the Rangers overcome a blown save by Frank Francisco in the top of the ninth and secure a series victory over the Los Angeles Angels.

The win moved the Rangers one-half game behind the Angels in the American League West and improved their mark against division opponents to 15-4.

"I've never really had success off Speier, so I was just trying to get a base hit to win the game," said Blalock, who entered the game in a 7-for-46 slump. "The Angels have been dominating for a couple years now, so if you want to be the best team, you've got to beat the best team."

One of the first questions posed to manager Ron Washington after the Rangers' fifth walk-off victory this season was if he thought the Angels would pitch to Blalock, a left-handed hitter who had homered in the fourth and doubled in the sixth.

Rookie Julio Borbon, another lefty, waited on deck, but the Angels opted to let the right-handed Speier pitch to Blalock.

"I don't manage for Mike [Scioscia], but I'm certainly glad Speier threw it where he threw it," Washington said. "Hank was outstanding tonight. Three times he came through when we needed him."

Said second baseman Ian Kinsler: "I was a little surprised they gave him a pitch to hit, but that's a credit to Hank to be ready for the pitch and to drive it out of the ballpark."

The Rangers scored five times in the sixth to take a 7-1 lead, but the Angels scored the next six runs – three off Kevin Millwood in the seventh and three more off Francisco with two outs in the ninth on a Juan Rivera home run.

The Rangers won for the fourth time this season in a game Millwood has started against a division opponent. Blalock got the Rangers started with a solo homer in a two-run fourth that also included a two-out run-scoring single by Chris Davis.

The Rangers were in line for a far-less dramatic victory, but Francisco blew his second consecutive save.

The Angels ran themselves out of a bigger ninth inning when Chone Figgins was erased trying to stretch a double into a triple to start the inning. It was one of four outs the Angels made on the base paths.

Meanwhile, the Rangers improved to 5-1 against the Angels and 5-0-2 in seven series against West teams.

"If you're going to have an opportunity to be successful toward the end of the year, it's important that you play well in the division," Washington said. "We're doing it."