Arlington, TX -- (Sports Network) - Andruw Jones' three-run homer in the first inning set the tone, as Texas went on to dismantle the Rays, 12-4, in the middle installment of a three-game series.

Jones doubled in another run and Michael Young added a three-run double in the second inning for the Rangers, who have strung together four straight wins. Taylor Teagarden and Nelson Cruz each had two RBI, while David Murphy finished a home run shy of the cycle.

Derek Holland (2-5) gave up four runs on seven hits in six innings of work.

"We had an offensive explosion," said Texas manager Ron Washington. "Jones led the way with three runs in the first inning. It was definitely a team effort."

Dioner Navarro clubbed a three-run homer and Jason Bartlett also went deep for Tampa Bay, which has dropped three in a row on the heels of a season-high, seven-game win streak.

Hard-throwing David Price (2-3) couldn't make it out of the second inning, surrendering six runs on three hits and five walks while recording just four outs. The former No. 1 overall pick saw his earned run average balloon from 3.93 to 5.21.

"I let us down. I've got to be able to get back out there with that mindset and that attitude that I know I belong," Price said.

Lance Cormier was charged with three runs in three innings of relief.

Texas jumped out to an early advantage against the erratic southpaw, pushing three runs across in both of the first two innings.

After striking out Ian Kinsler to open the bottom of the first, Price issued consecutive walks before Jones crushed a pitch to left-center for a three-run bomb.

Bartlett's solo blast put Tampa Bay on the board in the top of the second, but the Rangers struck back in the home half.

Once again, Price retired the leadoff batter on strikes, then incurred similar control problems, walking Elvis Andrus and Kinsler following a one-out double by Teagarden. Young stepped in and drove a pitch to the wall in center field, clearing the bases for a 6-1 Texas lead.

Tampa Bay had men on the corners with one away in the third. Holland, though, got Evan Longoria to ground into an inning-ending double play to foil the rally.

Teagarden's sacrifice fly widened the lead to six runs through three frames, and despite the large cushion, Holland allowed the Rays to creep back in the fifth.

Bartlett singled to start the inning and Gabe Kapler ripped a double down the left-field line to put two men in scoring position for Navarro, who lined a 1-2 fastball over the left-field wall, shrinking the deficit to 7-4.

The Rangers, however, got two runs back in the bottom of the fifth, one coming on Cruz's team-leading 20th homer of the season. Murphy tripled to deep center and scored when Teagarden stroked a base hit up the middle off Chad Bradford and past the drawn-in infield.

Texas reached double-digits in the sixth on Jones' RBI double, and tacked on two more runs in the eighth on run-scoring singles by Hank Blalock and Cruz.

Game Notes

Tampa Bay left fielder Carl Crawford has hit safely in 12 straight games...Texas is 5-3 on its nine-game homestand...Marlon Byrd scored three times for the Rangers.