Countdown To Free Agency 2010

As the free agency period looms, the Mavericks know they have to secure Dirk Nowitzki (above) before they can move on to any other targets. (AP Photo/Eric Gay, File)

With less than six hours left before the 11:01 p.m. (central time) start of what is being labeled as the best free-agent class of all time, the Dallas Mavericks are counting on taking care of one of it's own before it's able to get involved in the free-agency bonanza.

"Everything else hinges on this," Mavericks president Donnie Nelson said. "We're going all-out. We'll get this thing done, and then we'll survey the rest of the field and figure out where to go from there."

Rough Start - Rangers Lose 6-5

The Angels scored four runs with two-outs in the sixth inning, three runs came in after Bobby Abreu (above) hit a double with the bases loaded, and it was too much for these Rangers to come back from. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

With the Texas Rangers (46-30) having won the only other two games against the Los Angeles Angels (44-35) by a total of two runs so far this season, you knew this was going to be a competitive series.

That certainly held true Tuesday night as former Angels' outfielder Vladimir Guerrero paced the Rangers with a homer and three RBI, but it wasn't enough thanks to some clutch hitting from L.A. and the Angels followed the trend of one-run victories between these teams this season.

Rangers Pound Astros 10-1, Win Record 8th Straight Series

Josh Hamilton (above) extended his career-high hitting streak to 21 games and the Rangers as a team tied a franchise-record with it's eighth straight series victory. (AP Photo/Cody Duty)

With one swing of the bat, Josh Hamilton has the ability to bring an entire stadium to it's feet. He showed it in the 2008 home run derby and he showed it again Sunday night as he absolutely crushed a Roy Oswalt (L, 5-10) pitch that, last seen, was headed somewhere toward South America.

"You feel those. I got all of it," said Hamilton, whose home-run was measured at 468 feet and landed several rows into the upper deck in right-center field - the second longest home run in Ballpark in Arlington history. "I see it go, I feel that it's going out, and I put my head down and run. I've never been one to watch where they land. I let everybody tell me when I get back to the dugout."

Back On Track - Rangers Beat Astros 7-2

C.J. Wilson (above, left) contributed seven strong innings and Ian Kinsler hit a three-run home run as Texas got back to it's winning ways. (AP Photo/Mike Fuentes)

It was back to business as usual Saturday afternoon for the Texas Rangers (45-29) as they shrugged off an ugly loss the day before to the Houston Astros (29-46). Texas cranked out seven runs on 15 hits and took control in the fourth with a huge four-run inning.

11 And Done - Rangers Lose 7-4

It was a sloppy game all around as both teams combined for five errors (three for Texas) and the Rangers were unable to pull themselves out of an early hole. It also didn't help that Ian Kinsler (above) was thrown out of the game early for arguing balls and strikes. (AP Photo/Cody Duty)

It had to end at some point.

Unfortunately for Rangers' fans who had seen such crisp baseball in the last few weeks, this was a game to forget. The Texas Rangers (44-29) didn't pitch well, weren't able to hit in clutch situations and were unable to make plays in the field as the 11-game winning-streak fell by the wayside at the hands of the lowly Houston Astros (29-45).

"They beat us," manager Ron Washington said. "We move on."