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Aaron Myette pitched five strong innings Sunday to end a losing streak dating back to 2001. (Tony Dejak/AP)

Myette allowed only three hits and two runs, both unearned, in five splendid innings to stifle the Cleveland offense and pace the Rangers to an 11-5 victory at Jacobs Field for his first win since last September.

"Aaron Myette still needs better command of his pitches, but he did a good job," Rangers manager Jerry Narron said. "He had a high pitch count and I'd like to see him more efficient with his pitches."

Meanwhile, Hafner finished 4-for-5 with three RBIs and came a few feet short of hitting for the cycle. He hit .338 with 20 doubles, 19 homers and 72 RBIs in 104 games with the Triple-A Oklahoma RedHawks before being called up on Tuesday.

"It's been a big adjustment from the minors, but there are so many great players on this team that I just try to pick their brain," said Hafner, who never played above Double-A in six pro seasons before this year. "It's a whole new learning process and I'm trying to learn as much as I can."

Apparently, class is in session. Hafner singled and scored in the second inning and hit his first Major League homer in the fourth off the right foul pole to put the Rangers up, 8-0. He doubled in the sixth and was thrown out on a relay from Omar Vizquel trying to advance to third base on a double off the wall in left center in the seventh.

"He had an outstanding day," Narron said.

The pitching performance was a welcome change of pace for Myette (1-4) considering he had thrown less than four innings in three straight starts and entered the game riding a career-high five-game losing streak. He was relegated to a role in the bullpen last week, but an injury to Chan Ho Park forced Myette back into the rotation.

He recorded six strikeouts and four walks for the victory.

"Obviously, I had much better results," Myette said. "I think I made up a lot of ground as far as getting out of jams. I still think I walked too many guys, though."

Myette struck out three of the four batters he faced in the first and retired the side in order in the second inning. In the third, he struck out Ellis Burks and Jim Thome with the bases loaded to stop a potential scoring threat.

"That's where I made the most progress," Myette said. "I was not out there trying to throw my nastiest pitch. I just let my stuff work for me."

Cleveland had runners on the corners with one out in the fourth, but John McDonald hit a ground ball to Alex Rodriguez for an inning-ending double play. A timely ground ball saved Myette again in the fifth after he nailed Einar Diaz to start the frame and the next batter, Vizquel flied out. Matt Lawton then hit into a 4-6-3 double play to end the inning.

Myette was lifted in the sixth after he hit Burks with a pitch and walked Thome on six pitches to start the frame. Juan Alvarez forced Milton Bradley into a fielder's choice and struck out the next batter, Karim Garcia, but Texas third baseman Herbert Perry made an errant throw on a ball off the bat of Travis Fryman allowing Burks' to score Cleveland's first run.

McDonald and Diaz followed with consecutive infield singles off of reliever Jay Powell to score another run and cut the Rangers' lead to 9-2. Omar Vizquel's two-run double cut Texas' lead to five runs.

The Rangers made quick work of Cleveland starter Charles Nagy tagging him for six runs on seven hits in only 1 2/3 innings before he was yanked. Nagy's replacement, Jason Phillips, didn't fare much better. He gave up four hits and run runs in 4 1/3 innings, including a 434-foot blast off the bat of Alex Rodriguez in the sixth inning, to push the Rangers ahead, 9-0.

Rodriguez finished 3-for-5. He is riding a six-game hitting streak and leads the Majors with 38 homers and 99 RBIs.

Briefly

Frank Catalanotto finished 3-for-4 with a double, a triple, two runs scored and one RBI. His triple was his sixth of the season, tying him for third in American League. ... Carl Everett has now hit safely in nine consecutive games.

Probables

Tuesday vs. Chicago White Sox (7:05 p.m.) - Gary Glover (4-5, 4.59) vs. Joaquin Benoit (2-1, 3.63)

Wednesday vs. Chicago White Sox (7:05 p.m.) - Jim Parque (1-1, 6.91) vs. Ismael Valdes (5-9, 3.71)

Jesse Sanchez covers the Texas Rangers for MLB.com. He can be contacted via email at jsanchez@texasrangers.com.This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.