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 The way the Rangers walked off with a win Tuesday wasn't typical
either.
Adam Rosales' bases-loaded walk in the 14th inning gave Texas a 3-2
victory over the Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday night at Globe Life Park.
Texas (47-72) improved to 5-55 when trailing after the sixth inning
by rallying from a 2-0 deficit. In winning for just the 12th time in
the past 49 games, the Rangers also evened the four-game series at
one game apiece.
The Rays (58-61) wasted their second consecutive solid starting
pitching performance. One night after Drew Smyly took a shutout into
the eighth inning, Jeremy Hellickson didn't allow a run in his
six-inning outing.
However, the Tampa Bay bullpen couldn't hold the lead. Joel Peralta
gave up a two runs in the seventh, and Cesar Ramos (2-5) allowed the
winning run by walking first baseman Rosales on four pitches to
score pitcher Nick Martinez, who was serving as a pinch runner.
Texas catcher Geovany Soto reached on an error by Rays third baseman
Evan Longoria with one out in the 14th. Martinez replaced Soto on
the bases, and second baseman Rougned Odor and right fielder
Shin-Soo Choo followed with singles to load the bases.
Shortstop Elvis Andrus popped out to shallow right for the second
out, bringing up Rosales with two outs. Ramos missed badly on four
pitches to end the longest game in Arlington this season shortly
before midnight.
Ramos called the walk "unacceptable" and "embarrassing."
In addition to the extra-inning heroics, Rangers center fielder
Leonys Martin had a career-high four hits. The Texas bullpen also
worked seven scoreless innings, with reliever Scott Baker (1-3)
earning the win.
"Outstanding," Texas manager Ron Washington said of his 'pen. "They
did a great job. They really did."
Tampa Bay broke a 0-0 tie thanks to two triples in the sixth off
Texas starter Nick Tepesch. Center fielder Desmond Jennings had the
first three-bagger with a shot to right-center before scoring on
shortstop Ben Zobrist's sacrifice fly.
Left fielder Matt Joyce followed with another triple on a ball badly
misplayed by Texas right fielder Shin-Soo Choo. The hit went into
the corner and ricocheted along the wall past Choo, who normally
plays left.
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The relay throw to third from second baseman Odor sailed into the stands,
allowing Joyce to score easily for a 2-0 lead. Those were the only two
runs allowed by Tepesch, who exited after the seventh.
"He was out there competing real hard tonight," Washington said of
Tepesch. "He was able to execute some pitches. He went out there and got
us through the seventh and did a heck of a job."
Martin opened the seventh inning with a single off Peralta, and Soto
followed with a double. Odor's sacrifice fly cut Texas' deficit to 2-1,
and Choo's double tied the game.
"I didn't have it tonight," Peralta said. "They got me."
The Rays easily could have fallen behind if not for right fielder Kevin
Kiermaier gunning down Choo at home after a single by shortstop Elvis
Andrus.
Martin nearly put the Rangers up in the eighth with a drive to the wall
in center. Jennings caught it on the dead run to end the inning and
leave Adrian Beltre stranded at second.
NOTES: Tampa Bay did not allow more than three runs in a 16th
consecutive road game, passing the 1968 Cleveland Indians for the AL
record. ... The Rangers started a right-handed pitcher for the 37th
consecutive game with Nick Tepesch on the mound Tuesday. It is the
club's longest such streak since 2007. The last left-handed starter was
Joe Saunders on June 30. ... The Rays lead the majors with four shutouts
since the All-Star break. Texas leads the AL in shutouts this season
(15), and Tampa Bay is second (14). ... Rays RF Kevin Kiermaier was back
in the starting lineup after leaving Monday's game with lower back
tightness. He went 0-for-4 Tuesday.
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