Cruz slam helps Rangers beat Weaver, Angels 13-6

[May 14, 2012]  ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) -- Nelson Cruz hit his third career grand slam, Josh Hamilton drove in three runs and the Texas Rangers beat the Los Angeles Angels 13-6 on Sunday night to hand Jered Weaver his first loss.

The slam by Cruz, his first homer since April 17, capped a five-run third for the Rangers. Hamilton, who had nine homers his previous six games, chased Weaver an inning later with a two-run double that made it 8-2.

Weaver (5-1), in his second start since throwing a no-hitter, gave up 10 hits and eight runs in 3 1/3 innings. It matched the most runs the right-hander has allowed in his 185 career starts and was his shortest outing since 2009.

Neftali Feliz (3-1), the closer-turned-starter for Texas, struck out five while allowing two runs and four hits over six innings.

Cruz and Elvis Andrus each matched career highs with four hits.

Andrus also had a nifty run-saving defensive play for the Rangers (23-12), who have the American League's best record. They took two of three against Los Angeles, which is in last place and eight games behind them in the AL West.

Weaver threw his no-hitter May 2 at home against Minnesota, and then allowed only three hits and one run on the road against the Twins five days later. But he again struggled at Texas, where he is 2-7 in 14 career starts.

Ian Kinsler led off the first with a double before Andrus reached on an infield single. After Hamilton struck out, Adrian Beltre hit a sacrifice fly for a 1-0 lead.

Hamilton, using a pink bat on Mother's Day instead of the bat he hit eight of nine homers with during the week, struck out again in the third.

The slugger no longer had the pink bat in the seventh, when he had an RBI single to push his majors-leading RBI total to 44. He also leads baseball with a .402 average and 18 homers.

Beltre had a two-out RBI single in third before Michael Young doubled and David Murphy walked. Cruz then lined his shot over the 14-foot wall in left field, his third homer of the season.

Weaver entered the game allowing opposing teams to hit only .174, best in the AL. His season ERA jumped from 1.60 to 2.83.

Mark Trumbo had a long two-run homer for the second day in a row for the Angels. Kendrys Morales hit a two-out solo homer in the ninth.

After Morales drew a leadoff walk in the second, Trumbo pulled a shot an estimated 437 feet down the left-field line into the second level of seats. His team-leading sixth homer made it 2-1.

Since Rangers Ballpark opened in 1994, the only other opposing players to hit a ball into those seats were Mark McGwire in 1997 and Evan Longoria in 2008.

The Angels scored three runs in the seventh off reliever Mark Lowe to get within 10-5, including a solo homer by Vernon Wells and an RBI single by Albert Pujols.

They still had the bases loaded when Koji Uehara took over and Howie Kendrick hit a ball up the middle. But shortstop Andrus stopped the ball on the run, and flipped it from his glove to second baseman Kinsler to force out Trumbo for the inning-ending out.

NOTES: Left-hander C.J. Wilson, who started the first two games of the series for the Angels against his old team, got his AL championship ring from the Rangers. The pregame presentation was made in private, not on the field. ... Dan Haren (1-3), who has dropped five of his last seven decisions for the Angels dating to last season, is scheduled to start Monday at home against Oakland. ... Scott Feldman is expected to get a spot start for Texas against Kansas City. A rainout and doubleheader last week in Baltimore created the opening. ... Dallas Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle was on the field before the game talking to Pujols and Angels Mike Scioscia, then visited Texas' clubhouse.

[Associated Press; By STEPHEN HAWKINS]

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