|
 Beltre, who completed the cycle with a fifth-inning home run off
Mike Fiers, is just the fourth player to have three career cycles
and the first to accomplish that feat since Babe Herman managed it
in 1933.
The third baseman's offensive heroics were just part of a contest in
which the Rangers batted around twice, chased Houston starter Lance
McCullers after one-third of an inning and had 15 hits.
All of the big hitting proved vital, as Houston, which at one point
trailed 11-3, got to within three runs in the seventh inning but
were ultimately unable to put a damper on Beltre's night.
"It shouldn't be difficult because I'm fast," the 36-year-old Beltre
told reporters of his rapid base running.
"It's special but when you play for a long time, you have to
accumulate some stuff. I didn't expect to be hitting cycles at this
age. I'm humbled."
Beltre, who finished 4-for-5, started his run to the cycle with a
two-run triple in the first that was part of a six-run surge. He
doubled in the second and singled in the third.
He completed the cycle with a homer off Fiers, who was originally
slated to start Tuesday's game, by drilling the first baseball he
saw from him in the fifth into the stands in left.
"I didn't expect a cycle in the first four at-bats," Texas manager
Jeff Banister said. "What an incredible feat for him. He's a true
champion in every sense, a true warrior."
[to top of second column] |
The Rangers led 6-3 after two innings and then scored five times in
the third. However, Texas starter Colby Lewis (12-4) had to hold on
as Houston made the game close on a grand slam by catcher Jason
Castro in the fourth inning.
Beltre's homer in the fifth gave the Rangers some insurance and kept
Lewis in line for the win.
Lewis allowed seven runs in six innings on a night when the Astros
nearly matched the Rangers by collecting 13 hits but the early
deficit was too much for Houston to overcome.
"It was disappointing that we lost the game," Houston manager A.J.
Hinch said.
"The silver lining is that we fought back, we battled hard, we
played the whole game, competed down to the last out, which I
wouldn't expect anything less from this team."
(Editing by John O'Brien)
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