|
 Hamilton produced the scoring punch by hitting a solo home run in
the second inning and driving in two runs, including the go-ahead
run in the Rangers' two-run eighth inning.
Shortstop Elvis Andrus also had a run-scoring single in the eighth
inning for Texas, which snapped the Rays' four-game win streak.
Right-handed reliever Sam Dyson (4-4) earned the victory with an
inning of work in the eighth. Right-hander Shawn Tolleson picked up
his 22nd save with a scoreless ninth for the Rangers (57-57).
An MRI earlier in the morning showed no structural damage to a sore
left knee that had kept Hamilton out of the past two games.
"Once he found out there was no real structural damage in there he
said it was time to go," Rangers manager Jeff Banister said of
Hamilton. "During BP today he was pretty massive, too.
"You could see the extra effort, you could see the edge. It's pretty
special when he's playing with an edge."
Rays left-hander Jake McGee (1-2) suffered the loss, a rare occasion
for one of the best bullpens in the American League.
Left fielder Desmond Jennings, who was reinstated off the 60-day
disabled list on Friday, and shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera each went
3-for-4 for Tampa Bay (58-57). Third baseman Evan Longoria had two
RBIs and Jennings one.
Tampa Bay's Nos. 5 through 9 hitters had 10 of the Rays' 12 hits.
The Rays went 2-for-8 with runners in scoring position.
Both starting pitchers took no-decisions.
Tampa Bay right-hander Nate Karns, who grew up in Arlington and
leads all rookies with 125 strikeouts, had trouble with his command
in 4 2/3 innings of work, giving up two runs on two hits and five
walks.
Texas starter Martin Perez gave up three runs on eight hits and a
walk over six innings. One run was unearned and came after Perez's
errant pickoff throw in the second allowed Cabrera to advance to
third and later score on Jennings' single.
Texas designated hitter Prince Fielder had his five-game hitting
streak snapped, though he was robbed of a two-run home run by a
leaping catch by center fielder Kevin Kiermaier in the fifth.
Texas had only two hits in the game until center fielder Delino
DeShields tied the game with two outs in the seventh with his first
career home run, a solo blast to left on a 3-1 count off
right-handed reliever Steve Geltz.
"We don't want to walk the guy, especially it being DeShields," said
Tampa manager Kevin Cash of Texas' leadoff hitter and best threat to
steal a base. "You get him on base, there's good chance he's
standing on second.
"I definitely understand the thought behind making sure he enforces
contact. He just left the ball center cut and he was ready for it."
In the Rangers' eighth, third baseman Adrian Beltre, who was
2-for-4, started the decisive rally with a one-out base hit and
advanced to third on first baseman Mitch Moreland's single. Beltre
scored the game-winning run on Hamilton's sacrifice fly to center.
[to top of second column] |
Moreland was 1-for-4 a day after registering a career-high four hits
in a victory over Minnesota.
"You know he's battling," Banister said. "Key at-bats to start some
innings for us. Mitch had a big-at-bat tonight."
Jennings' RBI single in the second inning tied the game at 1-1.
Hamilton put Texas ahead 2-1 with a solo home run in the bottom of
the second.
In the third, the Rays took their first lead when Longoria's double
to left-center scored catcher Curt Casali and right fielder Brandon
Guyer. That put Tampa Bay ahead 3-2.
Karns entered the game with a 7.86 ERA in the first inning this
season, and it appeared that trend would continue. But he managed to
get out of a bases-loaded jam in the frame with minimal damage.
After Karns hit DeShields and walked right fielder Shin-Soo Choo and
Fielder to load the bases with no outs, Beltre bailed him out with a
grounder to third. Tampa third baseman Longoria stepped on third for
the force out and threw across the diamond for the double play.
DeShields scored on the play, but after Moreland popped out to end
the inning, Karns was only behind 1-0.
"I got off to a rough start, but I felt I was capable of going on
with the game," said Karns, who nonetheless recorded his 17th start
with two earned runs or less this season, second most in the AL.
"We have a great pen. I'm just disappointed I wasn't able to go
deeper."
NOTES: Three calls were overturned by replay, matching the most in
the replay era (13 times and seventh instance in 2015). ... Rays OF
Desmond Jennings was reinstated from the 60-day disabled list on
Friday and started in left field. ... Rangers LHP Cole Hamels, who
skipped his last start because of a sore left groin, completed a
bullpen with no issues on Friday. He will be re-evaluated Saturday.
... An MRI on the left knee of Texas OF Josh Hamilton showed no
structural damage. He was back in the lineup on Friday against Tampa
Bay after missing the past two games.
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reserved.]
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