|
 Hamilton often bails out and lacks patience against southpaws, and
he was facing one of the best in the game in New York Yankees closer
Andrew Miller.
"When you have a closer like him, lefty that throws hard, has a good
slider, you want to see (pitches)," Hamilton said. "I had at-bats
throughout the night where I was really calm and I had a couple
where I wasn't. That's the process we're going through,
understanding there are guys on base and the pressure is on him,
it's not on me."
Hamilton worked the count to 2-0 before lining a single to right to
give the Rangers to a 7-6 victory over New York at Globe Life Park.
The Rangers (49-52) split the four-game series against the American
League East leaders and have their first home winning streak since
June 15-16.
Hamilton's second walk-off hit of the season and ninth of his career
followed a three-run homer in the first inning. He had six RBIs in
the Texas' two wins in the series.
"Playing the Yankees is always fun," Hamilton said. "The battle back
and forth between teams, between fans in the stadium, always feels
good to get that win."
The Yankees (57-44) won the first two games of the series by a
combined score of 27-7. New York is 4-3 on its 10-game road trip
that wraps up with three games in Chicago against the White Sox
starting Friday.
The Yankees led on three different occasions and couldn't take
advantage of first baseman Mark Teixeira's two home runs, including
a two-out solo blast to center in the seventh for a 6-5 lead.
The Rangers tied it in the bottom of the inning when first baseman
Prince Fielder's infield grounder scored catcher Robinson Chirinos.
Texas closer Shawn Tolleson (3-2) pitched a scoreless ninth to pick
up the win.
Despite the two wins, the Rangers still own the worst home record in
baseball at 18-28. Texas opens a three-game interleague series with
San Francisco on Friday.
"We always want to play good at home," Hamilton said. "For some
reason we haven't had the fire, but we're getting it back. It's in
the clubhouse, it's coming out of the dugout and soon it's going to
start coming out on the field every night."
New York reliever Nick Goody (0-1) got the loss after walking the
leadoff batter in the bottom of the ninth. Miller last pitched
Saturday, but said inactivity wasn't an issue.
"Honestly, I felt really good," he said. "I just didn't fool anybody
tonight."
The Yankees got to Texas starter Yovani Gallardo early by scoring
three runs in the first, the second coming on Teixeira's solo shot
to center.
[to top of second column] |
The Rangers used a pair of long balls to right field against off New
York starter CC Sabathia to go up 4-3. Hamilton hit a three-run bomb
in the first, and right fielder Shin-Soo Choo opened the following
inning with a towering drive into the upper deck.
The Yankees leapfrogged ahead 5-4 on catcher Brian McCann's two-run
home run to right in the third.
Another round-tripper, this of the inside-the-park variety, tied the
game 5-5 in the fourth.
Texas left fielder Ryan Rua drilled a sinking line drive that got
under the glove of hard-charging and diving center fielder Jacoby
Ellsbury. The ball rolled to the wall, and Rua beat the relay home
with a head-first slide.
Gallardo, the subject of trade rumors, wound up allowing five runs
in six innings in what may be his last start for Texas this season.
He felt good after the rocky start.
"After that I was able to settle down and give the team a chance to
get a victory," Gallardo said.
Sabathia gave up five runs in five-plus innings and was treated for
symptoms of dehydration after the game.
NOTES: The Yankees placed RHP Michael Pineda, the scheduled Thursday
starter, on the 15-day disabled list due to a right flexor forearm
muscle strain. LHP CC Sabathia started in Pineda's place. New York
also promoted RHP Bryan Mitchell from Triple-A
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. ... LHP Cole Hamels is in line to start
Saturday for Texas against San Francisco once the multiplayer trade
is approved by the commissioner's office. LHP Matt Harrison, part of
the Hamels deal, could start for Philadelphia the same night. ...
Rangers RHP Shawn Tolleson has all 18 of his saves since May 20,
which is tied with Baltimore LHP Zach Britton for the most in the
American League during that span.
[© 2015 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
Copyright 2015 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
 |
