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 "That was a wild one," Rangers manager Jeff Banister said Wednesday
night after Mitch Moreland's 10th-inning double lifted Texas to a
4-3 win over the San Diego Padres.
Moreland added, "It was a tough, hard-fought game, and it was a good
win for us."
Rangers reliever Sam Dyson (2-1) pitched the final two innings for
the win.
"Dyson showed up big for us in the last two innings," Banister said.
The extended stint didn't faze Dyson.
"You show up and be prepared and pitch when they call your name,"
Dyson said.
The second-place Rangers (70-62) won for the ninth time in 12 games,
and they pulled within two games of the AL West-leading Houston
Astros.
"It's been a good stretch and we got a ways to go," Banister said
after the Rangers' 25th come-from-behind win of the season. "We got
to continue to play well and play hard."
Shortstop Elvis Andrus started the winning rally with a one-out
single off Bud Norris (1-1). Moreland's double to deep right knocked
in Andrus.
The Padres (64-69) had the tying run at second with one out in the
bottom of the 10th, but pinch hitter Yangervis Solarte was retired
trying to advance to third on a ground ball to shortstop.
"Soly knows better than that, but he was a little anxious," Padres
interim manager Pat Murphy said. "He was on the bench all night for
10 innings. It's not unforgivable, but it changes things a little
bit."
The Rangers struck early for a 1-0 lead.
First baseman Prince Fielder drew a two-out walk in the first
inning, and third baseman Adrian Beltre followed with a double. When
right fielder Matt Kemp dropped the ball for an error after it
caromed off the wall, Fielder scored from first base.
San Diego second baseman Jedd Gyorko collected his second single to
open the fourth. Kemp followed with a walk, reaching base in his
22nd consecutive game. After two strikeouts, shortstop Clint Barmes
sliced a double just inside the right field line for a 2-1 Padres
lead.
Texas catcher Chris Gimenez smacked his fifth homer of the season in
the fifth, tying the game at 2-2.
Barmes gave the Padres a 3-2 edge in the sixth, with some help from
his counterpart.
With runners on the corners and one out, Barmes hit a double-play
ball to second base. Rougned Odor's feed to Andrus erased Brett
Wallace, but Andrus struggled getting the ball out of his glove,
eliminating his chance to get Barmes at first to end the inning.
That enabled left fielder Justin Upton, who singled to start the
inning, to score and put the Padres ahead.
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Joaquin Benoit relieved Ian Kennedy in the eighth and walked right
fielder Shin-Soo Choo. Fielder singled, with Choo taking third.
Beltre tied the game 3-3 with a sacrifice fly.
The Rangers loaded the bases with one out in the ninth, but Craig
Kimbel struck out pinch hitter Mike Napoli and third baseman Adrian
Beltre to end the threat.
"That is why he is a premium closer," Banister said. "We left a
village on base tonight."
Added Murphy: "That's what (Kimbel) does best. He gets his back up
against the wall and he punches guys out. Full count with the bases
loaded and one out is not fun to watch, but he is one of the best."
Kennedy tied a career high with 12 strikeouts. He allowed two runs
on five hits with two walks over seven innings. It was impressive
coming against the Rangers.
"They are a good team, a great hitting team." Kennedy said. "You try
to navigate through that lineup. I caught myself thinking one time,
there is no break in this lineup."
Rangers starter Cole Hamels, a San Diego native, worked eight
innings and was charged with three runs on eight hits.
NOTES: Padres 1B Yonder Alonso was out of the lineup with a sprained
lower back. He is listed as day-to-day. ... San Diego C Derek Norris
has a sore left arm after a collision at the plate Tuesday. He
didn't start Wednesday, though he appeared as a pinch hitter. ...
Padres RHP Shawn Kelley (forearm strain) will be out for two to
three days. ... Texas 1B Mitch Moreland didn't start any of the
games in San Diego but will be in the lineup Friday against the Los
Angeles Angels. ... Rangers LF Joe Gallo got his first start since
being recalled from Triple-A Round Rock. He went 0-for-3. ... Texas
SS Elvis Andrus' steal of home Tuesday was the fourth of his career,
the most in Rangers history.
[© 2015 Thomson Reuters. All rights
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