Leading the AL West over the Angels by 1.5 games and still unbeaten against the Mariners this year, the Rangers went into last night's game looking to continue their winning ways.
Texas sent Brandon McCarthy to the mound as he looked to redeem himself after getting blown-up in his last start in Oakland. Brandon also had a personal battle, he has yet to pitch seven complete innings in a Rangers uniform.
Wednesday night against the Mariners he was able accomplish both goals.
It took McCarthy 105 pitches to complete seven innings, he allowed only five hits, four earned runs, and struck out seven. The only problem for him was that three of the five hits left the yard and accounted for all four runs, Adrian Beltre (2nd inning), Kenji Johjima (4th), and Russell Branyan (6th).
Down 3-0 going into the bottom of the fourth the Rangers started their first rally of the game. With the bases loaded and only one out, Chris Davis single to right field moved everyone up 90 feet, unfortunately it was the only run of the inning.
However in the bottom of the fifth, a healthy Josh Hamilton drilled a line drive, two-run home run to the right field upper deck to tie the game at three. After a Seattle run in the top of the sixth Texas mounted their second rally of the game with a two-out RBI triple from Elvis Andrus, scoring Marlon Byrd from first.
The game then had four consecutive shutout innings, even though both teams had scoring opportunities in the ninth and tenth innings.
The eleventh inning started with Beltre reaching first on a throwing error by Michael Young, however instant replay would show that in fact first baseman Davis kept his foot on first and it should have been an out. But still it was a bang-bang, tough call for umpire John Hirschbeck.
After a Branyan sacrifice bunt, Wladimir Balentian drove a double down the right field line scoring Beltre.
Seattle sent out closer Brandon Morrow to shut the door in the bottom of the inning, however the Ranger bats weren't impressed. Texas started the inning off with a Young single, followed by him stealing second, and then Hamilton drawing a walk.
Andruw Jones then flew out to center field, but still the Rangers had the tying run at second and winning run at first. Hank Blalock then came to the plate looking to change his dismissal 0-5, two strikeout outing and become the hero.
On a 1-0 pitch he did just that, driving a 97-mph fastball to the right-center field gap scoring both Young and Hamilton with ease.
It was another huge win for the Rangers and the fans that stuck around for all 3 hours and 29 minutes of baseball. The win improved the Rangers record to 19-14, with the Angels win over the Red Sox the Rangers stayed 1.5 games ahead in the AL West.
The Rangers have not only won their last three games, but nine of their last eleven and boast a .750 winning percentage in the month of May, so far.
- Login to post comments