Rangers 4 - 3 Guardians
Final
  for this game

Salazar tries to slow down red-hot Rangers

May 26, 2015 - 12:44 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - Danny Salazar eyes his sixth win of the season on Tuesday when the Cleveland Indians continue a three-game series with the red- hot Texas Rangers at Progressive Field.

Salazar was brilliant on Thursday in Chicago, as he scattered five hits over six scoreless innings against the White Sox to improve to 5-1, while lowering his ERA to 3.50.

"He had such a good fastball that when he needed it, he went to it, and he didn't nurse it in there," Cleveland manager Terry Francona said. "He attacked when he needed to and he ended up giving us six.

The 25-year-old right-hander, who has a brilliant 60/9 K/BB ratio in 43 2/3 innings this season, has faced the Rangers just twice and is 1-0 against them with a 4.22 ERA. They roughed him up, though, two starts ago to the tune of seven runs (5 earned) and nine hits in just 4 2/3 innings.

Texas, meanwhile, turns to left-hander Wandy Rodriguez, who is 2-2 with a 3.38 ERA. Rodriguez defeated Boston on Thursday, as he held the Red Sox to a run and four hits in 6 2/3 innings.

Rodriguez retired 20 batters and 13 were the result of ground balls. He's also held his opponents to one run in four of his six starts.

"A really nice night by Wandy," Rangers manager Jeff Banister said. "That's what we have been seeing from him. He moved the (sinker) in and out, the breaking ball played well, he keeps hitters off balance. His ability to work quick and get through their lineup was big."

Rodriguez lost his only other start to the Tribe back on May 15 and was roughed up for five runs and eight hits in 4 2/3 innings.

Texas won its sixth straight game on Monday, as Prince Fielder went 3-for-5 with a two-run homer, three RBI and three runs scored in a 10-8 triumph.

Josh Hamilton was 0-for-3 with a run scored, one walk and two strikeouts in his season debut. Hamilton, of course, was playing his first game with the Rangers since 2012 following his relapse with drugs and alcohol and subsequent trade from the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

"It was good to get the first at-bat out of the way, I was a little nervous up there," said Hamilton. "After that, second at-bat I was feeling pretty good. It was just good to be out there. It was good to feel the energy in the dugout."

Texas starter Phil Klein allowed seven runs -- six earned -- on six hits over two-plus innings. Alex Claudio gave up one run on two hits with four walks and three strikeouts over 3 1/3 innings.

Tanner Scheppers (1-0) and Sam Freeman each tossed 1 1/3 scoreless innings and Shawn Tolleson pitched a perfect ninth for his fourth save.

Carlos Santana and Roberto Perez homered for the Indians, who had a six-game winning streak stopped.

Cleveland starter Shaun Marcum gave up seven runs on four hits with three walks and six strikeouts over 2 2/3 innings. Marc Rzepczynski (1-2) allowed one unearned run in the seventh to take the loss.

Despite Monday's loss, Cleveland, which took two of three in Texas earlier in the season, has still won 13 of 16 in this series.






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