Jul 6, 2008 - 7:20 PM
0 shoutsBALTIMORE (Ticker) -- David Murphy blasted a three-run homer to lead a balanced offense as the Texas Rangers outlasted the Baltimore Orioles, 11-10, on Sunday.
All-Star Ian Kinsler had three hits and two runs scored to extend his hitting streak to 18 games for the Rangers, who had every member of the starting lineup either score or drive in a run.
"It's always nice to come out on top in games like that," Kinsler said. "We had a couple this year where we've come out on the losing end and they are never fun. But today we got the win - and we ought to feel good about the road trip we just finished."
The 11-run, 14-hit outburst extended the Rangers major league-lead runs total to 488.
"In a 162-game season, sometimes you are going to get those games where you just have to hold on," Rangers manager Ron Washington said. "It doesn't matter how many runs you score, and today was just one of those days. I'm quite sure over there in that clubhouse (that) they are the ones that wished they had held on. So, I'm very happy we held on."
Murphy's 11th homer of the season gave the Rangers a 6-3 lead in the top of the fourth and Texas led the rest of the way.
After Baltimore closed within one run, Texas appeared to take control with a five-run eighth inning, extending its lead to 11-5. German Duran capped the inning with a two-run single.
The Orioles made the game interesting as Nick Markakis blasted a three-run homer in the bottom of the eighth and Kevin Millar and Melvin Mora hit solo shots three batters apart to pull the Orioles within 11-10 in the bottom of the ninth.
But Rangers closer C.J. Wilson then struck out Brian Roberts to end the game and secure his 21st save of the season.
"I thought we were going to get one today," Orioles manager Dave Trembley said. "We kept coming back and coming back.
Orioles starter Radhames Liz (3-1), who had won his previous two starts, was knocked around for six runs - four earned - and seven hits over 3 2/3 innings. The righthander walked a season-high five and struck out four, throwing 103 pitches.
"I'm not going to be perfect," Liz said. "I made a lot of good pitches, but I walked five batters. I'll keep working for the next start."
"For the most part, right out of the gate, Liz was struggling," Trembley added. "He got out of some tough jams early in the game and his pitch count was way up and he just didn't have it. That's the way the games goes."
With the score tied at 2-2 in the bottom of the third, Roberts led off the inning with a solo home run to right, giving Baltimore a 3-2 lead.
But the Rangers would answer in their next at-bat as Ramon Vazquez singled in Duran with one out in the fourth. Two batters later, Milton Bradley walked and Murphy blasted a three-run shot down the right field line to give Texas a three-run advantage.
"To get a win like that today and to play a significant role in it felt really good," Murphy said.
The Orioles closed the deficit to 6-5 in the bottom of the fifth as Ramon Hernandez and Luke Scott each plated a run, reaching on a fielder's choice.
Rangers starter Kevin Millwood (6-4) earned the win despite giving up five runs - three earned - and nine hits in five innings.
The contest came after four Texas players were named to the All-Star team, which set a club record for position players. Hamilton was named a starter in the outfield, while Kinsler, Bradley and Michael Young were chosen as reserves.
"I'm very happy for all of them," Washington said. "They deserve it and it couldn't happen to a better bunch of guys."
From the Bleachers
-
TEXAS: 11
BALTIMORE: 10
Final
Jul 6 5:26 PM -
AL
AT BALTIMORE - SCORING UPDATE
SOLO HOME RUN BY MELVIN MORA (11) TO CENTER WITH 2 OUT IN
THE 9TH OFF C.J. WILSON.
CURRENT SCORE: TEXAS 11, BALTIMORE 10
DUE UP FOR BALTIMORE: B ROBERTS (.296, 2-FOR-4, BB, HR, RBI)
Jul 6 5:23 PM -
AL
AT BALTIMORE - SCORING UPDATE
SOLO HOME RUN BY KEVIN MILLAR (12) TO LEFT WITH 0 OUT IN
THE 9TH OFF C.J. WILSON.
CURRENT SCORE: TEXAS 11, BALTIMORE 9
DUE UP FOR BALTIMORE: J PAYTON (.241, 0-FOR-4)
Jul 6 5:19 PM -
AL
AT BALTIMORE - SCORING UPDATE
THREE-RUN HOME RUN BY NICK MARKAKIS (13) TO RIGHT WITH 1
OUT IN THE 8TH OFF JOSH RUPE SCORED FREDDIE BYNUM AND BRIAN
ROBERTS.
CURRENT SCORE: TEXAS 11, BALTIMORE 8
DUE UP FOR BALTIMORE: A HUFF (.279, 1-FOR-3, SF, RBI)
Jul 6 5:02 PM -
AL
AT BALTIMORE - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY GERMAN DURAN SCORED BRANDON BOGGS AND CHRIS
DAVIS.
SITUATION: 5 RUNS IN, G DURAN ON FIRST, M RAMIREZ ON THIRD, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: TEXAS 11
BALTIMORE 5 TOP, 8TH
DUE UP FOR TEXAS: I KINSLER (.332, 3-FOR-4, BB)
Jul 6 4:50 PM -
AL
AT BALTIMORE - SCORING UPDATE
BASES LOADED WALK TO MAX RAMIREZ SCORED JOSH HAMILTON.
SITUATION: 3 RUNS IN, M RAMIREZ ON FIRST, C DAVIS ON SECOND, B
BOGGS ON THIRD, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: TEXAS 9
BALTIMORE 5 TOP, 8TH
DUE UP FOR TEXAS: G DURAN (.220, 1-FOR-3, BB)
Jul 6 4:50 PM -
AL
AT BALTIMORE - SCORING UPDATE
FIELDER'S CHOICE BY BRANDON BOGGS SCORED RAMON VAZQUEZ.
SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, B BOGGS ON FIRST, J HAMILTON ON THIRD, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: TEXAS 8
BALTIMORE 5 TOP, 8TH
DUE UP FOR TEXAS: C DAVIS (.200, 0-FOR-3, BB)
Jul 6 4:42 PM -
AL
AT BALTIMORE - SCORING UPDATE
SACRIFICE FLY BY FRANK CATALANOTTO SCORED IAN KINSLER.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, J HAMILTON ON FIRST, R VAZQUEZ ON SECOND, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: TEXAS 7
BALTIMORE 5 TOP, 8TH
DUE UP FOR TEXAS: D MURPHY (.269, 2-FOR-4, HR, 3 RBI)
Jul 6 4:39 PM -
AL
AT BALTIMORE - SCORING UPDATE
FIELDER'S CHOICE BY LUKE SCOTT SCORED AUBREY HUFF.
SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, L SCOTT ON FIRST, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: TEXAS 6
BALTIMORE 5 BOTTOM, 5TH
DUE UP FOR BALTIMORE: K MILLAR (.244, 2-FOR-2)
Jul 6 3:42 PM -
AL
AT BALTIMORE - SCORING UPDATE
FIELDER'S CHOICE BY RAMON HERNANDEZ SCORED NICK MARKAKIS.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, R HERNANDEZ ON FIRST, A HUFF ON THIRD, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: TEXAS 6
BALTIMORE 4 BOTTOM, 5TH
DUE UP FOR BALTIMORE: L SCOTT (.268, 0-FOR-2)
Jul 6 3:42 PM -
AL
AT BALTIMORE - SCORING UPDATE
THREE-RUN HOME RUN BY DAVID MURPHY (11) TO RIGHT WITH 2 OUT
IN THE 4TH OFF RADHAMES LIZ SCORED RAMON VAZQUEZ AND MILTON
BRADLEY.
CURRENT SCORE: TEXAS 6, BALTIMORE 3
DUE UP FOR TEXAS: B BOGGS (.252, 0-FOR-2)
Jul 6 3:03 PM -
AL
AT BALTIMORE - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY RAMON VAZQUEZ SCORED GERMAN DURAN.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, R VAZQUEZ ON FIRST, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: TEXAS 3
BALTIMORE 3 TOP, 4TH
DUE UP FOR TEXAS: J HAMILTON (.308, 1-FOR-2, RBI)
Jul 6 2:59 PM -
AL
AT BALTIMORE - SCORING UPDATE
SOLO HOME RUN BY BRIAN ROBERTS (7) TO RIGHT WITH 0 OUT IN
THE 3RD OFF KEVIN MILLWOOD.
CURRENT SCORE: TEXAS 2, BALTIMORE 3
DUE UP FOR BALTIMORE: N MARKAKIS (.292, 0-FOR-1)
Jul 6 2:43 PM -
AL
AT BALTIMORE - SCORING UPDATE
WILD PITCH BY RADHAMES LIZ ALLOWED JOSH HAMILTON TO
SCORE.
SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, D MURPHY ON FIRST, M BRADLEY ON SECOND, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: TEXAS 2
BALTIMORE 2 TOP, 3RD
DUE UP FOR TEXAS: C DAVIS (.214, 0-FOR-1)
Jul 6 2:37 PM -
AL
AT BALTIMORE - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY JOSH HAMILTON SCORED IAN KINSLER.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, J HAMILTON ON FIRST, R VAZQUEZ ON SECOND, 0 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: TEXAS 1
BALTIMORE 2 TOP, 3RD
DUE UP FOR TEXAS: M BRADLEY (.320, 0-FOR-0, BB)
Jul 6 2:29 PM -
AL
AT BALTIMORE - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY ADAM JONES SCORED KEVIN MILLAR.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, A JONES ON FIRST, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: TEXAS 0
BALTIMORE 2 BOTTOM, 2ND
DUE UP FOR BALTIMORE: F BYNUM (.192, 0 HR, 8 RBI)
Jul 6 2:17 PM -
AL
AT BALTIMORE - SCORING UPDATE
SACRIFICE FLY BY AUBREY HUFF SCORED BRIAN ROBERTS.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, NONE ON, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: TEXAS 0
BALTIMORE 1 BOTTOM, 1ST
DUE UP FOR BALTIMORE: R HERNANDEZ (.251, 7 HR, 32 RBI)
Jul 6 2:03 PM
