Final
Cruz leads Rangers past Orioles
May 21, 2010 - 4:41 AMVideo
Cruz had a three-run homer and drove in four runs in his first career four-hit game, and the Rangers matched their longest winning streak of the season with their fourth in a row, a 13-7 victory over the Baltimore Orioles on Thursday night.
Texas had eight players with two hits or more while the Rangers reached double-digit runs for the fourth time in their last 14 games.
Matt Treanor added a three-run homer in a five-run eighth and David Murphy had three of Texas' season-high 20 hits to help the Rangers equal their highest scoring output of the season.
"There's not a letup in that lineup right now," Rangers manager Ron Washington said.
The Rangers greeted Brian Matusz (2-4) with a four-run first highlighted by Ian Kinsler's RBI single and Cruz's three-run shot.
Cruz, who had been hampered by a hamstring injury, had been 5 for 21 in six games since being activated from the 15-day disabled list on May 14.
"Every at-bat I take, I feel much better at the plate," Cruz said.
The Orioles answered with a three-run second on Corey Patterson's two-run double and Ty Wigginton's RBI single.
But Vladimir Guerrero's two-run homer in the second and Murphy's RBI single in the third gave Texas a 7-3 lead, chasing Matusz.
"It's not going to happen every night, but tonight was nice," Kinsler said. "We feel like every one of us in the lineup can carry the team or drive in runs on any given night. It's nice to have confidence in your teammates like that."
Rangers starter Scott Feldman (2-4) had the benefit of early run support to win for the first time since April 11 despite allowing a career-high 12 hits over six innings.
Feldman gave up four runs, struck out five and walked one as AL West leader Texas won for the 10th time in 14 games to move four games ahead of Oakland in the division.
Luke Scott's three hits led the Orioles, who have lost five of six and own the worst record in the majors (13-29).
Matusz, in his first full season as a starter, threw seven shutout innings against Cleveland in his previous start.
This time the 23-year-old lefthander lasted only 2 1-3 innings in the shortest outing of his 17 major league starts, allowing seven runs and eight hits.
"He's not Warren Spahn, he's not Sandy Koufax," Orioles manager Dave Trembley said. "He's a young guy that's learning. I guarantee you he'll take a great deal from this and the next time he faces these guys, you'll see a much better outing."
NOTES: Texas LHP Matt Harrison, on the 15-day DL with left biceps tendinitis, threw 30 pitches in a simulated game without discomfort. He'll have a bullpen session on Saturday and if that goes well, he'll pitch for Double-A Frisco on Monday and Wednesday before the team decides how to proceed. LHP Derek Holland has taken Harrison's rotation spot, and Harrison will probably have to work out of the bullpen when he's activated. ... The Rangers scored 13 runs on May 6 when they beat Kansas City 13-12. ... Texas' Joaquin Arias got his first career start at 1B, with rookie Justin Smoak opening the game on the bench after playing 26 straight games since he was called up from Triple-A Oklahoma City on April 23. Smoak, a defensive replacement for Arias in the eighth, is in an 0-for-11 slump and began the night batting .174. Arias played four games at 1B for Double-A Frisco, having never even worn a 1B mitt until 10 days ago. When the Rangers waived Ryan Garko, they were left without a legit backup 1B. ... Scott got his second start of the season at 1B. Regular 1B Garrett Atkins is in an 0-for-14 slide, and Trembley said the Orioles need more production out of the position. ... Baltimore LHP Mike Gonzalez threw 18 pitches in an extended spring training game in Florida. Gonzalez has been on the 15-day DL since April 14 with a strained left shoulder.
- Rangers 13, Orioles 7 - FINAL
BALTIMORE ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Patterson lf 5 1 1 2 1 2 1 .278
T Wigginton 2b 5 0 2 1 1 1 3 .305
N Markakis rf 4 0 2 1 2 0 0 .304
M Tejada 3b 6 1 1 1 0 0 7 .268
L Scott 1b 4 0 3 1 1 1 2 .283
M Wieters c 4 0 1 0 0 2 5 .262
va-C
May 20 11:45 PM - AL
AT TEXAS - SCORING UPDATE
BASES LOADED WALK TO NICK MARKAKIS SCORED ADAM JONES
SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, N MARKAKIS ON FIRST, C PATTERSON ON SECOND, C
IZTURIS ON THIRD, 2 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: BALTIMORE 7
TEXAS 13 TOP,9TH
DUE UP FOR BALTIMORE: M TEJADA (.270, 1-FOR-5, RBI)
Orioles 7, Rangers 13 Top 9, 0 OutsMay 20 11:38 PM - AL
AT TEXAS - SCORING UPDATE
DOUBLE BY ADAM JONES SCORED CRAIG TATUM
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, A JONES ON SECOND, 0 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: BALTIMORE 6
TEXAS 13 TOP,9TH
DUE UP FOR BALTIMORE: L MONTANEZ (.154, 2-FOR-4)
Orioles 6, Rangers 13 Top 9, 0 OutsMay 20 11:28 PM - AL
AT TEXAS - SCORING UPDATE
THREE-RUN HOME RUN BY MATT TREANOR (2) TO LEFT CENTER WITH 2
OUT IN THE 8TH OFF ALBERTO CASTILLO SCORED JUSTIN SMOAK
AND NELSON CRUZ.
CURRENT SCORE: BALTIMORE 5, TEXAS 13
DUE UP FOR TEXAS: E ANDRUS (.326, 2-FOR-4, BB)
Orioles 5, Rangers 13 Bot 8, 0 OutsMay 20 11:20 PM - AL
AT TEXAS - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY JUSTIN SMOAK SCORED JOSH HAMILTON
SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, J SMOAK ON FIRST, N CRUZ ON SECOND, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: BALTIMORE 5
TEXAS 10 BOTTOM,8TH
DUE UP FOR TEXAS: D MURPHY (.240, 3-FOR-4, RBI)
Orioles 5, Rangers 10 Bot 8, 0 OutsMay 20 11:15 PM - AL
AT TEXAS - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY NELSON CRUZ SCORED JULIO BORBON
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, N CRUZ ON FIRST, J HAMILTON ON THIRD, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: BALTIMORE 5
TEXAS 9 BOTTOM,8TH
DUE UP FOR TEXAS: J SMOAK (.174, 4 HR, 10 RBI)
Orioles 5, Rangers 9 Bot 8, 0 OutsMay 20 11:13 PM - AL
AT TEXAS - SCORING UPDATE
FORCE OUT BY MIGUEL TEJADA SCORED CESAR IZTURIS
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, M TEJADA ON FIRST, T WIGGINTON ON THIRD, 2 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: BALTIMORE 5
TEXAS 8 TOP,8TH
DUE UP FOR BALTIMORE: L SCOTT (.286, 3-FOR-3, BB, RBI)
Orioles 5, Rangers 8 Top 8, 0 OutsMay 20 11:01 PM - AL
AT TEXAS - SCORING UPDATE
DOUBLE BY LUKE SCOTT SCORED MIGUEL TEJADA
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, L SCOTT ON SECOND, 0 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: BALTIMORE 4
TEXAS 8 TOP,5TH
DUE UP FOR BALTIMORE: M WIETERS (.259, 0-FOR-2)
Orioles 4, Rangers 8 Top 5, 0 OutsMay 20 9:50 PM - AL
AT TEXAS - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY JOSH HAMILTON SCORED MICHAEL YOUNG
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, J HAMILTON ON FIRST, 2 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: BALTIMORE 3
TEXAS 8 BOTTOM,4TH
DUE UP FOR TEXAS: N CRUZ (.318, 2-FOR-2, HR, 3 RBI)
Orioles 3, Rangers 8 Bot 4, 0 OutsMay 20 9:43 PM - AL
AT TEXAS - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY DAVID MURPHY SCORED NELSON CRUZ
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, D MURPHY ON FIRST, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: BALTIMORE 3
TEXAS 7 BOTTOM,3RD
DUE UP FOR TEXAS: M TREANOR (.200, 0-FOR-1)
Orioles 3, Rangers 7 Bot 3, 0 OutsMay 20 9:20 PM - AL
AT TEXAS - SCORING UPDATE
TWO-RUN HOME RUN BY VLADIMIR GUERRERO (9) TO LEFT CENTER
WITH 2 OUT IN THE 2ND OFF BRIAN MATUSZ SCORED IAN KINSLER.
CURRENT SCORE: BALTIMORE 3, TEXAS 6
DUE UP FOR TEXAS: J HAMILTON (.278, 0-FOR-1)
Orioles 3, Rangers 6 Bot 2, 0 OutsMay 20 8:57 PM - AL
AT TEXAS - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY TY WIGGINTON SCORED COREY PATTERSON
SITUATION: 3 RUNS IN, T WIGGINTON ON FIRST, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: BALTIMORE 3
TEXAS 4 TOP,2ND
DUE UP FOR BALTIMORE: N MARKAKIS (.303, 1-FOR-1)
Orioles 3, Rangers 4 Top 2, 0 OutsMay 20 8:47 PM - AL
AT TEXAS - SCORING UPDATE
DOUBLE BY COREY PATTERSON SCORED CESAR IZTURIS AND LOU
MONTANEZ
SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, C PATTERSON ON SECOND, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: BALTIMORE 2
TEXAS 4 TOP,2ND
DUE UP FOR BALTIMORE: T WIGGINTON (.307, 1-FOR-1)
Orioles 2, Rangers 4 Top 2, 0 OutsMay 20 8:46 PM - AL
AT TEXAS - SCORING UPDATE
THREE-RUN HOME RUN BY NELSON CRUZ (8) TO LEFT CENTER WITH 2
OUT IN THE 1ST OFF BRIAN MATUSZ SCORED IAN KINSLER AND
MICHAEL YOUNG.
CURRENT SCORE: BALTIMORE 0, TEXAS 4
DUE UP FOR TEXAS: J ARIAS (.321, 0 HR, 3 RBI)
Orioles 0, Rangers 4 Bot 1, 0 OutsMay 20 8:32 PM - AL
AT TEXAS - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY IAN KINSLER SCORED ELVIS ANDRUS
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, I KINSLER ON FIRST, M YOUNG ON SECOND, 0 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: BALTIMORE 0
TEXAS 1 BOTTOM,1ST
DUE UP FOR TEXAS: V GUERRERO (.340, 8 HR, 33 RBI)
Orioles 0, Rangers 1 Bot 1, 0 OutsMay 20 8:29 PM
Related News
- Tuesday Morning Texas Rangers Update Dec 26
- Tuesday Bird Droppings: The slow march to Opening Day Dec 26
- Christmas Morning Texas Rangers Update Dec 25
- Christmas Bird Droppings: Enjoy the holiday season, Birdland Dec 25
- Garver to the M’s, per reports Dec 24
- Christmas Eve Rangers things Dec 24
- Christmas Eve Bird Droppings Dec 24
- Saturday morning Rangers things Dec 23
- Saturday Bird Droppings: Ryan Minor has passed away Dec 23
- LSB Offseason Community Prospect Rankings — #15 Dec 22
- Friday morning Rangers stuff Dec 22
- The 2023 ALDS, Game 1 (Camden Chat’s version) Dec 22