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Hamilton the Hero: Rangers beat A's on home run

Jul 10, 2011 - 4:41 AM Arlington, TX (Sports Network) - Josh Hamilton blasted a game-winning two-run homer in the ninth inning to push the red-hot Texas Rangers over the Oakland Athletics, 7-6, for their season high-tying sixth win in a row.

Hamilton finished with four hits and three RBI while Adrian Beltre also had a home run for the Rangers, who opened the season with six straight wins.

The home run made Darren Oliver (2-5) a winner after he allowed just one hit in 1 2/3 innings.

Coco Crisp ripped a solo home run in the seventh to put the A's ahead, 6-5, but Andrew Bailey (0-2) surrendered Hamilton's homer for Oakland's fifth loss in six games.

"Obviously he's one of the best players in the game," Bailey said of Hamilton. "You just can't put yourself in that position. Obviously he was looking for a fastball and he made it count."

Armed with a one-run lead, Bailey entered in the ninth for the A's and got two quick outs. But Elvis Andrus hit an infield single, reaching after second baseman Jemile Weeks fielded the ball but threw too low and late to first.

Hamilton then drilled a four-seam fastball into the right-field upper deck and was greeted by his teammates at home plate for a much-needed celebration.

It came just two days after the tragic death of Rangers fan Shannon Stone.

Stone fell from the left field stands during Thursday's game and later died from his injuries. The local firefighter was at the game with his son and tumbled over the railing while reaching for a foul ball thrown his way by Hamilton in the second inning.

"It was one extreme to another," Hamilton said. "I feel blessed that I had the opportunity to hit a [walk-off homer]."

Oakland had the lead or was tied all the way up until the last out of the game, even though it had just five runs in the first two games of the series.

Josh Willingham's leadoff homer sparked a four-run second for the A's. The three other runs came with two outs as Cliff Pennington and Weeks had consecutive RBI singles. Crisp then walked to load the bases before Hideki Matsui forced in Pennington on a catcher's interference play.

Yorvit Torrealba's double brought around Mitch Moreland in the bottom half of the inning put Texas on the board.

Scott Sizemore's fielder's choice allowed Matsui to come home in the fifth as Oakland took a 5-1 lead.

However, Texas came storming back in the home half to knot the game at five apiece.

Torrealba and Endy Chavez started it with singles. Ian Kinsler ripped a double to bring home Torrealba, while Andrus brought in a run with a sacrifice fly and Hamilton's ground out to second plated Kinsler. With two outs Beltre blasted a shot over the left field fence to tie the game

Crisp ripped a homer into the right-field seats to break the deadlock and it stayed that way until the bottom of the ninth.

Game Notes

Texas out-hit Oakland, 13-7...Neither starting pitcher factored into the decision. Rangers starter Colby Lewis allowed five runs -- four earned -- on five hits over six innings. Brandon McCarthy yielded five runs on nine hits in six innings...The Rangers signed their second 16-year-old outfielder from the Dominican Republic in a four-day span on Saturday by inking Ronald Guzman to a 2012 contract. On Wednesday, the team signed Nomar Mazara to a deal that reportedly included a $5 million signing bonus. Guzman reportedly received a signing bonus of $3.45 million.