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Oswalt stellar in return as Rangers down Rockies

Jun 23, 2012 - 6:27 AM Arlington, TX (Sports Network) - Roy Oswalt appeared refreshed and the cranky back looked fine.

Making his Rangers' debut and first start in almost nine months, the 34-year- old fired 6 2/3 innings of one-run ball, lifting Texas to its seventh straight win with a 4-1 triumph over the sputtering Colorado Rockies in the opener of a three-game interleague series.

In his 110-pitch outing, Oswalt (1-0) fanned six and surrendered a run on nine hits and a walk. He was chased from the contest following Marco Scutaro's RBI double in the seventh.

Oswalt left to a standing ovation.

"I think command of all my pitches was there tonight," said Oswalt. "If I can keep this type of command all the way through I'll be happy."

The Mississippi native signed a minor league contract with Texas on May 29 and went 1-1 with a 5.87 earned run average in four starts between Triple-A Round Rock and Double-A Frisco.

Oswalt pitched to a 9-10 record with a 3.69 ERA in 23 starts last season for the Philadelphia Phillies. He spent time on the disabled list on two occasions -- April 27-May 15 and June 24-August 6 -- for inflammation in his lower back.

Friday was Oswalt's first MLB appearance since allowing five runs over six innings in a loss to the St. Louis Cardinals in Game 4 of last year's National League Division Series.

Adrian Beltre smacked a two-run homer, while Mike Napoli added a solo shot for the Rangers, who moved to an MLB-best 13-3 in interleague play. Joe Nathan registered his 16th save of the season with a 1-2-3 ninth.

Christian Friedrich (4-4) was charged with four runs on seven hits and a walk in six innings for Colorado, which has dropped 13 of its last 15 tilts.

The Rangers pushed across a pair of runs in each of the first and fourth innings to jump out to a 4-0 lead.

Beltre belted a opposite-field two-run blast in the opening frame that just crept over the wall in right, giving the hosts a 2-0 advantage.

In the fourth, Beltre reached on an infield single and scored when Nelson Cruz ripped a double into left-center. Cruz, though, got caught in a rundown between second and third on the play and was tagged out. Napoli stepped up next and cracked an opposite-field solo shot for a 4-0 Rangers margin.

The Rockies plated a two-out run to get on the board in the seventh. Dexter Fowler tripled and scored when Scutaro laced a double into the gap in right- center.

"We are staying optimistic, we are staying together and we're still playing hard," said Rockies outfielder Michael Cuddyer.

Game Notes

Prior to the game, Texas placed first baseman Mitch Moreland on the 15-day disabled list with a left hamstring strain and also designated pitcher Mark Hamburger for assignment...Oswalt improved to 9-2 in 13 career starts against Colorado...Texas has outscored opponents 58-27 over its last 11 games, going 10-1 in the process.