• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Blalock sparks Rangers past Athletics

Apr 23, 2007 - 2:11 AM ARLINGTON, Texas (Ticker) -- Hank Blalock emerged from his dry spell at the right time.

Blalock had three hits and keyed a three-run eighth inning rally as the Texas Rangers rallied for a 4-3 victory over the Oakland Athletics in the rubber game of a three-game series.

Batting just .121 (4-for-33) over his last nine games, Blalock delivered a two-run single to cap a three-run eighth that gave the Rangers a 4-3 lead. He registered his first multi-hit game since April 9.

"I was just trying to put the ball in play and tie the game," Blalock said. "Luckily, it dropped in and put us ahead."

With the Athletics holding a 3-1 lead entering the bottom of the eighth, reliever Justin Duchscherer (1-1) allowed consecutive hits to Kenny Lofton and Frank Catalanotto before yielding a walk to Mark Teixeira to load the bases.

Sammy Sosa drew a bases-loaded walk off the righthander before Blalock came through with the go-ahead hit off closer Huston Street.

"He did a great job to hit it," Street said. "Even if he was sitting on it, with the pitch being down and outside, it's pretty tough to do what he did with it. I don't think I could have put it in a much better spot for what I was trying to get, a double-play ground ball. Regardless of it being an 0-2 count, it was going to be a ball. It's one of those situations where you've got to give him (Blalock) credit."

Duchscherer retired just two batters and surrendered three runs and two hits with two walks.

"It's very uncharacteristic for him (Duchscherer) to walk anybody," Athletics manager Bob Geren said. "It wasn't a bad performance, he just missed a couple of cutters and close pitches."

Rangers reliever Eric Gagne, who has battled his way back from elbow problems, recorded just one out in the ninth before leaving with a hip injury.

"Gagne has a right hip sprain," Rangers manager Ron Washington said. "He's day-to-day, but it is not a back problem. It is always a concern when you see your closer act up on the mound."

"It's frustrating," Gagne said. "As long it's not my arm or my back, I'm not really worried. It's something I can deal with."

Akinori Otsuka replaced Gagne and allowed two runners to reach. But he was able to retire Nick Swisher and Eric Chavez, securing his second save.

Willie Eyre (1-0) worked 1 2/3 scoreless innings for the win.

Rangers starter Robinson Tejeda gave up three runs and nine hits in 6 1/3 innings. The righthander struck out six without a walk.

Shannon Stewart homered and had two RBI for the Athletics, who lost for the second time in seven games this season when leading after the seventh inning.