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Millwood, Rangers shut out Orioles

Sep 23, 2007 - 10:54 PM By Randy Krone PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

ARLINGTON, Texas (Ticker) - Kevin Millwood had been stuck on the nine-win mark since August 30th.

On Sunday, the 32-year old righthander notched that seemingly elusive 10th win, throwing seven solid innings, leading the Texas Rangers to a 3-0 victory over the Baltimore Orioles.

Millwood (10-13) scattered seven hits without a walk and struck out five. The victory marked the second consecutive season and the seventh time in his career that he's had at least 10 wins in a season.

"Today felt really good for me," Millwood said. "Early on, I was locating my pitches pretty well and so I was able to mix up things up from there. Our bullpen has been worn out lately so to give most of them a day off was huge."

Joaquin Benoit worked the eighth and C.J. Wilson pitched the ninth for his 12th save of the year.

The Rangers touched Baltimore starter Jon Leicester in the second inning for a pair of runs when Nelson Cruz drove a triple to the right-field corner that plated Jason Botts, who had hit a two-out double.

An infield single by Gerald Laird - which Leicester was late covering first on - scored Cruz giving Texas 2-0 lead.

Cruz, who has been experimenting with a new batting grip of holding his hands lower to give him a longer look at the pitcher, is 13-for-27 (.481) in his last seven starts.

"I can see the ball much better and I feel like my swing has been a lot better of late," Cruz said. "I've got to keep working on it and finish strong to make my bid for a starting spot next year."

The Rangers defense came to Millwood's rescue twice with around-the-horn double plays in the first and fifth innings, when the veteran righthander was faced with men on first and third with one out.

Texas added some insurance in the sixth as Ian Kinsler led off the inning with a bunt single. Michael Young followed with a ground ball single to center, his 195 hit of the season. Young is looking to reach the 200-hit milestone for the fourth consecutive season.

Marlon Byrd scored Kinsler on a groundout for his 66th RBI of the season.

The Orioles threatened in the eighth when Nick Markakis worked a two-out walk and Miguel Tejada lined a double off the left field wall of Rangers reliever Benoit.

But the rally ended there as Aubrey Huff hit a slow roller in front of the plate that the catcher Laird made the play on, throwing to first to end the inning.

"That play was huge for us," Rangers manager Ron Washington said. "If you asked Gerald (Laird) about it, he'd probably say it was a pretty easy play. But that ball had some english on it and he had to really bounce out there to get us out of the inning."

Orioles starter Jon Leicester (2-3), who was making just the fifth start of his career, threw an eight-inning complete game, giving up three runs and seven hits with three strikeouts.

"It felt pretty good today," said Leicester. "I was able to keep my pitch count down, attack the strike zone and use my defense."