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In a near-record-setting performance, Rangers crush Orioles

Aug 23, 2007 - 1:42 AM BALTIMORE (Ticker) -- Rookie Jarrod Saltalamacchia and the Texas Rangers did something that hadn't been done in over 110 years.

Saltalamacchia had four hits - including two homers - and drove in seven runs as the Rangers set a modern-day record for runs in embarrassing the Baltimore Orioles, 30-3, in the first game of a doubleheader on Wednesday.

Ramon Vazquez hit two three-run homers and also had seven RBI, and Marlon Byrd and Travis Metcalf each belted a grand slam for Texas, which posted franchise highs of 30 runs and 29 hits while recording four innings of five or more runs (five, six, nine and 10).

"I've never been in a game like that in my life," Saltalamacchia said. "That was ridiculous. If we could do that in every game, that would be pretty good. It was just one of those things. We were seeing the ball tonight, hitting the ball. Nothing you can really say about it, just amazing."

The run output was the most in the majors this season, and the most in a game since June 29, 1897, when the National League's Chicago Colts set the all-time record with a 36-7 victory over the Louisville Colonels.

The previous high this season was 21 runs by the New York Yankees vs. the Tampa Bay Devil Rays on July 22. It was 16 more than the previous season mark for the Rangers, who had tallied 14 runs three times.

It was also a striking difference for Texas, which had scored a total of 28 runs in its previous nine contests, including five losses.

"It really was awesome watching our offense come to life," Rangers manager Ron Washington said. "I was hoping we'd open up, but I wasn't expecting anything like this."

The 30 runs allowed by Baltimore was the most it ever has surrendered, surpassing the 26 it gave up vs. the Rangers at Arlington Stadium on April 19, 1996.

It was the most runs ever scored by a team in an American League game, with the previous high of 29 reached by the Boston Red Sox in 1950 and the Chicago White Sox five years later.

It was also just the second time in 50 years that four teammates drove in at least four runs in a contest. Pete Rose, Mike Schmidt and Garry Maddox each drove in four and Bob Boone plated five for the Philadelphia Phillies in a 23-22 victory over the Chicago Cubs on May 17, 1979.

Saltalamacchia, who was acquired by the Rangers at the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline in the deal involving slugger Mark Teixeira, helped the Rangers score 30 unanswered runs after Baltimore staked itself to an early lead through three innings.

Trailing, 3-0, in the top of the fourth, Saltalamacchia hit a two-run single to cut Texas' deficit to one. Vazquez then hit a 2-0 pitch from Orioles starter Daniel Cabrera over the right field wall to give the Rangers a 5-3 lead.

It was more than enough support for Kason Gabbard (6-1), who allowed three runs, seven hits and a walk in six innings.

Wes Littleton pitched three innings of two-hit relief to notch his second career save and first this season.

Saltalamacchia led off the sixth by belting a 1-2 fastball from Cabrera over the center field fence to increase the Rangers' lead to three. It was Saltalamacchia's seventh homer of his career.

The blast was the sixth run surrendered by Cabrera (9-12), who also yielded nine hits and a walk in five-plus innings. The big righthander was removed by manager Dave Trembley, who earlier in the day was given a contract extension to manage the club in 2008, with an option for 2009.

Later in the sixth, with the bases loaded, Byrd drilled an 0-1 pitch from reliever Brian Burres into the seats in left to make the score 10-3. One out later, six straight singles - including an RBI base hit by Saltalamacchia - accounted for four more runs, giving Texas a 14-3 bulge. A total of 14 batters came to the plate in the frame for the Rangers.

"You never (want the run-scoring to end)," Washington said. "When the faucet is on, you want it to stay on. You don't ever want to cut it off."

Things got worse for Baltimore two innings later, when 12 Texas players had an opportunity to bat.

After RBI singles by Frank Catalanotto and Ian Kinsler made it 16-3, Metcalf hit his second career homer with the bases loaded off reliever Rob Bell to increase the lead to 17. After an RBI single by David Murphy, Saltalamacchia belted a three-run blast off Paul Shuey to make it 24-3.

It was the second career multi-homer contest for Saltalamacchia, who has homered four times in the last five days.

In the top of the ninth, Jason Botts hit a two-run double, Murphy delivered a run-scoring single and Vazquez smacked a three-run homer off Shuey to cap the massacre.

Burres allowed eight runs, Bell surrendered seven and Shuey was tagged for nine for Baltimore, which has alternated wins and losses over its last six games.