Final
Kinsler collects six hits en route to cycle as Rangers roll
Apr 16, 2009 - 5:01 AM ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) -- Ian Kinsler bolted out of the batter's box as soon as the ball left his bat. He knew he was headed to third base, no matter what.The Texas Rangers had a big lead over Baltimore in the sixth, and Kinsler already had the chance to accomplish the rare feat of a cycle. It happened after he hit a long flyball into the right-center field gap.
"When I hit that ball, I was just hoping for it to get over his head. Then when it got over his head, I was hoping for it to rattle around," Kinsler said. "I wasn't going to stop at second, regardless if he came up clean or not. I was going to give it a shot."
Kinsler got up and slapped his hands together after sliding head-first into third without a throw for the triple to complete the fourth cycle in team history, and the Rangers went on to a 19-6 victory over the Orioles to snap a five-game losing streak Wednesday night.
Texas was already down 2-0 when Kinsler led off in the first. He hit the first pitch he saw for a double, then added a solo homer in the third and two singles in an eight-run fourth.
"Kins got us started on the first pitch and did let up all night," manager Ron Washington said. "Everybody followed suit."
Michael Young's groundout in the sixth plated Kinsler to make it 15-4. Then when Kinsler batted again in the eighth, he capped his 6-for-6 night with an RBI double and scored for the fifth time. The hits and runs matched team records.
"That was just a monster game. It's one thing to hit for the cycle, that's a once-in-a-lifetime type of game," Michael Young said. "But to add a couple of more hits to it too, it's an incredible game."
Nelson Cruz matched the AL home run lead with his fifth homer -- a grand slam on reliever Radhames Liz's first pitch that gave the Rangers a 10-3 lead. That accounted for half of the eight unearned runs Texas scored in the fourth.
Marlon Byrd had went 5-for-6 with three RBIs for the Rangers, who had 19 hits. Their 19 runs are the most scored in the majors this season, and the most for them since their 30-3 victory in Baltimore on Aug. 22, 2007.
Kris Benson (1-1), who missed the last two seasons after surgery to repair a torn right rotator cuff, hadn't won since Sept. 21, 2006, when he was pitching for Baltimore against Detroit. The right-hander allowed four runs in six innings.
"Today's game belongs to the offense," Benson said. "It was a great game all the way around. Our offense makes it easier to go out there and pitch six innings."
Cruz came only a few feet from hitting another grand slam, his flyball in the eighth hitting about halfway up the 14-foot wall in left field for a two-run double.
Baltimore, which still has won its first three series in a season for the first time in 11 years, jumped out to a 2-0 lead on consecutive RBI groundouts in the first after Benson walked leadoff hitter Brian Roberts and allowed a double to Adam Jones.
Luke Scott led off the Orioles second with a double and scored when Jones drew a bases-loaded walk for a 3-1 lead.
Only two of the nine runs allowed by Orioles starter Mark Hendrickson (1-1) were earned. The left-hander allowed seven hits and walked four in 3 2-3 innings.
"This one got away from us. I like the way we started. We just didn't pitch well enough and we didn't play well enough," manager Dave Trembley said. "Kinsler is a great player. ... It's a tremendous achievement for an All-Star player."
After Kinsler's homer, Young reached on shortstop Cesar Izturis' fielding error and scored on Hank Blalock's single that rolled under the glove of second baseman Brian Roberts. Byrd followed with an RBI double that broke the 3-3 tie and put Texas ahead to stay.
Rookie Elvis Andrus, the No. 9 hitter, drew a leadoff walk in the fourth before Kinsler singled and Young reached on Roberts' throwing error that allowed a run. There were two outs when Byrd's RBI single made it 6-3 and chased Hendrickson.
Then came Liz, recalled Wednesday after third baseman Melvin Mora and right-hander Alfredo Simon were put on the disabled list. The right-hander gave up four runs in his one inning, including an RBI triple by Andrus.
It was the first cycle for the Rangers since Gary Matthews Jr., at Detroit on Sept. 13, 2006. The other Texas cycles were both against Cleveland, Mark Teixeira on Aug. 17, 2004; and Oddibe McDowell on July 23, 1985.
Alfonso Soriano had the only other six-hit game for Texas, against Detroit on May 8, 2004.
"It's more special on Jackie Robinson Day," Kinsler said. "He's a guy that could do everything in the game. Hit triples, hit home runs, steal bases, drive people in, score runs. He could do everything offensively. It's just kind of a weird thing that I'm playing second base on Jackie Robinson Day and that happens."
- AL
FINAL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
BALTIMORE 2 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 2 6 9 2
TEXAS 1 0 3 8 1 2 0 4 x 19 19 0 (FINAL)
BATTERIES: BAL - MARK HENDRICKSON, RADHAMES LIZ (4TH), BRIAN BASS (5TH), MATT
ALBERS (7TH) AND CHAD MOELLER
TEX - KRIS BENSON, WILLIE EYRE (7TH), JOSH RUPE (9TH)
AND JARROD S
Apr 15 11:36 PM - AL
AT TEXAS - SCORING UPDATE
TWO-RUN HOME RUN BY ADAM JONES (2) TO RIGHT WITH 2 OUT IN
THE 9TH OFF JOSH RUPE SCORED ROBERT ANDINO.
CURRENT SCORE: BALTIMORE 6, TEXAS 19
DUE UP FOR BALTIMORE: R FREEL (.125, 1-FOR-1)
Orioles 6, Rangers 19 Top 9, 0 OutsApr 15 11:34 PM - AL
AT TEXAS - SCORING UPDATE
DOUBLE BY NELSON CRUZ SCORED MICHAEL YOUNG AND ANDRUW
JONES.
SITUATION: 4 RUNS IN, N CRUZ ON SECOND, M BYRD ON THIRD, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: BALTIMORE 4
TEXAS 19 BOTTOM, 8TH
DUE UP FOR TEXAS: J SALTALAMACCHIA (.154, 0-FOR-4, BB)
Orioles 4, Rangers 19 Bot 8, 0 OutsApr 15 11:23 PM - AL
AT TEXAS - SCORING UPDATE
SACRIFICE FLY BY HANK BLALOCK SCORED IAN KINSLER.
SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, A JONES ON FIRST, M YOUNG ON SECOND, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: BALTIMORE 4
TEXAS 17 BOTTOM, 8TH
DUE UP FOR TEXAS: M BYRD (.391, 4-FOR-5, 3 RBI)
Orioles 4, Rangers 17 Bot 8, 0 OutsApr 15 11:19 PM - AL
AT TEXAS - SCORING UPDATE
DOUBLE BY IAN KINSLER SCORED ELVIS ANDRUS.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, I KINSLER ON SECOND, 0 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: BALTIMORE 4
TEXAS 16 BOTTOM, 8TH
DUE UP FOR TEXAS: M YOUNG (.306, 0-FOR-5, RBI)
Orioles 4, Rangers 16 Bot 8, 0 OutsApr 15 11:18 PM - AL
AT TEXAS - SCORING UPDATE
GROUND OUT BY MICHAEL YOUNG SCORED IAN KINSLER.
SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: BALTIMORE 4
TEXAS 15 BOTTOM, 6TH
DUE UP FOR TEXAS: J HAMILTON (.286, 1-FOR-4, RBI)
Orioles 4, Rangers 15 Bot 6, 0 OutsApr 15 10:38 PM - AL
AT TEXAS - SCORING UPDATE
TRIPLE BY IAN KINSLER SCORED ELVIS ANDRUS.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, I KINSLER ON THIRD, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: BALTIMORE 4
TEXAS 14 BOTTOM, 6TH
DUE UP FOR TEXAS: M YOUNG (.314, 0-FOR-4)
Orioles 4, Rangers 14 Bot 6, 0 OutsApr 15 10:37 PM - AL
AT TEXAS - SCORING UPDATE
SOLO HOME RUN BY CHAD MOELLER (1) TO LEFT WITH 2 OUT IN THE
6TH OFF KRIS BENSON.
CURRENT SCORE: BALTIMORE 4, TEXAS 13
DUE UP FOR BALTIMORE: C IZTURIS (.185, 0-FOR-1, BB)
Orioles 4, Rangers 13 Top 6, 0 OutsApr 15 10:27 PM - AL
AT TEXAS - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY MARLON BYRD SCORED ANDRUW JONES.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, M BYRD ON FIRST, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: BALTIMORE 3
TEXAS 13 BOTTOM, 5TH
DUE UP FOR TEXAS: N CRUZ (.273, 1-FOR-2, BB, HR, 4 RBI)
Orioles 3, Rangers 13 Bot 5, 0 OutsApr 15 10:17 PM - AL
AT TEXAS - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY IAN KINSLER SCORED ELVIS ANDRUS.
SITUATION: 8 RUNS IN, I KINSLER ON FIRST, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: BALTIMORE 3
TEXAS 12 BOTTOM, 4TH
DUE UP FOR TEXAS: M YOUNG (.324, 0-FOR-3)
Orioles 3, Rangers 12 Bot 4, 0 OutsApr 15 10:01 PM - AL
AT TEXAS - SCORING UPDATE
TRIPLE BY ELVIS ANDRUS SCORED JARROD SALTALAMACCHIA.
SITUATION: 7 RUNS IN, E ANDRUS ON THIRD, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: BALTIMORE 3
TEXAS 11 BOTTOM, 4TH
DUE UP FOR TEXAS: I KINSLER (.429, 3-FOR-3, HR, RBI)
Orioles 3, Rangers 11 Bot 4, 0 OutsApr 15 10:01 PM - AL
AT TEXAS - SCORING UPDATE
GRAND SLAM BY NELSON CRUZ (5) TO RIGHT WITH 2 OUT IN THE
4TH OFF RADHAMES LIZ SCORED MICHAEL YOUNG, ANDRUW JONES AND MARLON
BYRD.
CURRENT SCORE: BALTIMORE 3, TEXAS 10
DUE UP FOR TEXAS: J SALTALAMACCHIA (.167, 0-FOR-2)
Orioles 3, Rangers 10 Bot 4, 0 OutsApr 15 10:00 PM - AL
AT TEXAS - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY MARLON BYRD SCORED IAN KINSLER.
SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, M BYRD ON FIRST, A JONES ON SECOND, M YOUNG
ON THIRD, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: BALTIMORE 3
TEXAS 6 BOTTOM, 4TH
DUE UP FOR TEXAS: N CRUZ (.250, 0-FOR-1, BB)
Orioles 3, Rangers 6 Bot 4, 0 OutsApr 15 9:49 PM - AL
AT TEXAS - SCORING UPDATE
ERROR BY BRIAN ROBERTS ALLOWED ELVIS ANDRUS TO SCORE.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, M YOUNG ON FIRST, I KINSLER ON SECOND, 0 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: BALTIMORE 3
TEXAS 5 BOTTOM, 4TH
DUE UP FOR TEXAS: J HAMILTON (.303, 1-FOR-2, RBI)
Orioles 3, Rangers 5 Bot 4, 0 OutsApr 15 9:39 PM - AL
AT TEXAS - SCORING UPDATE
DOUBLE BY MARLON BYRD SCORED ANDRUW JONES.
SITUATION: 3 RUNS IN, M BYRD ON SECOND, H BLALOCK ON THIRD, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: BALTIMORE 3
TEXAS 4 BOTTOM, 3RD
DUE UP FOR TEXAS: N CRUZ (.250, 0-FOR-1)
Orioles 3, Rangers 4 Bot 3, 0 OutsApr 15 9:18 PM - AL
AT TEXAS - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY HANK BLALOCK SCORED JOSH HAMILTON.
SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, H BLALOCK ON FIRST, A JONES ON THIRD, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: BALTIMORE 3
TEXAS 3 BOTTOM, 3RD
DUE UP FOR TEXAS: M BYRD (.263, 0-FOR-1)
Orioles 3, Rangers 3 Bot 3, 0 OutsApr 15 9:17 PM - AL
AT TEXAS - SCORING UPDATE
SOLO HOME RUN BY IAN KINSLER (3) TO LEFT CENTER WITH 1 OUT
IN THE 3RD OFF MARK HENDRICKSON.
CURRENT SCORE: BALTIMORE 3, TEXAS 2
DUE UP FOR TEXAS: M YOUNG (.344, 0-FOR-1)
Orioles 3, Rangers 2 Bot 3, 0 OutsApr 15 9:06 PM - AL
AT TEXAS - SCORING UPDATE
BASES LOADED WALK TO ADAM JONES SCORED LUKE SCOTT.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, A JONES ON FIRST, B ROBERTS ON SECOND, C
IZTURIS ON THIRD, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: BALTIMORE 3
TEXAS 1 TOP, 2ND
DUE UP FOR BALTIMORE: N MARKAKIS (.333, 0-FOR-1, RBI)
Orioles 3, Rangers 1 Top 2, 0 OutsApr 15 8:44 PM - AL
AT TEXAS - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY JOSH HAMILTON SCORED IAN KINSLER.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, J HAMILTON ON FIRST, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: BALTIMORE 2
TEXAS 1 BOTTOM, 1ST
DUE UP FOR TEXAS: A JONES (.625, 1 HR, 4 RBI)
Orioles 2, Rangers 1 Bot 1, 0 OutsApr 15 8:26 PM - AL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
BALTIMORE 2 2 1 0
TEXAS 0 0 0 (BOT 1)
CURRENT PITCHERS: BAL - MARK HENDRICKSON
TEX - KRIS BENSON
DUE UP FOR TEXAS: I KINSLER (.375, 2 HR, 9 RBI)
M YOUNG (.355, 2 HR, 5 RBI)
J HAMILTON (.290, 1 HR, 7 RBI
Orioles 2, Rangers 0 Bot 1, 0 OutsApr 15 8:19 PM
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