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Cruz powers Rangers to rout of Marlins

Jul 2, 2011 - 5:06 AM Arlington, TX (Sports Network) - Nelson Cruz hit a three-run homer and three- run triple, powering the Rangers to a 15-5 victory over the Marlins in the opener of a weekend series.

His six RBI matched a career high, and his two hits were only a few in the Rangers' parade of offense Friday. They totaled 15 hits -- eight for extra- bases -- and set a season high in runs a day after being shut out by Houston.

Adrian Beltre and Taylor Teagarden both had three hits and combined to drive in six runs, while even light-hitting second baseman Andres Blanco got into the act with a home run.

The beneficiary of all that production was Texas starter Alexi Ogando (8-3), who limited the Marlins to two runs in 6 2/3 innings. He allowed five hits, walked two and struck out eight.

"Tonight he mixed right away," said Rangers manager Ron Washington. "His fastball was good tonight, it was really good. He wasn't missing many spots, either."

Florida starter Anibal Sanchez (6-2) entered the game with a 2.82 earned run average, but it rose to 3.30 after he surrendered seven runs in 3 2/3 innings. Marlins interim manager Jack McKeon said Sanchez wasn't in tune.

"He walks guys, got behind guys, nibbled with them and played with them, missed with his breaking ball," McKeon said. "This is a hitting club over here, you can't mess around with them."

The Marlins started July like they did June -- with a loss. They endured a 1-19 stretch to start last month and ended it with a 5-23 mark. But while Florida took two of three in Oakland to end June, Florida was blown out Friday thanks to Texas' potent offense.

It didn't take the Rangers long to gain control. Teagarden doubled in a run in the second, and they added four more runs in the third.

With one on and one away, Josh Hamilton and Beltre hit consecutive singles to plate another run. Two batters later, Cruz blasted an 0-2 pitch the opposite way for his 19th home run of the season. Sanchez located the ball on the outer edge of the plate, but it stayed up, and Cruz slugged it over the right-center field fence.

Then in the fourth, Texas had runners on second and third with two outs. Sanchez intentionally walked Hamilton to get to Beltre, but the third baseman slapped a pitch up the first base line for a two-run double.

The hit made it a 7-0 game and chased Sanchez.

Meanwhile, Ogando was cruising. He retired the first 12 batters he faced and kept Florida off the scoreboard through six innings.

The Rangers gave him more of a cushion in the bottom of the sixth, when consecutive RBI doubles by Hamilton and Beltre pushed the lead to nine.

Ogando ran into some trouble in the seventh, when Hanley Ramirez led off with a single and scored on Logan Morrison's double to left. Mike Stanton followed with a base hit to plate Morrison.

Ogando was pulled after walking Wes Helms with two down, but Yoshinori Tateyama recorded the final out of the inning, and he left with the Rangers still in full control.

The game took a turn for the odd in the final two half-innings.

Blanco -- who entered the contest with two homers and a .330 slugging percentage in 220 career games -- ripped a solo shot with one away in the eighth.

The Rangers then loaded the bases on two singles and a walk, and after Burke Badenhop came in to pitch, Michael Young's base hit got another run in. Cruz followed with a bases-clearing triple to right, and later scored on Teagarden's single to complete Texas' attack.

The Rangers ended 8-for-16 with runners in scoring position, and not one of the Marlins pitchers could hold them off the board.

Florida tacked on three runs in the ninth against Michael Kirkman. Brett Hayes homered and Emilio Bonifacio smacked an RBI double, later crossing the plate on an error by Beltre.

Game Notes

Texas swept the Marlins in three games in Florida last season. The clubs haven't met in the Lone Star State since 2003, when the Marlins took two of three...The Rangers began a 10-game homestand, during which they will also play Baltimore and Oakland...The Rangers reinstated pitcher Tommy Hunter from the 15-day disabled list Friday. He has not yet pitched in 2011 after suffering a strained right groin March 24 during a spring training contest. To make room on the roster, Texas designated pitcher Dave Bush for assignment.