Final
Rangers slip past A's, win seventh straight
Jul 11, 2011 - 12:02 AMVideo
Matt Harrison (7-7) pitched 7 2/3 innings and combined with Mark Lowe and Neftali Feliz on the six-hit shutout. Feliz threw the ninth for his 18th save.
Coco Crisp had two hits for the A's, who lost six of their last seven heading into the break.
The Rangers pushed their record to an AL West-leading 51-41. They finished the first half on a high note with an 8-2 homestand, but also amidst tragedy following the death of a fan on Thursday.
They will start the second half on a seven-game road trip, beginning Thursday in Seattle.
"We just have to go out there after the break and continue to play good baseball like we know we can," said Rangers manager Ron Washington.
The A's went 39-53 under two different managers. They are 12-17 since Bob Melvin took over as interim manager for Bob Geren on June 9.
"[Harrison] had pretty good stuff. He cuts it and sinks it and throws a changeup on all counts and mixed in enough curveballs," said Melvin. "We were in some decent counts, we just couldn't do anything."
Josh Hamilton delivered a dramatic win in Saturday's game, hitting a two-run walkoff homer just two days after firefighter Shannon Stone died from injuries sustained when he fell reaching for a foul ball tossed into the stands by the Rangers outfielder.
On Sunday, Beltre played the hero by knocking a 1-0 sinker from Oakland starter Trevor Cahill (8-7) over the wall in left-center field for the game's only runs. Beltre's 19th homer of the season came with two outs and scored Hamilton, who walked.
Cahill remained winless in his last three starts despite a good outing and fell to 2-7 since opening the season 6-0. He allowed five hits and two walks while striking out three in 7 2/3 innings.
Harrison was also pulled with two outs in the eighth after Crisp singled with two outs. Washington called on Lowe, who escape the inning when Crisp was thrown out trying to steal second base by catcher Mike Napoli.
Afterward, Washington said the plan was to yank Harrison if a runner reach base. Earlier in the inning, Jemile Weeks had led off with a single but was erased when David DeJesus grounded into a double play. Harrison was left in until Crisp's hit to left.
"He got the first two outs and then a guy got on the bag," explained Washington of his decision.
Game Notes
Harrison improved to 2-3 in his last 7 games...Rangers starter Alexi Ogando made the AL All-Star team because James Shields of the Rays and CC Sabathia both pitched Sunday...The Rangers started the season on a six-game winning streak.
- OAKLAND: 0
TEXAS: 2
Final
Jul 10 5:30 PM - Michael Young grounded out third to first to end the inning.
Athletics 0, Rangers 2 End 6Jul 10 4:40 PM - OAKLAND: 0
TEXAS: 0
Top 1, 0 Outs
Jul 10 3:09 PM
Related News
- Elephant Rumblings: Post-Christmas lull at full throttle Dec 26
- Tuesday Morning Texas Rangers Update Dec 26
- Christmas Morning Texas Rangers Update Dec 25
- Garver to the M’s, per reports Dec 24
- Twas The Night Before Christmas... Dec 24
- Elephant Rumblings: Luis Morales a prospect to watch in 2024 Dec 24
- Christmas Eve Rangers things Dec 24
- 2023 Athletics Season in Review: Lawrence Butler Dec 23
- Saturday morning Rangers things Dec 23
- Elephant Rumblings: Giants Strike Out in Free Agency Once Again Dec 23
- 2023 Athletics Season in Review: Esteury Ruiz Dec 22
- Friday morning Rangers stuff Dec 22