Guardians 4 - 10 Rangers
Final
  for this game

Hamilton, Murphy power Rangers over Indians

Sep 14, 2011 - 6:03 AM

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Arlington, TX (Sports Network) - Josh Hamilton clubbed the go-ahead two-run homer in the fifth inning and David Murphy went deep twice as part of a 4-for-4 night, in Texas' 10-4 rout of Cleveland.

Matt Harrison (12-9) gave up seven hits and three runs over five-plus innings, and Texas remained three games ahead of the Angels for first place in the AL West. Los Angeles won at Oakland Tuesday.

Elvis Andrus stroked a two-run double and pinch-hitter Craig Gentry singled in a pair for the Rangers, who grabbed the opener of this three-game set.

Justin Masterson (11-10) yielded eight hits and six runs over five-plus frames and fell to 0-4 lifetime against the Rangers.

Carlos Santana had three hits, including a pair of solo homers, for the Indians, who lost for the sixth time in eight contests.

Murphy homered to right field on the first pitch of the Texas second.

"It was one of those days after an off-day, I felt nice and loose," Murphy said. "I'm trying to slow everything down. I'm seeing the ball and got some good pitches to hit."

Harrison escaped a bases-loaded jam in the third, but Santana homered to left- center in the fourth. Murphy countered with a second-deck job in the bottom half.

Jason Kipnis doubled in a run in the fifth to tie the game, but Hamilton went deep for the 20th time of the season to put Texas on top, 4-2. The homer to right-center came right after Andrus walked.

Santana scored on a wild pitch from Mike Gonzalez in the sixth, but the Rangers cemented the lead in the bottom portion. Murphy and Mike Napoli singled to start the frame. Nick Hagadone then replaced Masterson, but Mitch Moreland drew a four-pitch walk. Gentry then grounded a single up the middle.

Josh Judy became the third pitcher of the inning for the Indians, but with two outs Andrus doubled to the gap in right-center field for an 8-3 margin.

Adrian Beltre homered off Zach Putnam to start the Texas seventh, and Napoli singled in Murphy later in the frame.

Santana homered to center off Mark Lowe in the eighth.

"I like it here, it's a good ballpark to hit," Santana said.

Game Notes

The Rangers activated outfielder Nelson Cruz and pitcher Darren O'Day from the 15-day disabled list Tuesday, but neither played...Beltre extended his hitting streak to 17 games, currently tied with Boston's Jacoby Ellsbury for the longest in the majors...Texas has tallied at least 12 hits in six straight games, establishing a club record...The Rangers are 7-1 against the Tribe in 2011, having won nine of the last 10 dating to 2010. They have won 16 of the last 19 meetings and are now 19-4 against the Indians since the start of 2009...Santana recorded his first career multi-home run game, He is the first Indians batter to hit a home run from both sides of the plate in the same game since Victor Martinez on June 1, 2007 vs. Detroit...Putnam made his major league debut.






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