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Young's milestone blast sends Rangers to easy win

Aug 13, 2007 - 5:25 AM By Jay Miller PA Sportsticker Contributing Writer

ARLINGTON, Texas (Ticker) -- Michael Young blasted his 100th career home run as the Texas Rangers cruised to a 9-1 victory over the Tampa Bay Devil Rays on Sunday.

Young's solo shot to left-center off Tampa Bay starter Jason Hammel (1-2) to lead off the fifth marked the Rangers' return to the long ball ledger after being held homerless in Saturday's four-hit shutout by Tampa Bay's Edwin Jackson.

Three Texas pitchers almost returned the favor, holding the Devil Rays scoreless until Frank Francisco allowed Jonny Gomes' RBI double in the eighth. The feat was impressive as Rangers starter Kason Gabbard left the game with stiffness in his left forearm after throwing his first pitch of the second inning, forcing Willie Eyre (4-5) into early action.

"I've never had a forearm strain," Gabbard said. "It's just a minor little setback and I'll be ready to throw Friday."

Eyre earned the win after throwing 3 1/3 scoreless innings, allowing only four hits.

The Rangers gave the lefthander all the support he required in the third, the first of three consecutive innings Texas scored in. David Murphy, who came over with Gabbard from Boston at the trade deadline, opened the frame with a double. Walks to Kinsler and Young loaded the bases with one out.

Marlon Byrd then singled to left to plate Murphy and Kinsler for an early 2-0 advantage.

After Texas posted one run in the fourth, Young's homer sparked four consecutive hits by the Rangers, highlighted by Brad Wilkerson's RBI single and Jason Botts' run-scoring double to advance the lead to 5-0.

"Things seem to be clicking right now," Young said. "I'm here and that's all that matters. I'm getting an opportunity and I'm going to try to make the most of it. I've had some good games lately, but there's some time left until the end of the season."

Murphy's ended the scoring in the four-run fifth with the second of his three doubles to score Botts.

Kinsler added a two-run double in the eighth to complete the scoring for the Rangers, who improved to 45-25 in contests in which they score four or more runs.

Tampa Bay's Carl Crawford fell short of matching a career-high 13-game hitting steak by going 0-for-5 Sunday. He also snapped his club-record eight-game multiple-hit streak. However, it is the number 100 he wants to avoid - the number of losses the 45-71 Devil Rays are on pace to reach.

"In the back of your mind you want to do everything you can to avoid that big round number," Crawford said.