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Rangers blast Escobar, Angels

Sep 2, 2007 - 12:23 AM By Chris Padula PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

ANAHEIM, California (Ticker) -- Brad Wilkerson, David Murphy and the Texas Rangers had their way with Cy Young-candidate Kelvim Escobar.

Wilkerson and Murphy drove in two runs apiece and the Rangers held on for a 7-6 victory over Escobar and the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in the middle contest of a three-game set on Saturday afternoon.

Marlon Byrd had three hits for the Rangers, who have won six of their last seven games.

"We have been playing good baseball lately, and we just want to go out and make teams earn wins against us," Rangers manager Ron Washington said.

Escobar (15-7) was looking for his fifth consecutive win and trying to become the fifth pitcher in the major leagues to reach 16 wins, a list that includes teammate John Lackey.

"I just didn't have my best stuff today," Escobar said. "Just couldn't find the zone and missed with my pitches."

But Texas roughed up Escobar early when it put two runs across in the second inning. Byrd doubled and, one batter later, Nelson Cruz walked with one out and was plated when Murphy doubled to give the Rangers a 2-0 lead.

"We know that against a guy like him (Escobar) that we have to get to him early before he finds he groove and we did that today," Murphy said.

Escobar lasted just 2 2/3 innings, allowing five runs and six hits while striking out six and walking four. The outing was his shortest since going 2 1/3 frames against the Seattle Mariners on May 15.

"Just have to bounce back and get ready for my next start," Escobar said. "This is one of those starts where you just want to forget about it."

The Rangers added to their lead in the third when Wilkerson doubled to plate Michael Young and Byrd to make it 4-1. Wilkerson then came around to score when Jarrod Saltalamacchia ripped an RBI single to give his club a four-run advantage.

"Felt good to come out here and win the game for him (Volquez) and help contribute," Saltalmacchia said.

Byrd made it 6-1 with a solo homer in the fifth.

The Angels pushed across a run in the fourth on a RBI double by Howie Kendrick, plating Kendry Morales. They cut the deficit in half in the fifth when Garret Anderson plated Orlando Cabrera with a sacrifice fly to make it 6-3. Anderson belted a three-run homer in the ninth off C.J. Wilson before the lefthander notched his ninth save.

"We didn't play our best game, but we still didn't quit and we gave ourselves a chance to win the game at the end," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said.

Rangers starter Edison Volquez (1-0) was recalled prior to the game to make his first appearance this season. Volquez managed to climb all three levels in the Rangers' farm system this campaign, posting a 14-6 record with a 3.67 ERA in 26 starts in the minor leagues.

"I just wanted to throw the ball well," Volquez said. "I feel happy because I won the game and I'm back in the big leagues. I just tried to make good pitches when I got into trouble, and I did that."

The righthander had posted a 1-10 mark with a 9.20 ERA in just 46 innings in the majors prior to the contest. On Saturday, he hurled five effective innings, allowing three runs and seven hits while walking two and striking out four.

"He (Volquez) had good tempo, his pitches were around the zone, showed maturity and he was just good," Washington said. "You can't pay attention to his numbers because he couldn't find the strike zone when he first pitched in the big leagues."

Jamey Wright tossed three innings before Joaquin Benoit and Wilson struggled in the ninth.

Kendrick had three hits and two RBI for the Angels (80-55), who had a five-game winning streak snapped and are 6 1/2 games ahead of the Seattle Mariners (73-61) in the American League West.

"I have been facing Howie since 2002, and he's the one guy that always gives me trouble," Volquez said.