Texas Rangers Win 7-1 With Another Strong Outing From Pitching Staff

Texas starting pitcher Scott Feldman earned his second consecutive quality start Tuesday night at the ballpark.

The Texas Rangers won for the 2nd straight game behind 6.1 strong innings from Scott Feldman. Feldman allowed 1 earned run on 4 hits with 109 pitches (68 strikes) on the night. Rookie Derek Holland got the first victory of his Major League career (1-1) and pitched 1.2 innings of no hit ball, throwing 16 of his 20 pitches for strikes. Eddie Guardado also did not allow a hit as 12 of his 16 total pitches were strikes to close the game. Needless to say, Ranger pitchers were aggressive all night long.

Michael Young and Josh Hamilton both returned to the Rangers lineup from injuries tonight and proved how valuable they are for the offense. Michael Young went 3-4 with 3 singles, a walk, and a run scored. Josh Hamilton provided the go-ahead run in the bottom of the 7th when he crushed a high fly ball over the left field wall for a two run home-run. It was Hamilton's 3rd home run of the season and 11th and 12th RBI's. It was his only hit of the day,though, and he did leave 8 runners on base. Seattle starting pitcher Jason Vargas pitched 5 strong innings, only allowing 1 earned run on 5 hits; but Seattle's bullpen failed to hold it late in the game as Mark Lowe blew it by allowing 6 earned runs in 2/3 of an inning pitched.

The Rangers got on the board in the bottom of the 5th on the first pitch of the inning. Chris Davis knocked his 9th home run of the year over the right-center field wall to make it 1-0 Rangers. Jarred Saltalamacchia followed with a groundout to the shortstop and then Elvis Andrus fouled out near the right field wall for the first 2 outs of the inning for Texas. Ian Kinsler and Michael Young followed with back-to-back singles giving the Rangers 2 on with 2 out. Josh Hamilton struck out looking to end the inning.

Texas loaded the bases with only one out in the bottom of the 6th inning, but where unable to capitilize after Jarred Saltalamacchia struck out and Elvis Andrus grounded out to end the inning.

Seattle struck back in the top of the 7th inning. Seattle 1st baseman Russell Branyon led off the inning with a fly out to right field. Center fielder Franklin Gutierrez followed with a single and then subseuently stole second to put him in scoring position. Catcher Kenji Johjima then hit a double to right field that scored Gutierrez and ended Feldman's night with 1 out in the inning. Derek Holland came into the game and got 2nd baseman Yuniesky Betancourt on the first pitch to ground out to second base which advanced Johjima from 2nd to 3rd and made it 2 outs for the inning. Holland then got pinch hitter Wladimir Balentien to ground out to Elvis Andrus to end the inning.

The Rangers started off the bottom of the 7th with an Ian Kinsler groundout. Michael Young followed with his third hit of the night, a single to right field. 3rd place hitter Josh Hamilton came to the plate and crushed a 0-1 pitch to deep left field, giving the Rangers a 3-1 lead they would not relinquish. Andruw Jones followed by beating out an infield single to the shortstop. Marlon Byrd followed with a double but Ichiro's arm strength in right prevented Jones from trying to score on the play. Nelson Cruz came up next and hit a sac fly to deep right field that allowed Jones to score and Byrd to advance to 3rd base. The Rangers were up 4-1 but down to their last out of the inning. Cruz was 1-4 for the game with an RBI, his 22nd on the season. Chris Davis came to the plate and hit a line shot off of 1st baseman Russell Branyon's glove that was charged as an error and scored Byrd from 3rd, making it 5-1. Jarred Saltalamacchia followed with a double all the way to the right field wall that scored Chris Davis and allowed Saltalamacchia to move to 3rd on the throw to the plate, giving Texas a 6-1 lead. Elvis Andrus continued the inning by beating out an infield single that was bobbled by Seattle 3rd baseman Adrian Beltre, scoring Saltalamacchia from 3rd and giving the Rangers a 7-1 lead. Ian Kinsler followed with a single and Michael Young walked to load the bases for Josh Hamilton. Hamilton was unable to duplicate his heroics from the beginning of the inning and struck out swinging to end the 7th. Texas scored 6 runs on 7 hits and batted around in the inning.

Derek Holland came back out for the 8th for a quick 3-up 3-down inning on the Mariners 1-3 hitters (Ichiro, Jose Lopez, Ken Griffey Jr.).
Eddie Guardado came in for the top of the 9th and pitched a perfect inning with no hits and a strikeout.

Texas Wins 7-1.

News and Notes:

• Texas is now 18-14 on the season and are 1 game ahead of the surging Los Angelos Angels for the American League West division lead.
• The Rangers have now won 6 out of their last 8 games.
  
• Texas has won 2 straight games and 3 straight at home dating back to May 2nd against the White Sox.
• Texas leads the Major Leagues in strikeouts (259). Seattle pitchers had 8 K's on the night.
  
• Texas is last in the Majors in walks (83).
  
• The Rangers team ERA for the month of May is 3.24 and they are allowing opponents a lowly .216 batting average against.