Texas Wins Third Straight - 3-2

Ian Kinsler punched a single into right field, scoring Michael Young (above) for the go-ahead run in the eighth inning. (AP Photo/Star-Telegram,Rodger Mallison)

The Texas Rangers (17-14) have looked like a different team in the past couple of weeks. A big reason is the return and resurgence of second baseman Ian Kinsler.

Texas is 7-2 since Kinsler returned from the disabled list on May 1, and he went 2 for 3 in this game, breaking a 2-2 tie with the Kansas City Royals (11-20) in the eighth inning with a clutch single.

"(Royals' starter Gil Meche) caught a little too much of the plate and I was able to flip it in," Kinsler said. "It came down to execution, who was going to execute the best.

"I won the battle."

Kinsler is batting .343 since his return from the D.L. and it seems another big bat in the lineup is just what the doctor ordered for the Rangers. Josh Hamilton and Elvis Andrus also knocked in a run apiece, with Hamilton knocking in Andrus in the first inning and Andrus bringing home Justin Smoak in the second. Texas stole four bases in the first two innings, led by Andrus with two.

Texas used five pitchers, scattering 10 hits and allowing only two runs to the Royals. Rich Harden got the start and allowed both of those runs on six hits in five innings. Dustin Nippert, Darren Oliver, Chris Ray (1-0), and Neftali Feliz (S, 8) then combined to throw four scoreless innings - keeping the game tied at 2-2 and then preserving the win with a quick ninth from Feliz.

For Texas, the winning streak is now at three games and the Rangers have allowed a total of three runs over the past two games - this after allowing 12 Thursday night in the first game of the series. While Harden was unable to go past five innings the bullpen stepped up big, which has been one of the keys to the Rangers recent hot-streak.

The conclusion of the four-game set is Sunday, with a 2:05 p.m. start time.

The Box Score

News and Notes:

• Nelson Cruz, who leads the Rangers with seven home runs, is expected to begin a minor league rehab assignment next week. Cruz has missed the last 11 games due to a strained left hamstring.
• Texas is looking at putting starter Matt Harrison on the 15-day D.L. with left bicep tendinitis, and calling up Derek Holland from Triple-A Oklahoma to start in his stead.
  
• C.J. Wilson is now first in the American League in earned run average (1.51). Even this early in the season, this is the first time I can remember the Rangers having a starting pitcher lead the league in ERA.
  

(Portions of this article were taken from The Associated Press)