Cruz Leads Orioles Past Rangers
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ARLINGTON, Texas — Nothing could cramp Nelson Cruz’s style in his Texas homecoming … not even cramps caused by a humid June evening.
Cruz, battling through contractions, punctuated his Texas homecoming with a three-run home run in the Baltimore Orioles’ six-run eighth inning as the Orioles went on to an 8-3 victory over the Texas Rangers on Tuesday night.
The Baltimore left fielder drove the first pitch he saw from Rangers right-handed reliever Shawn Tolleson 404 feet into the left-field stands.
The home run represented his major league-leading 21st home run and 55th RBI.
Cruz’s only hit in four at-bats in his first game at Texas since leaving the team as a free agent in the offseason helped make a winner out of left-handed reliever Matt Matusz (2-1), who gave up one run in 1 2/3 innings.
“I was cramping since the fourth inning,” said Cruz, whose slow trot around the
bases showed the effects the cramping. “It was bad. I was hoping to get something going.
“It’s different, but it feels good. Going from the other side of the plate is totally different.”
Texas right-hander Alexi Ogando (2-3) took the loss, giving up three runs in his one-third inning of work in the eighth inning, during which the Orioles sent 10 hitters to the plate.
Catcher Caleb Joseph, right fielder Nick Markakis, who registered his 22nd multi-hit game of the season by going 3-for-5, and third baseman Manny Machado all had run-scoring hits in the inning.
“Tonight was just one of those nights when he didn’t get the job done,” Texas manager Ron Washington said of Ogando.
Joseph and designated hitter Delmon Young, who had a run-scoring single, each had two hits, but it was center fielder Adam Jones who led the Orioles’ 17-hit attack.
Jones tied a career high for hits in a game by going 4-for-5. His home run in the fourth gave the Orioles (29-27) an early lead.
Texas third baseman Adrian Beltre was 3-for-4 with a home run. Catcher Robinson Chirinos’ home run tied the game at 2-2 in the seventh for the Rangers (29-29).
Neither starter figured in the decision. Baltimore right-hander Ubaldo Jimenez left with a one-run lead after 5 2/3 innings. He gave up one run on four hits and four walks. He struck out five.
Texas lefty Joe Saunders, the winning pitcher in the Orioles’ wild-card victory over the Rangers on the road in 2012, gave up two runs on 10 hits over six innings. He entered the game 7-0 in nine career starts against Baltimore.
Baltimore appeared poised to add to its one-run lead in the seventh. Joseph and Markakis started the inning with consecutive singles, but Jason Frasor, who relieved Saunders during the inning, pitched out of the jam without allowing any runs.
Ultimately, it was Cruz’s night, though.
“I’ve seen him do it before,” Washington said of Cruz. “He’s swinging the bat well.”
Cruz received a warm applause when he was introduced for his first at-bat out of the three hole.
“It was nice,” said Cruz, who added that he tried to visit the Rangers beforehand, but they were in a meeting. “They were always behind me. I couldn’t be more thankful for the fans.”
A pair of leadoff home runs from cleanup hitters in each half of the fourth accounted for the game’s first runs.
Jones gave the Orioles the lead first with a 347-foot shot to right. Beltre answered with a home run to left.
Jimenez pitched around a leadoff double in the fifth, leaving Chirinos stranded at third by striking out designated hitter Shin-Soo Choo and shortstop Elvis Andrus.
