Rangers Beat Orioles
ARLINGTON, Texas — Falling behind doesn’t bother the Texas Rangers. They’re used to it.
They’re pretty good at rallying, too.
Baseball’s best comeback team made up a three-run deficit Monday night in a battle of first-place clubs and beat the Baltimore Orioles 4-3 at Globe Life Park.
Texas (46-25) extended its season-high winning streak to seven after coming from behind for the 23rd time this season. That’s the most in the majors, with three in the last three days.
“It doesn’t always take the big blow,” Texas manager Jeff Banister said. “It doesn’t always take the three-run home run. You can chip away.”
The American League West-leading Rangers also extended their series win streak to a club-record 10, albeit in a one-game set against Baltimore.
The Orioles (40-29) held on to their one-game lead in the AL East thanks to
Boston’s loss to the Chicago White Sox.
Baltimore squandered a 3-0 lead and missed several chances to extend the lead against Rangers starter Derek Holland. The O’s outhit the Rangers 15-9.
“Realistically, we had some opportunities that we didn’t cash in,” Baltimore designated hitter Mark Trumbo said. “But on the flip side, we also got 15 hits. The offense was there. Maybe not as timely as we would have liked.”
Shin-Soo Choo drove in the two go-ahead runs and Ian Desmond hit his 11th home run of the season for Texas in the opener of a six-game homestand.
Shawn Tolleson (2-2) picked up the win in relief, with Sam Dyson working the ninth for his 14th save of the year. Along with Tony Barnette, the Texas bullpen pitched 4 2/3 scoreless innings.
“The two biggest assets out of the bullpen tonight were Tolleson and Barnette,” Banister said.
Despite departing with the lead, Holland wasn’t around long enough to get the victory. His night was done after one out in the fourth, continuing a trend of poor outings. The left-hander has failed to get past five innings in each of his last three starts, giving up 12 runs in 13 innings.
Baltimore starter Kevin Gausman gave up all four Texas runs in five innings and nine hits, dropping to 0-5 this season.
The Orioles jumped on Holland in the second, scoring three runs on four hits. J.J. Hardy and Joey Rickard each had run-scoring doubles wrapped around Adam Jones’ RBI single.
Baltimore could have buried Holland and the Rangers in the third after loading the bases with no outs. Holland rebounded with a strikeout and double play to escape.
Texas cut into the three-run deficit in the bottom of the inning on Desmond’s solo home run to straight-away center.
Gausman coughed up the lead in the fourth. With the bases loaded, Bobby Wilson battled through a 10-pitch at-bat to lift a sacrifice fly to center. Choo followed by lining a two-out, two-run single off the right-field wall for a 4-3 advantage.
“That’s the most frustrating thing,” Gausman said. “To get that lead early in the game, you’ve got to be able to shut the door right there. I’ve got to be able to shut the door and not give it back like I did.”
