Rangers Top Orioles
{fshare id=5225}
ARLINGTON, Texas — For once, the Texas Rangers came out on top of a battle of rallies with the Baltimore Orioles.
The Rangers snapped a seven-game losing streak against Baltimore by storming past the Orioles in the seventh inning for an 8-6 victory on Thursday night at Globe Life Park.
Texas scored three runs on four hits and two errors by Baltimore shortstop J.J. Hardy in the bottom of the seventh.
Second baseman Rougned Odor started the rally with an infield single and moved to second on a throwing error by Hardy. Odor scored when Hardy couldn’t come up with a grounder by Texas shortstop Elvis Andrus, putting Texas in front and helping them avoid being swept at home.
Texas manager Ron Washington said the Rangers break courtesy of Hardy proved anything can happen.
“Very surprised,” Washington said. “I’ve never seen (Hardy) make a bad throw. As a matter of fact, I don’t think I’ve ever seen him make an error. It just goes to show you it can happen to any player in any game.”
Rangers designated hitter Alex Rios and catcher Chris Gimenez each
drove in runs with singles to center to boost the lead to three.
Baltimore threatened to bounce back when center fielder Adam Jones homered in the top of the eighth, but that’s as close as the Orioles would get.
“We were real close at the end,” Orioles manager Buck Showalter said. “But we expend so much energy getting back in that ball game and then you’ve got to make that next jump over. We ran out of bullets.”
Rangers reliever Robbie Ross Jr. pitched two innings to pick up the win.
Baltimore pitcher Chris Tillman lasted just one inning for the second time in four outings. Tillman also exited before recording his fourth out in the Orioles’ 9-8 loss to Pittsburgh on May 21.
“Chris usually kind of finds his step a little bit and I was hoping he could get us through five and I might not have to use so many people,” Showalter said. “But you could tell he wasn’t carrying what he’s capable of.”
Baltimore climbed all the way out of a 5-0 deficit, resetting the score at 5-5 in the top of the fifth.
Orioles center fielder Adam Jones hit a two-out double to center to score third baseman Manny Machado and catcher Caleb Joseph. Rangers center fielder Leonys Martin appeared to make a diving catch of Jones’ hit, but the ball squirted away from Martin when he landed.
Baltimore first baseman Chris Davis followed with a single to right that brought home Jones and tied the score.
Texas raced in front in the bottom of the first inning, when the first four batters reached base. After left fielder Shin-Soo Choo drew a leadoff walk, Andrus doubled to deep right-center field. First baseman Mitch Moreland singled to left, scoring Choo and Andrus.
Rangers third baseman Adrian Beltre kept the rally going with a single to right, but the Orioles escaped the inning with no further damage.
Texas kept the pressure on in the second. Martin led off with a single to right, and right fielder Michael Choice homered. Andrus added an RBI single later in the inning, giving the Rangers a 4-0 lead.
The Orioles put a dent in the deficit in the third. Left fielder David Lough led off with a double to right and right fielder Nick Markakis brought him around by drilling a 2-2 pitch over the wall in right for a two-run homer.
