Rangers Win With Walk-Off
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ARLINGTON, Texas — Third baseman Adrian Beltre had three RBIs, including the game-winner on a run scoring single in the bottom of the ninth inning of the Texas Rangers’ 3-2 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies on Tuesday night.
Beltre, who was 2-for-4, lined a base hit to right center that brought home left fielder Shin-Soo Choo from second base.
Right-hander Joakim Soria, who pitched a scoreless top of the ninth for Texas, earned the victory for the Rangers (1-1) while lefty Mario Hollands was tagged for the loss for Philadelphia (1-1).
Choo worked a four-pitch walk to lead off the ninth and advanced on shortstop Elvis Andrus’ sacrifice bunt. First baseman Prince Fielder walked to put runners on first and second with one out as Beltre walked to the plate.
Neither teams’ starting pitchers figured in the decision.
Phillies right-hander A.J. Burnett, who signed a one-year, $16 million contract in the offseason, seemed to
put his spring training difficulties in the past by going six innings and giving up only one run on seven hits in his debut with Philadelphia.
His opposite was lefty Martin Perez, who proved hard on the Phillies in the first five innings.
The Phillies, though, broke through on Perez in the sixth, sending seven hitters to the plate and scoring twice on four hits.
Rollins drove in second baseman Cesar Hernandez on a run-scoring single and came around to score on first baseman Ryan Howard’s double.
Philadelphia had a potential third run erased on instant replay. Center fielder Ben Revere was initially ruled safe on Perez’s pickoff attempt at second. Rangers manager Ron Washington, however, asked for a review, which showed Revere getting back late.
The delay was 2:18.
The Rangers scored a run each in the sixth and seventh innings.
Designated hitter Mitch Moreland’s single brought right fielder Alex Rios around to score to cut Texas’ deficit to one and Beltre’s double scored Choo with the tying run.
Perez gave up three singles through the first five innings, while ultimately holding down Philadelphia’s hitters. The Rangers’ young lefty struck out seven of the first 17 hitters he faced.
Texas’ offense created its best chance in the bottom half of the third by putting Choo and Andrus on first and second with no outs and the middle of the lineup approaching.
But Fielder popped out to third, Beltre was able to advance only one Choo to third on a fielder’s choice and Rios lined out to second to leave two stranded to leave the game scoreless.
