Rangers Beat Orioles
BALTIMORE — In a series where the Texas Rangers’ top hitters came through in the clutch, two unlikely heroes made the difference in the series finale against the Baltimore Orioles.
Leonys Martin and Rougned Odor had RBI singles in the ninth inning and the Rangers beat the Orioles 2-0 on Thursday night to take three of four games.
Martin was mired in a 4-for-34 slump before coming up with the big hit and Odor was recently recalled from Triple-A Round Rock.
“It was an exciting moment for me and for my team,” Martin said. “To find a way to win a ballgame today was an exciting moment.”
Rangers right-hander Yovani Gallardo extended his scoreless streak to 29 1/3 innings, the fourth longest in franchise history. He threw six innings of two-hit ball while striking out two and walking three. He has not given up a run since June 10 against the Oakland A’s.
Gallardo, who got a no-decision, is 6-0 with 0.79 ERA in nine starts after a Texas loss.
“Honestly, I think it was a little bit of a battle,” Gallardo said. “I was falling behind in the count with a bunch of guys. I made pitches when I had to and guys made good plays behind me. Run some balls down and I made pitches whenever I had to.”
Keone Kela (5-5) picked up the win after facing one batter and inducing an
inning-ending double play in the eighth. Shawn Tolleson posted his 12th save with a perfect ninth.
Rangers designated hitter Prince Fielder had two hits to boost his average to .345.
The Orioles lost a series for the first time since dropping three of four to the Houston Astros from June 1 to June 4.
Texas put together the winning runs in the ninth when right fielder Shin-Soo Choo walked, took second on a bunt by shortstop Elvis Andrus and scored on the single by center fielder Martin against Chaz Roe (2-1).
The Rangers boosted the margin to 2-0 on a single by Odor.
“It’s baseball,” Roe said. “It’s going to happen. You’re going to give up runs, and best thing about it, you can come back tomorrow and prove yourself even more.”
After hitting 10 home runs in the opening three games of the series, the Rangers could not manage anything against young Orioles right-hander Kevin Gausman, who threw 6 1/3 scoreless innings. Gausman gave up four hits and finished with seven strikeouts and two walks.
“I felt good, tried to challenge,” Gausman said. “Basically challenge their hitters, tried to really shut down the middle of their lineup. That’s kind of what they did the games that they kind of beat us up a little bit the first two in the series. Those guys really kind of had a big impact.”
The Rangers threatened in the sixth when the Odor hit a ball in the gap, but he was thrown out by shortstop J.J Hardy on relay from center fielder Adam Jones after trying to stretch the hit into a triple. That was just the second hit Gausman allowed in the game.
Texas threatened again in the seventh when left fielder Josh Hamilton singled and Choo walked, ending Gausman’s night at 95 pitches. However, Orioles right-hander Darren O’Day struck out Andrus and Martin to keep the game scoreless.
The Rangers continued to get their chances to take the lead. They loaded the bases with two outs in the eighth, but Roe got Hamilton to fly out to center.
The Rangers finished 4-3 on the seven-game road swing.
“It was a good trip,” Texas manager Jeff Banister said. “One that we needed coming off a six-game skid. It keeps us where we need to be and propels us on to some confidence at home.”
