Rangers Lose To Cubs
CHICAGO — Starlin Castro and Anthony Rizzo each collected a pair of RBIs in a decisive fourth inning as the Chicago Cubs beat the Texas Rangers 9-2 on Monday night.
Castro and Rizzo had two-run singles in back-to-back plate appearances after two were out in the inning during the interleague makeup game.
Rizzo went 3-for-4 with four RBIs and also clubbed his ninth homer of the season — a two-run shot with Castro aboard — in the eighth. Castro was 2-for-4 with three runs scored and two RBIs.
Right-hander Scott Feldman (3-3) worked seven innings as the Cubs halted a four-game losing streak. Feldman has now won his last three starts.
The Rangers’ three-game winning streak ended as right-hander Nick Tepesch (2-3) worked just four innings and took the loss.
Chicago led 6-0 after four innings and added a run in the seventh when Nate Schierholtz brought home Castro on a sacrifice fly.
Feldman departed after throwing two pitches in the eighth when he appeared to
experience discomfort in his pitching hand. He gave up just two hits, walked one and struck out three in seven full innings of work.
Left-hander James Russell came in and gave up an infield single, then got the next two outs on popups. Rafael Dolis, brought up from Triple-A Iowa earlier Monday, wrapped up the inning as Ian Kinsler flied out to center.
The Rangers scored twice in the ninth off Dolis. Elvis Andrus doubled to open the inning and scored after Cubs’ third baseman Luis Valbuena’s throwing error on Adrian Beltre’s grounder. Beltre advanced to second and scored on Geovany Soto’s single to left.
Monday’s game was rescheduled after an April 17 rainout.
The Cubs opened a 1-0 lead in the first.
David DeJesus led off with a single to center, stole second and reached third on a throwing error by Soto. He scored when Alfonso Soriano hit into a fielder’s choice.
The Rangers’ best chance to reply came in the top of the fourth when Nelson Cruz singled with two out, stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error Cubs catcher Welington Castillo. The inning ended as Mitch Moreland grounded to second.
The Cubs then exploded for five more runs off Tepesch in the bottom of the fourth after two were retired.
With Valbuena at second and Darwin Barney at first, Feldman, a .091 hitter, helped his own cause with a single that scored Valbuena for a 2-0 lead.
Tepesch walked DeJesus to load the bases for Castro, who singled home Barney and Feldman. Rizzo then drove in DeJesus and Castro with a single to make it 6-0.
Tepesch’s night was over after four innings. He gave up six hits and five earned runs, walked four and struck out four.
The Rangers managed just three base runners through five innings.
