Recap: Texas vs. Tampa Bay
Sports Network | August 16, 2008
Arlington, TX (Sports Network) - Ian Kinsler homered and Matt Harrison hurled eight solid innings to lead Texas past Tampa Bay, 3-0, in the middle contest of a three-game set.
Michael Young went 2-for-3 and drove in a run for the Rangers, who snapped a four-game losing streak. Brandon Boggs also knocked in a run.
Harrison (5-2) scattered three hits, fanning eight in his start, the first time this season he has failed to allow a run. Eddie Guardado pitched the ninth for his fourth save.
Tampa starter Edwin Jackson (9-8) was charged with five hits and one run over six full frames in defeat for the Rays, whose three-game win streak was halted.
Texas turned a slim one-run lead into a decisive three-run edge with a methodical rally in the seventh inning.
Facing J.P. Howell, Ramon Vazquez reached on a Jason Bartlett fielding error. After Kinsler struck out, pinch-hitter Jarrod Saltalamacchia singled, then Young's double drove in Vazquez.
Josh Hamilton singled off Bartlett's glove at shortstop to load the bases, and Chad Bradford entered the contest. He got Marlon Byrd to line out, but walked Boggs to force in a run before striking out Gerald Laird to end the inning.
Harrison retired the side in order in the eighth. Guardado worked around a leadoff walk to Akinori Iwamura by inducing a double-play grounder from Ben Zobrist and getting Carlos Pena on a lazy pop fly to end the game.
Kinsler's first-inning homer put Texas on top.
Harrison and Jackson dueled to keep both sides off the scoreboard until the Rangers put the game out of reach in the seventh.
Rangers designated hitter Milton Bradley was scratched from the lineup shortly before the game due to an unspecified illness. Frank Catalanotto took his slot in the order and finished 0-for-3...Also before the contest, the Rangers called up pitcher Kameron Loe from Triple-A Oklahoma and optioned pitcher Tommy Hunter to that farm club...Howell allowed three hits and two unearned runs in only one-third of an inning.
