Recap: Texas vs. Tampa Bay
Sports Network | August 17, 2008
Arlington, TX (Sports Network) - Scott Kazmir was convincing on the mound, while B.J. Upton and Carlos Pena both homered to lead the Tampa Bay Rays in a 7-4 victory over the Texas Rangers in the finale of a three-game set.
Kazmir (9-6) gave up just two runs on four hits while fanning seven and walking four over six innings of work. Dan Wheeler came in to record the final out and earned his fifth save of the season in the process.
Upton and Pena both finished with three RBI for the Rays, who have won four of their last five games. Jason Bartlett accounted for the other RBI in the win.
Dustin Nippert (1-3) was saddled with the loss as he was roughed up for seven runs on eight hits in four frames. Kameron Loe came on in relief and finished the final five frames while only giving up two hits and two walks.
Travis Metcalf clubbed a solo homer in the fifth for the Rangers, who have dropped nine of their last 11 overall. Josh Hamilton ended with two RBI and Brandon Boggs had one in defeat.
The Rangers staged a valiant rally in the home ninth. Jarrod Saltalamacchia led off with a single off Juan Salas and Chris Davis drew a walk. Metcalf went down swinging, which brought in Grant Balfour from the 'pen, but Ramon Vazquez drew a walk to load the bases. Boggs then grounded into a force out, leaving runners on the corners while plating Saltalamacchia to make it 7-3.
Michael Young then worked a walk to load the bases and Hamilton was issued an intentional walk, making in a three-run game, before Wheeler was called on in relief. Marlon Byrd, though, went down swinging to end the threat and the game.
The Rays got on the board in the third stanza as Gabe Gross led off with a double, moved to third on Bartlett's ground out and crossed home as Upton followed with a double. Ben Zobrist then put runners on the corners with a single and Pena cleared the table with a three-run shot to right, making it a 4-0 affair.
The Rangers got a run back in the home half. Ian Kinsler slugged a one-out double and Boggs was walked before Young flied out to right, moving Kinsler to third. Hamilton kept it going with an RBI double and it was 4-1.
Eric Hinske opened the fourth with a double. Three batters later, Bartlett slugged an RBI single and Upton followed with a homer to right, making it 7-1.
Texas got a run back in the fifth as Metcalf led off with a homer, making it a 7-2 game.
Tampa, which leads the AL East by 4 1/2 games over the Boston Red Sox, hasn't lost a series since being swept by the Cleveland Indians heading into the All- Star break...Kazmir had posted just one win since June 27 and failed to make it past the fifth inning in his last four starts prior to Sunday's triumph...Tampa Bay won six of its nine meetings with Texas this season and is 11-5 over the last 16 encounters in this series.
