Arlington, TX (Sports Network) – Julio Borbon’s three-run homer complimented six solid innings by Texas starting pitcher Tommy Hunter, as the AL West- leading Rangers downed the Pittsburgh Pirates, 6-3, in the opener of a three- game interleague series.
Hunter (3-0) allowed three runs — two earned — on nine hits with six strikeouts for the streaking Rangers, who have won nine straight games and improved their remarkable record in the month of June to 16-4.
Bobby Crosby notched three hits with an RBI for the Pirates, who saw their brief two-game win streak halted and lost for the 13th time in their last 15 contests overall. Garrett Jones added two hits and a run batted in for Pittsburgh.
Ross Ohlendorf (0-6) allowed four runs on five hits over 4 2/3 innings and absorbed the loss.
The Bucs opened the scoring in the top of the first when Jones singled home Neil Walker, who hit a double to right field with one out. In the top of the fourth, Pittsburgh grabbed a two-run cushion. Pedro Alvarez laced a leadoff single and headed for third when Ryan Doumit followed suit. The next batter, Lastings Milledge, reached first safely on a fielder's choice, and Alvarez scored on the play with the assistance of a throwing error by Justin Smoak. The first hit of the game for Texas also cut its deficit in half via Michael Young's one-out home run in the Rangers' portion of the fourth. Borbon's blast in the fifth pushed the Rangers ahead, 4-2. Hamilton led off with a double, and Matt Treanor walked before Borbon turned on a fastball and belted a line-drive screamer over the wall in right field for his second homer of the year. The teams exchanged runs in the sixth inning. An RBI double by Crosby in the top half of the frame was quickly answered by Hamilton's 17th home run. Texas capped the scoring in the bottom of the eighth. Ian Kinsler singled and eventually came around to score on a sacrifice fly by Nelson Cruz. Darren Oliver pitched two perfect relief innings before Neftali Feliz worked around a one-out single in the ninth and earned his 20th save of the campaign.