Arlington, TX (Sports Network) – C.J. Wilson allowed one run in six solid innings, and Joaquin Arias knocked in a career-high four runs, as the Texas offense finally woke up in a 12-1 rout of the Cleveland Indians.
Amidst the game was a scary moment, as a fan fell from the upper deck into the lower bowl during the fifth inning in an attempt to grab a foul ball. The game was halted for 16 minutes while medical crews tended to the fan, who was luckily stabilized, responsive and able to move all his extremities after being transported to a local hospital.
Wilson (7-4) yielded just two hits and two walks while fanning four for the Rangers, who scored more than three times for the first time all month in winning just their second game out of six July contests. Nelson Cruz, Vladimir Guerrero and Josh Hamilton all homered, while Andres Blanco had three hits and two RBI in the win.
Jayson Nix hit his fourth homer in as many games for the Indians, who came into the game with seven wins in nine games. Justin Masterson (3-8) yielded seven runs, nine hits and three walks in 5 1/3 frames to take the loss.
The Rangers scored twice in the fourth and five times in the sixth to take a seven-run lead.
Texas loaded the bases in the fourth with one out after Guerrero was hit by a pitch, Hamilton singled and Justin Smoak was intentionally walked. Matt Treanor struck out swinging, but Blanco plated two with a double to right.
In the sixth, a walk to Smoak and singles by Blanco and Julio Borbon loaded the bases with one out for Arias, who plated all three with a double to left. Hector Ambriz came in from the bullpen but yielded a two-out, two-run homer to Guerrero for an 8-1 contest.
Cruz’s solo shot in the seventh added to Texas’ lead, and Arias and Ian Kinsler each contributed an RBI single in the same frame to make it 11-1. David Murphy homered in the eighth to account for the final margin.
Nix remained hot at the plate early, blasting his third homer in five at-bats with one down in the opening frame for a 1-0 Indians lead.
Hamilton answered leading off the second, sending his 21st home run over the fence in left-center to tie the game.
Game Notes
Four fans in the lower bowl were injured by the fallen fan, but none were taken to the hospital and all were treated at the ballpark…The Indians have recorded an extra base hit in 32 straight games, the longest active streak in the AL…Hamilton has a 26-game home hitting streak…Indians outfielder Shin- Soo Choo will have his sprained thumb in a brace for 7-to-10 days before being evaluated again. It is not known whether he needs surgery…Cleveland first baseman Matt LaPorta sat out the game after suffering a head contusion on Monday. His CT scan came back negative.