SB Nation Dallas - Vlad, Rangers Walk Off To 11th Straight Winhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48887/dallas-fave.png2010-06-24T22:28:20-05:00http://dallas.sbnation.com/rss/stream/12991232010-06-24T22:28:20-05:002010-06-24T22:28:20-05:00Official Recap: Rangers 6, Pirates 5
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<p>Arlington, TX (Sports Network) – Vladimir Guerrero’s game-winning <span class="caps">RBI</span> single with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning lifted the blazing-hot Texas Rangers to their 11th straight victory and a 6-5 decision over Pittsburgh in the finale of a three-game interleague series.</p>
<p>Josh Hamilton extended his career-high hit streak to 18 games and ended 3-for- 4 with a run scored, while Justin Smoak drove in two runs for the Rangers, who haven’t lost since June 11 at Milwaukee. Elvis Andrus added two hits and two runs scored in the victory.</p>
<p>Pedro Alvarez registered two <span class="caps">RBI</span> for the lowly Pirates, who lost for the 15th time in their last 18 games.</p>
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<p>With the contest tied 5-5 in the bottom of the ninth, Steven Jackson (0-1) took the mound for the visitors and issued a one-out walk to Andrus. After Michael Young's single, Ian Kinsler flied out, but Andrus alertly tagged-up to third on the play.</p>
<p>The next batter was Guerrero, and with two strikes, he reached down and lifted a sinker into left field and the Rangers all celebrated at home plate.</p>
<p>Frank Francisco (6-3), who pitched a scoreless top of the ninth, got the win.</p>
<p>The Pirates scored four runs in the first inning. Jose Tabata singled leading off the game and stole second base before a walk to Andrew McCutchen. When Garrett Jones singled, Tabata scored and a two-out, two-run double by Alvarez made it 3-0. The rally was capped by Ryan Doumit's run-scoring single.</p>
<p>In the home second, an RBI grounder by Smoak got Texas on the board.</p>
<p>Pittsburgh moved ahead 5-1 in the top of the fourth via Neil Walker's sacrifice fly.</p>
<p>However, in the bottom of the fourth, the Rangers scored twice and drew within 5-3 on sacrifice flies by Nelson Cruz and Smoak.</p>
<p>A two-run rally in the bottom of the seventh knotted the contest. With Evan Meek on the mound for the Pirates, Andrus led off with a single, stole second base and scored when Young followed with a triple. Kinsler's single saw Young easily score for a 5-5 score.</p>
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https://dallas.sbnation.com/2010/6/24/1535913/official-recap-rangers-6-pirates-5JP Starkey2010-06-24T18:11:57-05:002010-06-24T18:11:57-05:00Follow Live As Rangers Go For Sweep
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<p>To follow tonight’s game live and converse with fellow Texas fans, head over to <a href="http://www.lonestarball.com/2010/6/24/1534915/game-72-game-day-thread" target="new">Lone Star Ball.</a></p>
https://dallas.sbnation.com/2010/6/24/1535344/follow-live-as-rangers-go-for-sweep-piratesJP Starkey2010-06-24T16:01:25-05:002010-06-24T16:01:25-05:00Rangers, Feldman Look To Sweep Pirates
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<p>(Sports Network) - The <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/mlb/teams/TEX" class="sbn-auto-link">Texas Rangers</a> didn't skip a beat without their red-hot slugger <span>Josh Hamilton</span> in the lineup on Wednesday. Tonight Hamilton will try to extend his career-best hitting streak, while the Rangers go after their 11th straight win and a sweep of the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/mlb/teams/PIT" class="sbn-auto-link">Pittsburgh Pirates</a> at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington.</p>
<p>Hamilton has hit safely in his last 17 games, but sat out the middle test of this three-game set after playing the last 31 games. Texas didn't even notice he was gone, as <span>Michael Young</span> had three hits and four RBI, helping the Rangers set a season-high in runs in the 13-3 rout.</p>
<p>"Everyone is playing their part. That's what winning lineups do," Young said. "They pick each other up, they understand what their role is in any given situation and they execute it."</p>
<p>Nelson Cruz was 3-for-4 and knocked in three while <span>Ian Kinsler</span> drove in two with a pair of hits and scored two runs for the Rangers, who are in the midst of their longest winning streak since ripping off a team-record 14 wins in a row run from May 12-27, 1991.</p>
<p>The American League West leaders are also 17-4 in June. A big reason for the surge has been Hamilton, who is hitting .485 with eight homers and 24 RBI during his streak.</p>
<p><span>Dustin Nippert</span> got plenty of support but pitched just three innings in the start. He struck out seven, walked four and gave up two runs on four hits while reaching 82 pitches.</p>
<p><span>Alexi Ogando</span> (3-0) pitched the next three innings for his third win in as many career appearances. <span>Matt Harrison</span> came on to work the final three frames for his first career save.</p>
<p><span>Paul Maholm</span> (4-6) was slammed for seven hits and seven runs in failing to record an out in the second inning before getting the early hook. <span>Dana Eveland</span> wasn't much better, surrendering seven hits and six runs in 2 2/3 frames of relief.</p>
<p>"I (stunk). There's no better way to say it," Maholm said. "It wasn't a good day, but I also understand that it's part of the game, and I'm going to be ready in five days."</p>
<p><span>Delwyn Young</span>, <span>Neil Walker</span> and <span>Pedro Alvarez</span> drove in the runs for Pittsburgh, which lost for the 14th time in the last 16 contests and fell for the 13th straight time on the road.</p>
<p>Pittsburgh hasn't dropped 14 straight away from home since a 19-game slide July 23-Aug. 30, 1985.</p>
<p>Hoping to add to the Bucs' misery tonight will be righty <span>Scott Feldman</span>, who is 5-6 with a 5.16 ERA. Feldman won his second straight start on Friday in Houston, holding the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/mlb/teams/HOU" class="sbn-auto-link">Astros</a> to three runs and nine hits in six innings. He also struck out six and walked a batter in the win.</p>
<p>This will be Feldman's first-ever start against the Pirates.</p>
<p>Pittsburgh, meanwhile, will hand the ball to <span>Jeff Karstens</span>, who will try to string back-to-back wins together tonight. Karstens got the best of the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/mlb/teams/CLE" class="sbn-auto-link">Cleveland Indians</a> on Saturday, as he allowed four runs and six hits in 5 1/3 frames to improve to 2-2 to go along with a 4.72 ERA.</p>
<p>Karstens has never faced the Rangers.</p>
<p>Pittsburgh took two of three from the Rangers the last time these teams met back in 2007, but was also swept in 2004 in its only other visit to Arlington.</p>
https://dallas.sbnation.com/2010/6/24/2316924/rangers-feldman-look-to-sweep-piratesJP Starkey