Search:
StoriesVideos
Home MLB - Baltimore Orioles 

Story

MLB


American League Game Summary - Texas At Baltimore

Sunday, July 6, 2008

(Sports Network) - David Murphy went 3-for-6 with a three-run home run to help the Texas Rangers squeak by the Baltimore Orioles, 11-10, in the rubber match of a three-game set.

The day four offensive players for the Rangers were named to the All-Star team, the club rattled off 14 hits, including three apiece from Ian Kinsler and Ramon Vazquez.

Kevin Millwood (6-4) won his seventh straight start against the Orioles despite being touched for five runs -- three earned -- on nine hits through five innings for Texas, which has won five of its last seven. C.J. Wilson served up two homers in the ninth but still came away with his 21st save.

Baltimore's Kevin Millar was 4-for-4 with a double and solo home run, while Nick Markakis hit a three-run homer during a 3-for-5 effort at the plate, extending his hitting streak to a career-high 14 games. Brian Roberts and Melvin Mora also hit home runs in the loss.

Radhames Liz (3-1) was pounded for six runs -- four earned -- in just 3 2/3 innings for the Orioles, who have fallen in three of their last four games. Jim Johnson only recorded two outs in relief and gave up four runs.

Trailing 3-2 in the fourth, Vazquez jumped started a big inning with an RBI single to tie the game. Two batters later the Orioles opted to walk Milton Bradley with a base open and two away. The strategy backfired as Murphy clubbed a middle-in fastball off the gate beyond the right field wall, and Texas led, 6-3.

"It comes down to the tempo of the game, set by the starting pitcher," Orioles manager Dave Trembley said. "For the most part, right out of the gate, Liz was struggling. He got out of some tough jams early in the game and his pitch count was way up and he just didn't have it. That's the way the games goes."

The Orioles answered in the fifth with consecutive one-out singles by Markakis and Aubrey Huff. Ramon Hernandez bounced one back to Millwood, who threw the ball into center field trying to turn a double play, brining in a run. Luke Scott then made it a one-run game with an RBI force out.

Texas' five-run eighth gave the squad just enough breathing room. A pair of singles and a walk to Josh Hamilton loaded the bases before Frank Catalanotto's sacrifice fly to left. Another single loaded the bases again, and the Orioles failed to execute a fairly routine double-play ball on a Brandon Boggs' grounder, allowing Vazquez to score. With the bases again loaded, Max Ramirez forced in a run with a walk and German Duran followed with a two-run single for an 11-5 advantage.

Markakis slammed a three-run shot for his 13th home run of the season in the bottom half, and solo shots by Millar and pinch-hitter Mora in the ninth brought the tying run to the plate.

Roberts couldn't come through, however, striking out on Wilson's 2-2 slider to end a wild, high-scoring affair.

"In a 162-game season sometimes you are going to get those games where you just have to hold on," Rangers manager Ron Washington said. "It doesn't matter how many runs you score and today was just one of those days, and I'm quite sure over there in that clubhouse they are the ones that wished they had held on. So, I'm very happy we held on. We got the win."

Roberts manufactured a run almost single-handedly in the first. The second baseman, who is one of five players to be voted on by fans to make the AL All- Star roster, singled, stole second and third, and scampered home on Huff's sacrifice fly.

An Adam Jones two-out, run-scoring single made it a 2-0 Orioles lead in the second, but Hamilton, who will start in the AL outfield at the Midsummer Classic, tied it up the next inning. His single brought in Kinsler for his league-leading 84th RBI of the season, and he raced home three batters later on a wild pitch by Liz.

Roberts led off the third with his seventh home run of the season, but the lead quickly vanished in the fourth.

Game Notes:

Shortstop Michael Young, who was one of the four players on Texas named to the All-Star game, was a late scratch due to an ongoing groin injury...Kinsler also made the All-Star team, as he extended his hitting streak to 18 games, one shy of a career-high set earlier this season...Bradley was the final All- Star for the high-scoring Rangers, but the designated hitter left the game in the sixth inning with inflammation in his left knee after working three walks...The Orioles have dropped 13 straight Sunday games...Reliever George Sherill is Baltimore's lone representative for the All-Star game.

Baltimore Orioles

News

Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles released pitcher Adam Loewen on Monday, and also outrighted pitchers Randor Bierd and Rocky Cherry, infielder Brandon Fahey, outfielder Jeff Fiorentino and catcher Omir Santos to Triple-A Norfolk.

Scoreboard

Sun, Sep. 28 FINAL
Toronto (82-75) 10
Baltimore (68-85) 1

Sports E-News

Sign up to receive daily sports headlines.
 


Teens and sleep, benefits of naps, older people and sleep, snoring. See nine sleep myths debunked right here. Full Story ››

Having a hard time maintaining a beautiful garden? Check out these five plants that even you can’t mess up. Full Story ››

So you want a cool job huh? Find out what you could be making to do something you love. Full Story ››

Looking for a new car? Find your ride with the Model Showcase featuring all the new cars from top manufacturers. Full Story ››

Don’t be left out. Make the switch to Digital TV.

Market Place

Sponsor Links