|
Rangers stay under .500; Astros win |
|
Written by Associated Press
|
|
Friday, 16 May 2008 |
ARLINGTON (AP) — Miguel Cairo had a two-out RBI single in the 12th inning, and the Seattle Mariners beat Texas 4-3 on Wednesday to avoid a sweep and keep the Rangers from reaching .500.
Wladimir Balentien led off the 12th with a single off Franklyn German (1-2), and Yuniesky Betancourt sacrificed. Balentien moved to third on a deep flyout by Ichiro Suzuki, who went 0-for-6 and ended a 13-game hitting streak. Cairo then singled up the middle.
Texas (20-22) clinched its sixth straight series by winning the first two games against Seattle, but missed the chance for a sweep after two fielding miscues led to two unearned runs in the seventh. Seattle, which trailed 2-0 after the first inning, matched its biggest comeback of the season to win for only the third time in 15 games.
David Murphy went 4-for-5 for the Rangers, including a one-out single in the 11th against Putz. But Putz escaped with two strikeouts, which sandwiched an intentional walk after he threw a wild pitch that allowed Murphy to get to second base.
The series was completed without incident less than a week after Mariners first baseman Richie Sexson charged the mound and flung his helmet at Texas pitcher Kason Gabbard to ignite a bench-clearing incident in Seattle. Sexson missed the entire series while serving the completion of his five-game suspension for his actions, and can play Friday.
Astros 6, Giants 3
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Miguel Tejada had three hits, including the go-ahead single in the seventh, and Lance Berk-man and Brad Ausmus homered to help Houston beat San Francisco.
Pinch-hitter Jose Cruz Jr. led off the seventh with a walk and was sacrificed to second. Tejada, who is scheduled to take his first day off this season on Thursday, then met reliever Billy Sadler with a sharp single up the middle to make it 4-3.
Berkman hit his 14th home run of the season, a two-run shot off San Francisco starter Pat Misch in the first, to extend his hitting streak to 13 games. It also tied Berkman with Phila-delphia's Chase Utley for the major league lead in homers.
Hunter Pence added a pair of hits for the Astros, who have won 10 of their last 12.
San Francisco's Aaron Rowand homered off Houston starter Brian Moehler, but the Giants failed to capitalize against six Astros relievers, stranding runners at third base in the second, third, fifth, sixth and seventh innings.
Oscar Villarreal (1-3) pitched a third of an inning to get the win, while Jose Valverde worked the ninth for his 10th save in 13 tries.
Jack Taschner (2-1) took the loss for San Francisco.
|
|
Last Updated ( Saturday, 17 May 2008 )
|
