Recap: Texas vs. Oakland
Sports Network | September 24, 2008
Arlington, TX (Sports Network) - Hank Blalock went 2-for-4 with a three-run home run and drove in four runs as the Texas Rangers crushed the Oakland Athletics, 14-4, in the finale of a three-game series.
Michael Young finished the game 4-for-4 with a pair of RBI and two runs scored while Travis Metcalf hit a solo home run, scored twice and drove in two for the Rangers, who have won two straight on the heels of a five-game losing streak. Rookie Matt Harrison (9-3) won his fourth straight decision as he gave up two runs on six hits with a walk and seven strikeouts in six innings of work.
Chris Denorfia and Jack Cust each hit a solo home run for the Athletics, who have dropped two straight after a four-game winning streak. Dana Eveland (9-9) was saddled with the loss as he gave up seven runs on eight hits with three walks and four strikeouts in five-plus innings of work.
Oakland got on the board in the second inning. With one out, Daric Barton hit a double to the gap in right-center and was then awarded third base on a balk by Harrison. Cliff Pennington then singled to center to bring home Barton for a 1-0 lead.
Texas, though, grabbed the lead in the fourth. Young led off with a double and moved to third on Josh Hamilton's ground out. After Milton Bradley grounded out, Marlon Byrd worked a walk. Blalock then blasted a pitch over the wall in right-center for a 3-1 lead.
The Rangers padded their lead in the fifth. Gerald Laird led off the inning with a bunt single and moved to third on a single from German Duran, who took second base on the throw to third. Young then brought home both runners with a single up the middle for a 5-1 advantage.
Oakland got a run back in the sixth on a one-out, solo homer form Cust to make it a 5-2 contest.
However, the Rangers blew the game open in the sixth. After Blalock was hit by a pitch, Nelson Cruz blasted a pitch into the seats in center field. After Santiago Casilla took the mound, Laird worked a walk and Metcalf followed with an RBI double. A single from Duran then scored Metcalf and Young followed with a double.
Jeff Gray then took the mound and a double from Hamilton brought home two more runs and Hamilton scored when Bradley followed with a double off the wall in left. Two batters later, Blalock punched a single to left to bring home Bradley for a 13-2 game.
Oakland got a run in the seventh on Rob Bowen's RBI double, but Metcalf got it right back for Texas in the bottom of the seventh with a leadoff home run to center.
Denorfia's leadoff home run in the eighth for Oakland accounted for the final score.
Before the game, Texas infielder Ramon Vazquez was suspended by MLB for one game and fined an undisclosed amount for his actions in a game against the Angels on September 20. He has decided to appeal his suspension, but did not appear in the game...The Rangers, who finished the home portion of their season with a record of 40-41, close out their season with a three-game set on the road against the Angels beginning on Friday...The Athletics close out their season with a three-game set in Seattle starting on Friday...Texas won 12 of the 18 games against Oakland this season...Blalock has a home run in his last four games. He is 14-for-24 with four home runs, 13 RBI and nine runs scored during a six-game hitting streak...Harrison is 3-0 in three starts against Oakland this season...Eveland is 0-2 in four career matchups against Texas.
