Post by Fish Troll on May 13, 2007 18:01:22 GMT -5
Rangers Cruz past Angels
Texas outfielder connects on walk-off home run
By Ken Daley / Special to MLB.com
ARLINGTON -- Struggling Nelson Cruz hit a walk-off home run Sunday to propel the Rangers to a 7-6 victory over the Angels before 24,847 at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington.
The home run off Angels reliever Scot Shields (0-2) was the first of the season for Cruz and marked his first RBI since April 21. It ended a slugfest in which the teams combined for eight home runs, two by Angels center fielder and former Rangers All-Star Gary Matthews Jr.
Matthews homered from both sides of the plate for the second time in his career. His two-run shot in the first staked the Angels to a 2-0 lead against Rangers starter Mike Wood. But Ian Kinsler's two-run homer and an RBI double by Mark Teixeira gave Texas a 3-2 lead in the third against Angels right-hander Ervin Santana.
Shea Hillenbrand and Mike Napoli hit back-to-back homers with one out in the fourth for a 4-3 Angels lead. But Hank Blalock led off the bottom of the inning with his third homer of the year to tie the game, 4-4.
An errant throw by Rangers shortstop Michael Young put Vladimir Guerrero on first leading off the fifth. Lefty C.J. Wilson relieved Wood, but he gave up another two-run shot to Matthews, his sixth of the year.
The Angels took that 6-4 lead into the sixth, but they lost it when Brad Wilkerson blasted a two-run homer to center with one out, tying the game at 6.
Rangers reliever Joaquin Benoit escaped in the seventh from a bases-loaded, no-out jam partially created when he drilled Matthews with a fastball off the backside.
Angels reliever Hector Carrasco hit Kinsler in the head with a slow curveball leading off the bottom of the inning. Home-plate umpire Alfonso Marquez ejected Carrasco instantly, and he then tossed out Angels manager Mike Scioscia when the ensuing argument became too heated.
Ken Daley is a contributor to MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
Texas outfielder connects on walk-off home run
By Ken Daley / Special to MLB.com
ARLINGTON -- Struggling Nelson Cruz hit a walk-off home run Sunday to propel the Rangers to a 7-6 victory over the Angels before 24,847 at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington.
The home run off Angels reliever Scot Shields (0-2) was the first of the season for Cruz and marked his first RBI since April 21. It ended a slugfest in which the teams combined for eight home runs, two by Angels center fielder and former Rangers All-Star Gary Matthews Jr.
Matthews homered from both sides of the plate for the second time in his career. His two-run shot in the first staked the Angels to a 2-0 lead against Rangers starter Mike Wood. But Ian Kinsler's two-run homer and an RBI double by Mark Teixeira gave Texas a 3-2 lead in the third against Angels right-hander Ervin Santana.
Shea Hillenbrand and Mike Napoli hit back-to-back homers with one out in the fourth for a 4-3 Angels lead. But Hank Blalock led off the bottom of the inning with his third homer of the year to tie the game, 4-4.
An errant throw by Rangers shortstop Michael Young put Vladimir Guerrero on first leading off the fifth. Lefty C.J. Wilson relieved Wood, but he gave up another two-run shot to Matthews, his sixth of the year.
The Angels took that 6-4 lead into the sixth, but they lost it when Brad Wilkerson blasted a two-run homer to center with one out, tying the game at 6.
Rangers reliever Joaquin Benoit escaped in the seventh from a bases-loaded, no-out jam partially created when he drilled Matthews with a fastball off the backside.
Angels reliever Hector Carrasco hit Kinsler in the head with a slow curveball leading off the bottom of the inning. Home-plate umpire Alfonso Marquez ejected Carrasco instantly, and he then tossed out Angels manager Mike Scioscia when the ensuing argument became too heated.
Ken Daley is a contributor to MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
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