ARLINGTON, Texas, June 10 (UPI) -- Ismael Valdes allowed two runs and 11 hits in 8 1/3 innings and was backed by three home runs Monday night as the Texas Rangers recorded an 8-2 victory over the Cincinnati Reds.
Valdes came within three outs of his first shutout in three years but committed a balk in the ninth allowing Russell Branyan to score. One batter later, the righthander yielded a double to Juan Castro scoring Wilton Guerrero.
Valdes (4-5) posted his first win since May 15 -- a span of five starts -- and his first win at home since April 28. He struck out five and walked one.
Herbert Perry hit a three-run homer, his seventh, in the first inning off Scott Sullivan to give the Rangers a 4-0 lead.
Sullivan took over for starter Carlos Almanzar (0-1), who retired just two batter and had to leave after injuring himself trying to field a bouncer by Alex Rodriguez with his bare hand.
Almanzar was taken to a local hospital where X-rays revealed a hairline fracture on his right ring finger.
Sullivan allowed a two-run homer to Mike Young in the second, making it 6-0, and Kevin Mench hit his second homer in the sixth off Jose Silva. Two batters later, Young singled before Silva left the game with an undisclosed injury.
