Elvis Andrus and the Texas Rangers held off the Tampa Bay Rays on Saturday. Photo by Aaron Josefczyk/UPI |
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ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- For the second night in a row, the Texas Rangers rallied from a late two-run deficit for a 4-3 victory after a fielding error doomed the Tampa Bay Rays on Saturday night at Tropicana Field.
The Rays' Mallex Smith let a line drive from Adrian Beltre go off his glove in deep center field for an error with two outs in the sixth inning, allowing two runs to score and putting the go-ahead run in scoring position. Tampa Bay's Chris Archer (7-6) compounded the problem with two wild pitches, allowing Beltre to score.
The Rangers (47-50) have bounced back from a five-game losing streak with two close wins. The Rays (51-47) have lost much of the momentum they had built after the All-Star break.
Andrew Cashner (5-8) allowed three runs and four hits in six innings to win for the second time in three starts. Archer struck out 11 while allowing four runs (one earned) and four hits in seven innings.
Tampa Bay had chances in each of the last two innings, with the tying run in scoring position with one out both times. Relievers Keone Kela and Alex Claudio got out of the eighth to preserve the one-run lead.
The Rays got a one-out double from pinch-hitter Peter Bourjos in the ninth but couldn't get the tying run home. Claudio closed out the ninth with two groundouts for his fourth save of the season after picking up the win in relief Friday night.
On Friday, the Rays led 3-1 in the ninth inning, only to give up two runs in the ninth and lose in the 10th.
Elvis Andrus remained a Rays killer as he had three of the Rangers' five hits, with a home run for the second straight game.
For the second night in a row, the Rangers and Rays had a pitchers' duel early, with Archer and Cashner dominating hitters.
The Rays had only three hits in the first five innings, and all three were singles strung together in the third inning for a 3-0 lead. Tim Beckham walked and Adeiny Hechavarria singled, and Steven Souza followed with an RBI single for a 1-0 lead. With two outs, Evan Longoria hit a two-run single up the middle for a 3-0 lead.
Archer retired the first 10 batters in order but gave up a solo home run to Andrus, who also opened Texas' scoring Friday with a solo home run and brought in the winning run in the 10th. Archer was in control aside from Andrus' fireworks as he held the Rangers to two total hits in the first four innings, striking out eight.
NOTES: Chris Archer's 11 strikeouts gave him 24 career games with at least 10 strikeouts, passing David Price (23) for the team record. ... Rangers 3B Adrian Beltre's single in the fourth inning gave him 2,987 for his career, moving closer to catching Roberto Clemente, next on the all-time list at 3,000. ... The Rangers were 3-10 in American League East ballparks this season before winning two straight against the Rays.
