Drew Smyly’s return from the disabled list didn’t go as well as he would have liked.
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Hamilton, who missed the previous two contests, belted his sixth homer in his 37th game of the season Friday as Texas won for the eighth time in its last nine at home. The right-hander gave up two while allowing three earned runs in his first complete game of the year in Sunday’s 4-2 loss at Seattle, falling to 5-3 for his career when going the distance.
“Definitely positive, and helped me understand that I can go there and run around and play”, Hamilton said.
This game did not mean much to the standings, however it will certainly increase the confidence of the Rangers going forward.
Hitting: Delino DeShields, who turned 23 on Sunday, started the first with a walk and a stolen base, then raced home ahead of the relay throw on a double by Shin-Soo Choo to erase an early 1-0 deficit.
3B Adrian Beltre is 7-for-his-last-14 since ending an 0-for-11 skid and had a three-run homer in Texas’ seven-run sixth inning of a 12-4 victory over Tampa Bay on Saturday night. Left fielder Ryan Strausborger was Three-for-Four, together with his first profession house run. The Rays find themselves five games out of the American League East and while that seems like a tall task given how Toronto has been playing, they are only two and a half games out of the second wild card spot. “It was hot outside, and they might be hotter right now”.
Alfredo Simon (10-7) allowed six hits and four runs in five-plus innings for the loss.
The left-hander was not concerned that he still might not be right physically.
“It was a great feeling just knowing it was something that actually was there and actually could be fixed and was taken care of”, he said. The bad news was he walked away a loser on this day.
The Astros trailed entering the fifth inning before scoring three runs, capped by the double by Lowrie to take a 3-1 lead. Beltre and Mitch Moreland hit back-to-back singles to put two men on with only one out. Tolleson retired the next two hitters for his 23rd save in 24 chances.
Tampa Bay led 1-0 in the first inning when Grady Sizemore doubled and scored on James Loney’s single.
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THE GLOVES: In the fourth, 2B Rougned Odor charged a slow roller by Desmond Jennings and got the out at first despite briefly bobbling the baseball. A John Jaso single scored Kiermaier as Gimenez dropped the ball at home plate. But the Rangers wasted no time evening it up in the bottom of the second as DeShields singled to left center to score Bobby Wilson. 245 on the season – 34 points lower than his career average. Cabrera is hitting. 500 (27-for-54) since July 28. I think we’re adding another side to our offense with a guy that can hit for some power and also has a lot of speed on the bases. LHP Derek Holland may not be far behind after throwing 89 pitches in a rehab start with Triple-A Round Rock on Friday.
