Arlington, TX (Sports Network) - Vladimir Guerrero's game-winning RBI single with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning lifted the blazing-hot Texas Rangers to their 11th straight victory and a 6-5 decision over Pittsburgh in the finale of a three-game interleague series.
Rangers Extend Winning Streak To 11 Games With Walk-Off Win Over Pirates
Josh Hamilton extended his career-high hit streak to 18 games and ended 3-for- 4 with a run scored, while Justin Smoak drove in two runs for the Rangers, who haven't lost since June 11 at Milwaukee. Elvis Andrus added two hits and two runs scored in the victory.
Pedro Alvarez registered two RBI for the lowly Pirates, who lost for the 15th time in their last 18 games.
With the contest tied 5-5 in the bottom of the ninth, Steven Jackson (0-1) took the mound for the visitors and issued a one-out walk to Andrus. After Michael Young's single, Ian Kinsler flied out, but Andrus alertly tagged-up to third on the play.
The next batter was Guerrero, and with two strikes, he reached down and lifted a sinker into left field and the Rangers all celebrated at home plate.
Frank Francisco (6-3), who pitched a scoreless top of the ninth, got the win.
The Pirates scored four runs in the first inning. Jose Tabata singled leading off the game and stole second base before a walk to Andrew McCutchen. When Garrett Jones singled, Tabata scored and a two-out, two-run double by Alvarez made it 3-0. The rally was capped by Ryan Doumit's run-scoring single.
In the home second, an RBI grounder by Smoak got Texas on the board.
Pittsburgh moved ahead 5-1 in the top of the fourth via Neil Walker's sacrifice fly.
However, in the bottom of the fourth, the Rangers scored twice and drew within 5-3 on sacrifice flies by Nelson Cruz and Smoak.
A two-run rally in the bottom of the seventh knotted the contest. With Evan Meek on the mound for the Pirates, Andrus led off with a single, stole second base and scored when Young followed with a triple. Kinsler's single saw Young easily score for a 5-5 score.
Scott Feldman started on the mound for Texas and allowed five runs and 12 hits over six-plus innings, while his counterpart Jeff Karstens gave the Bucs 5 1/3 frames and yielded three runs -- two earned -- on seven hits...The Pirates outhit the Rangers, 14-12... Texas has swept both of its home series against Pittsburgh -- the other was in 2004...This was the 14th straight road loss for the Pirates. The last time the club dropped 14 consecutive tilts away from home was July 23 - August 30, 1985.
See More:
