Texas Rangers 5, Atlanta Braves 4

by PegNews wire

ARLINGTON — The Texas Rangers got back to .500 Thursday evening, defeating the Atlanta Braves 5-4 at Rangers Ballpark. The win improved the Rangers to 37-37 on the year.

Photo not provided by the Atlanta Braves, Texas Rangers

Texas easily dispatched of this misnamed Atlanta team

With the game tied at 4-all in the bottom of the ninth, Michael Young picked the perfect time to come out of his 1-for-31 slump with a crucial RBI single, driving in Ian Kinsler for the win. Young's average had dipped from .304 to .284 in the slump, which immediately followed his major-league longest 23 game hitting streak.

The Rangers were leading 4-2 heading into the ninth, until troubled closer C.J. Wilson pitched his second straight poor game. After giving up three runs in the loss last night, Wilson gave up two runs off two hits and a walk in the top of the ninth before being relieved by Jamey Wright. Wright pitched out of the jam, and was credited with the win.

Down 2-0, Young started the scoring for the Rangers with a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the fifth inning. In the next inning, surging rookie Brandon Boggs smacked a three-run shot to put the Rangers up 4-2.

Rangers starter Scott Feldman achieved a major milestone as well --while not getting credit for the win-- pitched well enough for Texas to win one of his starts. Texas previously was 1-8 in Feldman's starts. Feldman gave up just two runs and five hits in seven innings.

Posted by Todd M.