Sunday, June 22, 2008

Texas Rangers 13, Washington Nationals 3

By Pegasus News wire

The Texas Rangers met with current President Bush, then went out and dominated the home team Saturday night, blowing out the Washington Nationals 13-3 in Washington. Texas is now 38-38, the 19th time this season they have gotten to .500: they are 3-15 in the previous 18 games sitting at .500.

Photo not provided by the Bush Administration, Texas Rangers

Our President has long been a good-luck charm for the Rangers

The Rangers were keyed by a huge seventh inning, when they broke a 4-3 game wide open by scoring seven runs. As a team, they collected 18 hits, the most this season for the Rangers in a regulation game, with just a single solo home run.

Ian Kinsler once again provided the spark for the offense, leading off the game with a home run and finishing 1-for-3 with three walks and two runs scored. Michael Young seems to have broken out of his earlier slump and went 3-for-6 with two runs and two RBI, while third baseman Ramón Vázquez continues to impress with another huge day, hitting 3-for-4 with a bases-loaded, three run double in the top of the seventh. Vázquez, one of the many Rangers having breakout seasons, is now hitting .331 at the bottom of the lineup.

Four other Rangers had multi-hit games: Josh Hamilton went 2-for-5 and drove in two more RBI to up his major league-leading total to 76, still a double-digit lead over the next closest hitter. Rookie outfielder David Murphy also continues to impress with another big day at the plate, going 2-for-5 with a run scored and three more RBI.

Chris Shelton and Marlon Byrd also had multi-hit games. Milton Bradley was held out of the starting lineup for the fourth straight game, but managed to collect a pinch-hit single late in the game to raise his average to .332.

Rangers starter Kason Gabbard pitched well enough to win his first game since early April, giving up just three runs and six hits in five-plus innings. Gabbard is now 2-3 with a 6.97 ERA.

Posted by Todd M.

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