Texas Rangers 6, Oakland A’s 4

by PegNews wire

ARLINGTON — The Texas Rangers' shutout streak ended Saturday night, but the Rangers still managed to get the win with a 6-4 victory over the A's at Rangers Ballpark. The Rangers have now won five straight, and are just two games below .500 at 18-20.

The shutout streak ended at 33 innings when the A's scored an unearned run in the top of the third. It was the second-longest such streak in franchise history --the Rangers had 39 straight innings in 1981-- and the longest of its kind in the majors since Baltimore strung together 45 scoreless innings in 1995.

The win was important, as it ensures a fifth straight series victory for the young Rangers, and a 9-2 record in their last 11.

Rangers starter Kevin Millwood pitched just two-thirds of an inning before straining his groin, and it was up to the bullpen to win the remainder. Reliever Josh Rupe threw three innings for the win, giving up just two runs and five hits. Four other Rangers finished the game, giving up just two garbage runs in the ninth when the game was hardly in doubt.

The top of the lineup produced almost all of the Rangers offense Saturday. Josh Hamilton went 3-for-5 with a run and his major league-leading 38th RBI. Milton Bradley went 2-for-2 with two walks, and hit a two-run home run with two outs in the third to essentially ice the game. Ian Kinsler went 2-for-4 with a run and an RBI as well.

Posted by Todd M.