Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Texas Rangers 5, Toronto Blue Jays 2 (doubleheader)
ARLINGTON — The Texas Rangers completed the doubleheader sweep Tuesday night, defeating the Toronto Blue Jays 5-2 at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington. The win improved Texas to 74-58 on the season.
Photo not provided by the Texas Rangers
The Rangers had no problems handling the doubleheader Tuesday night.
With the two wins, Texas gained a half game on the Boston Red Sox in the wild card race, and is poised to move up on the LA Angels pending the results of their late game. Texas is now 3 1/2 games behind Boston and five games behind the Angels for first place in the AL West.
Rangers starter Brandon McCarthy, fresh off the disabled list, surrendered just one run on three hits over six-plus innings. McCarthy, who had not pitched in two months, improved to 6-2 with a 4.61 ERA. Frank Francisco pitched a hitless ninth for his 21st save and second save on the day.
Josh Hamilton, who had gone nearly 100 ab-bats without a home run, hit a pair of homers Tuesday night. He first connected in the bottom of the fourth to break the scoreless tie, then hit a two-run shot in the next inning to put Texas ahead for good at 4-0.
Chris Davis, who had the game-deciding RBI single in the first game of the doubleheader, went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and an RBI single.
Posted by Todd M.
