Tommy Hunter picked up the victory, his fourth of the season. (Jose Marcio Sanchez/AP)
By T.R. Sullivan / MLB.com
In desperate need of a win to keep pace with the first-place Halos and avert a sweep at the hands of the A's, the Rangers got a clutch performance from Tommy Hunter. The righty tossed seven frames of three-run ball, making the most of homers from Hank Blalock and Michael Young.
BATTING 2B: Jones, An (15, Cahill), Murphy, Dv (12, Springer). HR: Blalock (21, 2nd inning off
Cahill, 0 on, 2 out), Young, M (18, 3rd inning off Cahill, 0 on, 2 out). TB: Hamilton, J; Young, M 5; Jones, An
3; Blalock 4; Vizquel; Murphy, Dv 3; Byrd. RBI: Blalock (51), Young, M 2 (50), Byrd (53), Murphy, Dv (32), Jones,
An (38). 2-out RBI: Blalock; Young, M 2. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Vizquel; Byrd. SF:
Byrd. Team RISP: 3-for-6. Team LOB: 6.
BASERUNNING SB: Hamilton, J (6, 2nd
base off Springer/Powell).
a-Doubled for Sweeney, R in the 9th. b-Walked for Powell in the 9th.
BATTING 2B: Garciaparra (6, Hunter, T), Davis, R (9, Hunter, T), Hairston, S (18, Wilson, C). TB:
Hairston, S 2; Davis, R 2; Everidge; Pennington; Garciaparra 2. RBI: Garciaparra (13), Davis, R (23), Hairston,
S (42). 2-out RBI: Garciaparra; Hairston, S. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Garciaparra; Davis,
R; Ellis, M. GIDP: Kennedy, A. Team RISP: 0-for-4. Team LOB: 4.
BASERUNNING SB:
Kennedy, A (12, 2nd base off Francisco, F/Teagarden).
FIELDING Outfield assists: Sweeney, R (Jones,
An at 2nd base).