Rangers' Winning Streak Ends In 11-inning Loss To Indians
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CLEVELAND (AP) - The Texas Rangers battled back to tie the game against the Cleveland Indians on three separate occasions Wednesday.
The Rangers did not get the hit they needed to take a lead, however, and lost 5-4 in 11 innings on Yan Gomes' single off Alex Claudio, ending their four-game winning streak.
Though manager Jeff Banister felt his team battled, he pointed to the lack of clutch hitting in a tough extra-inning loss.
"We were 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position," Banister said. "That's kind of the story. We just didn't break through tonight."
Texas rallied in the ninth after Cleveland took a 4-3 lead in the eighth. Mitch Moreland drew a four-pitch walk before Elvis Andrus' bloop single to center moved pinch-runner Hanser Alberto to third. Pinch-hitter Jared Hoying's fielder's choice ground ball tied the game for the third time.
Claudio (1-1) gave up Lonnie Chisenhall's double over third base to start the 11th. Gomes fouled off a bunt attempt on the first pitch, before bouncing his hit up the middle.
Chisenhall raced home and Gomes, who isábatting .176, was mobbed by his teammates after Cleveland's first walkoff win of the season.
Ryan Rua smacked a solo home run off Trevor Bauer in the seventh inning to tie the game for Texas. The Northeast Ohio native had family and friends in the crowd, which made the moment special.
"To have those people there that supported me when I was younger and believed in me then and to be able to put a good swing on a ball here is a pretty good experience," said Rua, who was born and raised in Amherst, about 30 miles from Cleveland.
Cole Hamels allowed three runs on six hits in seven innings, maintaining his solid start to the season. He wasn't happy to have allowed three walks, including one in the first inning that preceded Mike Napoli team-leading 12th homer.
"You're going to give up your hits," Hamels said. "You're going to give up some runs here and there, but when you're giving up a run on guys that are walking, I think that's probably the toughest part to swallow."
Prince Fielder's sacrifice fly gave Texas a first-inning lead. Ian Desmond's fielder's choice ground ball tied the game in the third.
Elvis Andrus was 2 for 5 and has hit safely in 30 of 31 career games at Progressive Field.
THE NEXT MOVE
Right-hander Shawn Tolleson is expected to be activated from the family medical emergency list Friday.
Tolleson has recorded a team-high 11 saves but is 0-2 with a 10.13 ERA in 20 appearances and opponents are batting .370 against him.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Rangers; OF Shin-Soo Choo (strained left hamstring) will continue his rehab at extended spring training. He was previously out with a strained right calf and is on the 15-day disabled list for the second time this season.
Indians: Team president Chris Antonetti said Byrd's suspension won't cause the team to rush the return of OF Michael Brantley (inflammation in right shoulder). Brantley is on the disabled list for the second time this season.
UP NEXT:
Rangers: RHP Yu Darvish will make his second start of the season Friday in the opener of a three-game series against Seattle. Darvish, who had been out because of elbow surgery, allowed one run in five innings Saturday against Pittsburgh.
Indians: RHP Carlos Carrasco (strained left hamstring) will be activated from the 15-day disabled list and start against Kansas City. Carrasco (2-0) was injured covering first base April 24.
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