Rangers 7, Tigers 3
ARLINGTON, Texas -- Alexi Ogando scattered six hits over 7 2/3 innings to remain unbeaten, Adrian Beltre homered, and the Texas Rangers avoided a three-game sweep by Detroit with a 7-3 victory over the Tigers on Wednesday night.
Detroit had 21 runs and 38 hits while winning the first two games of the series and had taken four straight overall. But the Tigers couldn't get much going against Ogando (7-0), who struck out seven to match a career high and walked two.
Ogando became the first major league pitcher to win his first seven decisions as a starter since Jered Weaver went 9-0 for the Los Angeles Angels in 2006.
Elvis Andrus had three hits for the AL West-leading Rangers.
Detroit's Don Kelly hit a first-inning solo homer, his first of the season, and drove in two runs.
Phil Coke (1-6) gave up six runs -- four earned -- and 10 hits in five innings in his return to Detroit's rotation. Coke was recalled from an injury rehab assignment with Triple-A Toledo and was reinstated from the 15-day disabled list before the game.
Coke, a converted reliever making his 11th start in 170 big league appearances, had been out since May 24 with a bone bruise on his right foot.
The Tigers failed to complete their first three-game road sweep of the Rangers since May 1-3, 2001.
Detroit wrapped up a 4-2 road trip heading into an eight-game homestand that gets under way Thursday night against Seattle.
The Rangers loaded the bases in the third on three straight singles. Craig Gentry then hit a chopper to third baseman Kelly, who threw wildly to the plate for an error, allowing Yorvit Torrealba to score. Catcher Victor Martinez retrieved the ball about 20 feet behind the plate and threw to Kelly covering home, but Kelly failed to catch the ball cleanly and Chris Davis was safe as the two collided.
Josh Hamilton followed with a two-run double to stretch the Rangers' lead to 4-1. Andrus, who had fresh legs after getting the previous game off, added an RBI single in the fourth, and Beltre's run-scoring single in the fifth made it 6-1.
Beltre led off the seventh against Adam Wilk with his 12th homer off the left field foul pole.
In the ninth against Neftali Feliz, Austin Jackson's RBI double and Kelly's run-producing groundout got the Tigers within four runs, but Feliz struck out Brennan Boesch to end the game.
Notes
Andrus was caught stealing in the first inning, breaking a streak of 19 straight successful steals this season. ... The Rangers fired hitting coach Thad Bosley and promoted Scott Coolbaugh, who had been hitting coach for Triple-A Round Rock. Bosley, a former major league outfielder, was in his first season on manager Ron Washington's staff. ... To open a roster spot for Coke, the Tigers optioned C Omir Santos to Toledo. ... Former Rangers LHP Kenny Rogers has been elected to the team's Hall of Fame and will be inducted on Aug. 6. ... Texas placed 2B Ian Kinsler on the paternity list after his wife Tess gave birth to a son, their second child, on Wednesday afternoon. Davis was recalled from Triple-A Round Rock and Michael Young started at 2B.
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