Andrus Sparks Rangers In Rally Past Indians
ARLINGTON (AP) – Elvis Andrus delivered a two-run single for the tying and go-ahead runs in a five-run eighth, and the Texas Rangers rallied for a 5-3 victory over the Cleveland Indians on Sunday night.
Indians starter Josh Tomlin shut out the Rangers over seven innings, but the 25-year-old right-hander walked Mike Napoli leading off the eighth and gave up a single to Mitch Moreland, his final batter.
Sidearm right-hander Joe Smith (2-3) came in, giving up an infield single to Yorvit Torrealba to load the bases.
David Murphy delivered an RBI single to make it 3-1, and Smith walked Ian Kinsler to force in a run.
Andrus followed with his two-run single to center to put the Rangers in front, and Josh Hamilton's RBI groundout against Rafael Perez made it 5-3.
Smith didn't record an out, allowing three runs and three hits.
Darren Oliver (4-5) got two outs for the win.
Mike Adams, filling in for closer Neftali Feliz, threw a perfect ninth for his first AL save and third of his career.
Feliz wasn't available after pitching on three consecutive days. Feliz had his sixth blown save in Saturday night's 7-5 loss to the Indians, but manager Ron Washington said Feliz will be back in the closer's role for Monday night's game against Seattle.
Michael Young, Texas' career hits leader, reached 2,000 with infield singles in the fifth and seventh.
Michael Brantley homered and drove in two runs for the Indians, who went 1-6 against Texas in the season series that concluded on Sunday.
The Rangers maintained a one-game lead over Los Angeles in the AL West. The Angels beat Seattle 2-1 earlier Sunday.
The Indians stayed four games behind Detroit in the AL Central after the Tigers' 4-3 loss to Kansas City.
Tomlin allowed two runs and four hits with four strikeouts and three walks in his first career appearance against Texas.
Rangers starter Colby Lewis gave up three runs and five hits in 7 1-3 innings. Brantley's homer was the 28th allowed by Lewis this season, most in the AL.
The Indians got their offense started on Lonnie Chisenhall's sacrifice fly in the second. In the fifth, Ezequiel Carrera singled and scored on Brantley's triple to make it 2-0.
Brantley's sixth homer made it 3-0 in the eighth.
(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
