Gentry & Baker Lead Rangers Over Indians 7-6
GOODYEAR, Ariz. (AP) -- Craig Gentry knows he is not a power hitter. Still, he's shown he can handle good pitches to hit.
Gentry hit a two-run homer off Brett Myers to pace the Texas Rangers to a 7-6 win over the Cleveland Indians.
Gentry added a single and scored another run. Jeff Baker, a non-roster invitee for Texas, hit an RBI double and single in his first two at-bats, making it eight straight plate appearances in which he'd reached base.
"Gentry is getting through the baseball," manager Ron Washington said. "When he gets a pitch he can drive he's doing it."
Myers, who pitched 70 times in relief last season, threw three scoreless innings before the Rangers got to him in the fourth for five runs. Myers will be the Indians' No. 3 starter this season. He threw 70 pitches.
"My arm got a little fatigued," Myers said. "I haven't thrown 70 pitches in a while. My stuff wasn't as crisp in that last inning. I tried to make an adjustment to hit my spots better but they got their bats on the ball."
Cleveland manager Terry Francona was pleased with Myers' outing for the first three innings.
"He got two outs in the fourth and then got his breaking ball up," Francona said. "He got a little tired. Before that I thought before that his tempo was good. He was throwing his breaking ball for strikes I thought it was really a positive."
Robbie Ross, one of seven pitchers competing for a place in the Texas rotation, allowed two runs in 2 2-3 innings. He was not pleased with his command of the strike zone, walking three batters.
"Ross walked too many people," Washington said. "He wasn't happy. He wasn't able to back door his cutter like he usually does."
Carlos Carrasco pitched four innings for Cleveland, allowing two runs on four hits and two walks. Carrasco is in competition with Scott Kazmir and Daisuke Matsuzaka for the fifth spot in the Indians rotation.
Drew Stubbs, who came to the Indians in a trade for Shin-Soo Choo, had two hits, including an RBI triple.
Michael Brantley, who had stitches removed from his forearm on Saturday, was 0 for 2 for Cleveland. He had missed 12 games with a cut sustained in a slide against the Angels.
NOTES: Rangers LHP Matt Harrison threw a bullpen session and reported much improvement with a troublesome toe on his left foot. He will not be making a trip back to Texas for an exam, which had been a possibility. The date of his next start is still to be determined. ... Texas 1B Mitch Moreland missed his second straight day with a tight right quadriceps. ... RHP Joakim Soria (Tommy John) and RHP Colby Lewis (surgery for torn flexor tendon) were scheduled to throw bullpens for Texas on Sunday... Indians INF Mark Reynolds is out with a strained oblique. "It is just spring training soreness," he said. ... Cleveland RHP Chris Perez, who was out with a right shoulder strain, began a throwing program Sunday. "I felt OK. There's not much you can do from 60 feet."
(Copyright 2013 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
