O's Complete Three-Game Sweep Of Rangers With 4-2 Win
ARLINGTON (CBSDFW.COM) -- The Texas Rangers battled a glaring sun and a hot Orioles team on Sunday night in Arlington – and were burned by both.
Starter Martin Perez surrendered four runs on nine hits as the Baltimore Orioles completed the three-game sweep of the Rangers with a 4-2 win.
In the second inning, David Murphy -- who is accustomed to fighting the late afternoon sun in left field -- let a Chris Davis liner fly by his head and to the wall for a leadoff double. Murphy appeared to be in position, but says he lost the ball in the last five to 10 feet.
"There's not really a whole lot I could have done different," said Murphy following the game. "If I try to put my glove up to block out the sun, I feel like I would have blocked out the ball as well."
Catcher Matt Wieters capitalized two pitches later with an RBI single up the middle for a 1-0 lead.
Following an infield single by shortstop J.J. Hardy, Elvis Andrus bobbled a potential double-play ball to load the bases. Second baseman Brian Roberts then grounded one through the gap to the opposite field to push the lead to 2-0.
The 22-year-old Perez (L, 3-3) settled down, striking out the next two hitters and forcing a groundout to end the inning and limit the damage.
But Baltimore wasn't finished.
Consecutive doubles by Wieters and Hardy in the third inning extended the lead to 3-0. All-Star third baseman Manny Machado added an RBI-double in the fourth.
The Rangers threatened in the fifth with consecutive singles by Andrus and Murphy, but a costly baserunning mistake limited the rally. With two outs, second baseman Ian Kinsler singled to right field to plate Andrus. Murphy, who received a late stop sign from third base coach Gary Pettis, was caught in a rundown between third and home to end the inning.
"[Gary Pettis] wanted to send him and he second-guessed himself and got caught in between," said manager Ron Washington following the game. "That happens. Next time, just do what you think is right…You can't play the game where you second-guess yourself."
Adrian Beltre hit his 22nd homerun of the season to center field to lead off the ninth inning, finishing the night of Orioles' starter Chris Tillman (W, 12-3). Brian Matusz and former Ranger Darren O'Day combined to finish the game.
The Rangers begin a four-game set with the New York Yankees on Monday night in Arlington. Yu Darvish is set to come off the 15-day DL and start the series opener.
NOTES
- The Rangers have failed to score a first-inning run in the last 10 games. When they do, they are 14-2.
- The team entered the game batting .199 in the first inning, the worst mark in the league.
- Mitch Moreland is batting .190 (16-84) since returning from the DL on June 21. When asked what he is working on to get out of the slump: "Hit the ball. Square it up."
- According to media reports, Alex Rodriguez will not be appearing with the Yankees in the club's upcoming series in Arlington after suffering a setback in his rehab.
- Craig Gentry has two doubles in two games since returning from the DL. He had one extra-base hit in 30 games prior to his DL stint.
- Texas had gone 67 home series of 3+ games without being swept prior to being swept by Toronto June 13-16. They have now been swept twice in their last six home series.
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