Rangers Hit Brakes Before Skid Hits 11
American League
The Texas Rangers were well on the way to their 11th straight loss when, suddenly, things finally started going their way.
Will Clark and Mickey Tettleton hit consecutive RBI doubles in the eighth inning, and the Rangers ended their 10-game skid by beating the Orioles 2-1 Thursday in Baltimore.
The Rangers were on the verge of their fourth consecutive one-run loss before rallying to beat the Orioles for the first time in five games this season. The 10-game losing streak was the longest in the majors this season and Texas’ worst since a 12-game drought in 1982.
“Everybody was aware of it,” Tettleton said. “We couldn’t get that one big hit we needed, we couldn’t get the one big out we needed. Fortunately, tonight we got both of them.”
After Clark and Tettleton delivered the clutch hits, the Rangers’ maligned bullpen shut down the Orioles. The biggest out came in the last of the ninth, when catcher Ivan Rodriguez threw out pinch-runner Jeff Huson attempting to steal.
Baltimore went quietly after that. Bret Barberie drove in the only run for the Orioles, who were seeking their fourth straight victory and first three-game sweep of Texas since 1990.
“It was a tough game to lose,” Baltimore manager Phil Regan said. “We had some chances, but we didn’t capitalize on them.”
That had been the Rangers’ lament since July 16, date of their last victory.
Angels 9, Brewers 3
Milwaukee
Jim Edmonds and Tim Salmon each drove in three runs as California beat Milwaukee for its third straight win.
White Sox 5, Red Sox 4
Boston
Tim Raines’ two-out single off Rick Aguilera scored Lance Johnson in the ninth inning as Chicago beat Boston.
Yankees 1, Royals 0
Kansas City, Mo.
Andy Pettitte threw a four-hitter for 7-1/3 innings as New York topped fading Kansas City.
Blue Jays 9, Twins 2
Toronto
Roberto Alomar drove in three runs and rookie Edwin Hurtado (3-0) hurled his first complete game as Toronto defeated Minnesota for its eighth victory in nine games.
Athletics 11, Tigers 3
Detroit
Stan Javier drove in a career-best four runs and Oakland snapped a five-game losing streak by whipping Detroit.
Clearing the bases
The Twins are 6-19 in day games this season and have been outscored 158-79. … Oakland won for just the third time in its last 14 games with all three victories over the Tigers. … Cecil Fielder and Kirk Gibson, who normally bat 4-5 in Detroit’s order against right-handers, haven’t homered since July 6 and June 27, respectively. … Kevin Appier, who pitched two hitless innings in the All-Star Game and was 11-2 at one point this season for Kansas City, went on the 15-day disabled list with a sore right shoulder and an 11-7 record. … Red Sox catcher Mike Macfarlane has been hit by a pitch 11 times this season, tops in the A.L.