Andrus, Mazara carry Rangers to sweep of Tigers
The Sports Xchange
Aug 17, 2017
ARLINGTON, Texas -- Elvis Andrus had a home run and four RBIs, and Nomar Mazara added a homer and three RBIs as the Texas Rangers completed a three-game sweep of the Detroit Tigers with a 12-6 victory on Wednesday night.
Andrus' 16th home run of the season in the fifth inning produced the go-ahead run, and his two-run single through a drawn-in infield was the key hit in Texas' four-run sixth.
The Rangers shortstop was 3-for-5 with a walk, a stolen base and three runs. He drove in his fourth run with a base hit in the seventh.
Mazara, the Texas right fielder who has 20 RBIs in his past 18 games, was 3-for-5. He hit a two-run homer off Tigers starter Anibal Sanchez in the second and an RBI single in the sixth for the Rangers, who have won six of seven.
Texas left-hander Cole Hamels (8-1) improved to 6-0 this season at home, giving up four runs, eight hits and five walks in six innings. He struck out two and yielded two home runs, including a leadoff homer to Detroit second baseman Ian Kinsler, who quickly ending Hamels' consecutive scoreless inning streak at 11.
Hamels is 16-2 in his career at Globe Life Park in Arlington.
Detroit left-handed reliever Chad Bell (0-1), who gave up the homer to Andrus, took the loss. Bell allowed the one run, three hits and three walks in 2 1/3 innings.
The Tigers used eight pitchers, and they issued seven walks and surrendered 17 hits.
Detroit (53-67) has lost 10 of its last 12 and is 14 games below .500 heading into a home series against the Los Angeles Dodgers that starts Friday. The Tigers fell to 24-39 on the road, the third-worst road record in the American League.
Hamels wasn't his sharpest, allowing baserunners in every inning except the fourth.
With the score tied in the fifth, Hamels worked out of a bases-loaded jam with one out, striking out John Hicks and inducing a popout out of Nicholas Castellanos. Texas second baseman Rougned Odor sprinted out to short right field to make a nice over-the-shoulder catch.
Detroit center fielder Mikie Mahtook had a two-run homer in the third. Mahtook is hitting .342 with five home runs and 14 RBIs since the All-Star break. Kinsler's leadoff home run was the 46th of his career, tied for fourth all time with Jimmy Rollins.
Cabrera was 2-for-2 with a double and two walks, one an intentional pass by Hamels in the fifth.
Adrian Beltre was 2-for-4 with a two-run homer -- the 458th of his career, one back of Detroit's Miguel Cabrera for 37th all time -- and a walk. Shin-Soo Choo also had an RBI, and Joey Gallo hit his 35th home run for the Rangers (59-60).
Sanchez left the game in the third inning with left hamstring tightness and the score tied at 4 after Beltre's two-run homer. He gave up four runs and five hits, including two home runs, and a walk in 2 1/3 innings.
Texas' four-run sixth typified Detroit's recent struggles. The Tigers were plagued by two errors and a hit by pitch in the inning.
Reliever Joe Jimenez's line was three runs (two earned), one hit and a hit batter in one-third of an inning.
After Wednesday night, Beltre is 11-for-15 with seven RBIs in his career off Sanchez. And the third baseman figured prominently in Texas twice erasing two-run deficits.
With Beltre on with a leadoff base hit in the second, Mazara lined a ball off the foul pole to tie the score at 2 with his 15th home run of the season.
Texas trailed 4-2 with Andrus on following a leadoff walk when Beltre drove a two-run homer into the Tigers' bullpen in left-center field for his 13th of the year.
Andrus' home run to center -- his 16th of the season -- in the fifth put Texas up for the first time.
NOTES: Detroit's Ian Kinsler and umpire Angel Hernandez shook hands as the second baseman took his position. Kinsler, who was ejected from Monday's game by Hernandez, lashed out at the umpire on Tuesday, saying, among other things, that "he needs to find another job." ... Texas officials were more specific with what has kept OF Carlos Gomez out of the lineup. Gomez had an infected cyst removed from his back. He was out of the lineup a third straight game, but he was available. ... Texas LHP Jake Diekman, out all season after three surgeries on his colon, will begin a rehab assignment with Double-A Frisco on Thursday. He is slated to throw 15 pitches.
Aug 17, 2017
ARLINGTON, Texas -- Elvis Andrus had a home run and four RBIs, and Nomar Mazara added a homer and three RBIs as the Texas Rangers completed a three-game sweep of the Detroit Tigers with a 12-6 victory on Wednesday night.
Andrus' 16th home run of the season in the fifth inning produced the go-ahead run, and his two-run single through a drawn-in infield was the key hit in Texas' four-run sixth.
The Rangers shortstop was 3-for-5 with a walk, a stolen base and three runs. He drove in his fourth run with a base hit in the seventh.
Mazara, the Texas right fielder who has 20 RBIs in his past 18 games, was 3-for-5. He hit a two-run homer off Tigers starter Anibal Sanchez in the second and an RBI single in the sixth for the Rangers, who have won six of seven.
Texas left-hander Cole Hamels (8-1) improved to 6-0 this season at home, giving up four runs, eight hits and five walks in six innings. He struck out two and yielded two home runs, including a leadoff homer to Detroit second baseman Ian Kinsler, who quickly ending Hamels' consecutive scoreless inning streak at 11.
Hamels is 16-2 in his career at Globe Life Park in Arlington.
Detroit left-handed reliever Chad Bell (0-1), who gave up the homer to Andrus, took the loss. Bell allowed the one run, three hits and three walks in 2 1/3 innings.
The Tigers used eight pitchers, and they issued seven walks and surrendered 17 hits.
Detroit (53-67) has lost 10 of its last 12 and is 14 games below .500 heading into a home series against the Los Angeles Dodgers that starts Friday. The Tigers fell to 24-39 on the road, the third-worst road record in the American League.
Hamels wasn't his sharpest, allowing baserunners in every inning except the fourth.
With the score tied in the fifth, Hamels worked out of a bases-loaded jam with one out, striking out John Hicks and inducing a popout out of Nicholas Castellanos. Texas second baseman Rougned Odor sprinted out to short right field to make a nice over-the-shoulder catch.
Detroit center fielder Mikie Mahtook had a two-run homer in the third. Mahtook is hitting .342 with five home runs and 14 RBIs since the All-Star break. Kinsler's leadoff home run was the 46th of his career, tied for fourth all time with Jimmy Rollins.
Cabrera was 2-for-2 with a double and two walks, one an intentional pass by Hamels in the fifth.
Adrian Beltre was 2-for-4 with a two-run homer -- the 458th of his career, one back of Detroit's Miguel Cabrera for 37th all time -- and a walk. Shin-Soo Choo also had an RBI, and Joey Gallo hit his 35th home run for the Rangers (59-60).
Sanchez left the game in the third inning with left hamstring tightness and the score tied at 4 after Beltre's two-run homer. He gave up four runs and five hits, including two home runs, and a walk in 2 1/3 innings.
Texas' four-run sixth typified Detroit's recent struggles. The Tigers were plagued by two errors and a hit by pitch in the inning.
Reliever Joe Jimenez's line was three runs (two earned), one hit and a hit batter in one-third of an inning.
After Wednesday night, Beltre is 11-for-15 with seven RBIs in his career off Sanchez. And the third baseman figured prominently in Texas twice erasing two-run deficits.
With Beltre on with a leadoff base hit in the second, Mazara lined a ball off the foul pole to tie the score at 2 with his 15th home run of the season.
Texas trailed 4-2 with Andrus on following a leadoff walk when Beltre drove a two-run homer into the Tigers' bullpen in left-center field for his 13th of the year.
Andrus' home run to center -- his 16th of the season -- in the fifth put Texas up for the first time.
NOTES: Detroit's Ian Kinsler and umpire Angel Hernandez shook hands as the second baseman took his position. Kinsler, who was ejected from Monday's game by Hernandez, lashed out at the umpire on Tuesday, saying, among other things, that "he needs to find another job." ... Texas officials were more specific with what has kept OF Carlos Gomez out of the lineup. Gomez had an infected cyst removed from his back. He was out of the lineup a third straight game, but he was available. ... Texas LHP Jake Diekman, out all season after three surgeries on his colon, will begin a rehab assignment with Double-A Frisco on Thursday. He is slated to throw 15 pitches.
