Baltimore, MD (Sports Network) - Brandon Snyder belted a three-run blast and
knocked in six runs as the Rangers pounded out 19 hits to beat the Orioles,
14-3, in the opener of a four-game set at Camden Yards on Monday.
Matt Harrison (4-2) allowed three runs on six hits and a walk over seven
frames. Michael Young and Josh Hamilton each smacked two-run homers while
Nelson Cruz finished with three hits and three runs scored to help the Rangers
earn their second win in three tries.
Brian Matusz (1-4) surrendered seven runs on 10 hits and two walks over five-
plus innings of work. Wilson Betemit crushed a two-run homer and Robert Andino
added a solo blast, but the O's saw their five-game win streak come to an end.
"He never really got into a good rhythm," said Baltimore manager Buck
Showalter about Matusz. "It's a good right-handed hitting lineup and they
squared up a lot of balls off him."
Adrian Beltre worked a four-pitch walk to start the second and Cruz followed
two batters later with a double the other way to put runners on second and
third with one out.
Mike Napoli then flew out to shallow left, but Snyder picked him up with a
liner into center field, plating Beltre and Cruz for a 2-0 lead.
Ian Kinsler started the third with a single and Elvis Andrus followed with a
double before Hamilton walked to load the bases with no outs. A sacrifice fly
from Young two batters later scored Kinsler before Matusz fanned Cruz to end
the threat with minimal damage.
In the sixth, Young, Cruz and Napoli smacked consecutive singles to start the
frame, with Napoli's plating Young for a 4-0 lead. Snyder then launched a
three-run blast over the wall in right-center field, extending the margin to
7-0 with no outs in the sixth and marking the end of Matusz's day.
Andino got the O's on the board in the sixth with a solo shot and Betemit
tacked on a two-run blast in the seventh to make it a 7-3 game.
But Texas blew the game open in the ninth as Young and Hamilton each launched
two-run blasts and Andrus added a run-scoring double in a seven-run inning
that found the Rangers holding a 14-3 lead.
Game Notes
Harrison improved to 4-0 lifetime against the Orioles...Texas has now won six
straight against the O's after taking the final five in 2011...Baltimore's
Matt Wieters extended his hit streak to eight games with a single in the
seventh.
The Sports Network