Recap: Texas vs. Cleveland
Sports Network | August 23, 2008
Arlington, TX (Sports Network) - Fausto Carmona tossed six strong innings as the Cleveland Indians held on for a 7-5 victory over the Texas Rangers in the opener of a three-game set.
Carmona (6-5) dazzled the Texas bats scattering six hits in allowing one unearned run while walking three and fanning five. Jensen Lewis picked up his fifth save of the season in an eventful ninth while Ryan Garko had a two-run double. Ben Francisco had three hits and an RBI for the Indians, who have now won five straight and six of seven.
Marlon Byrd hit a three-run homer while Brandon Boggs had a solo shot. Jarrod Saltalamacchia had two hits and an RBI in defeat for Texas, which has dropped four of its last five.
Matt Harrison (5-3) labored over 90 pitches in 3 2/3 innings, giving up five runs on seven hits and two walks. The rookie southpaw had won three straight starts coming in.
The Tribe battered Harrison for five runs over the first two frames. Garko smacked a two-run, two-out double in the first. Sal Fasano started the second with a single and Andy Marte drove a triple to deep right-center. Asdrubal Cabrera followed with a sacrifice fly and Jhonny Peralta came through with a two-out RBI single.
Texas finally got to Carmona in the fourth as the right-hander effectively gave away a run. Chris Davis reached on an error by Carmona with one away, moved to second on a wild pitch and came home when Saltalamacchia bounced a single through the right side.
Kameron Loe came on in relief of Harrison and pulled the plug on Cleveland's offense with 4 1/3 shutout innings but the Rangers couldn't solve Carmona. Rafael Perez picked up where Carmona left off with a perfect seventh frame but started the eighth with back-to-back walks to Milton Bradley and Hank Blalock. Byrd followed with a three-run homer just over the left field wall to make it a one-run game at 5-4. Perez recovered to retire the next three in order heading to the ninth.
Cleveland gave themselves some breathing room with a pair of runs in the ninth off Eddie Guardado. Cabrera drew a leadoff walk, moved to third on a Jamey Carroll single and scored when Francisco stroked a double to deep right- center. Guardado gave Peralta a free pass to load the bases with one out before Garko popped out but Franklin Gutierrez worked a walk, forcing in a run. Frank Francisco replaced Guardado and got Fasano swinging on three pitches.
Lewis came on for the ninth and allowed a leadoff homer to Boggs, a shot to dead-center just over the outstretched glove of center fielder Grady Sizemore. Michael Young followed with a single but Lewis bared down and got Josh Hamilton looking at strike three and Frank Catalanotto swinging. Blalock hit a humpback liner to short to end the game.
Cleveland tied the season series at four games apiece with the win. Cleveland took six of nine matchups last season...The Rangers reinstated Blalock from the 15-day disabled list Friday after the infielder recovered from inflammation in his right shoulder. In a corresponding move, Texas optioned third baseman Travis Metcalf to Triple-A Oklahoma...The Rangers are now 2-5 in the midst of a nine-game homestand...Saturday's scheduled starts are Jeremy Sowers (2-6) for Cleveland and the Rangers' Brandon McCarthy, who will be making his 2008 debut.
