Recap: Texas vs. Cleveland
Sports Network | August 24, 2008
Arlington, TX (Sports Network) - Jamey Carroll knocked in the go-ahead run in the eighth with a pinch-hit single as the Cleveland Indians edged the Texas Rangers 8-7, in the middle contest of a three-game series.
Ryan Garko had a pair of hits and two RBI while Grady Sizemore had two hits and a run scored with three stolen bases for Cleveland, which has won six straight. Rafael Perez (3-3) picked up the win with a scoreless seventh.
Michael Young hit a two-run homer and knocked in three, and Gerald Laird had a pair of hits and as many RBI for Texas, which has dropped five of its last six.
Cleveland forged ahead with a run off Jamey Wright (6-5), who remained after pitching the seventh. Kelly Shoppach reached on a single deflected by Wright and moved to second on a passed ball. Franklin Gutierrez came on for Shoppach as a pinch-runner while Carroll stepped in as the pinch-hitter and poked a single into right field to score him.
Jensen Lewis struck out the side in the ninth to preserve the victory and notch his sixth save of the season.
Rangers starter Brandon McCarthy struggled and exited after four innings having given up one run on three hits with four walks in making his season debut. The right-hander spent a majority of the season on the disabled list with right forearm inflammation. Indians starter Jeremy Sowers was battered for seven runs on eight hits, while walking one over 3 2/3 frames in the no- decision.
After a one hour, 14 minute rain delay to start the game, Cleveland put a run on the board in the first. Sizemore and David Dellucci walked to start the game, executed a double steal, and Jhonny Peralta brought in Sizemore with a sacrifice fly.
Texas tied it up in the third when Chris Davis doubled with one away, moved to third on a Joaquin Arias single and scored on a Young single to right.
Six more runs came home in the fourth. Marlon Byrd stroked an RBI double to left after Milton Bradley walked and Hank Blalock singled. Laird followed by lining a two-run double to center and an Arias single to center plated a run two batters later. Young stepped in later in the frame and sent a two-out, two-run homer out to left-center, ending Sowers' night.
Josh Rupe took over for McCarthy in the fifth and promptly let the Tribe put up a six-run inning of their own to tie the game 7-7. After a double-play groundout from Dellucci, things seemed to be well at hand but Rupe loaded the bases with two walks and by hitting Peralta. Shin-Soo Choo walked to force in a run then Garko singled to bring in two more.
Warner Madrigal stepped in and watched Shoppach connect on a first-pitch fastball over left field wall for a game-tying three-run homer.
Cleveland now leads the season series, 5-4...The Rangers recalled McCarthy from Triple-A Oklahoma Saturday. To make room on the roster, the team optioned pitcher Kameron Loe to Triple-A Oklahoma...The Rangers are now 2-6 in the midst of a nine-game homestand...Vicente Padilla (12-7) for Texas and Anthony Reyes (2-1) for Cleveland are scheduled to start Sunday's series finale.
