Rangers Blast Orioles, 19-6; Kinsler Hits Historic Six-Hit Cycle

After starting the season so well, the Texas Rangers dropped the next five games. After the latest loss on Tuesday night, the team had their first post-game meeting of the season. 

The purpose of the meeting was for the players to identify the problems and make each other accountable for the mistakes that cost the team at least two of those five games lost.

The result was a 19-6 slashing of the Baltimore Orioles and avoiding the three-game sweep.

The game had an inauspicious start with the Orioles scoring two runs in the top of the first off Rangers' starter, and former Oriole Kris Benson.

In the bottom half of the first inning, Ian Kinsler led off with a double off the left-field wall. More on him later.

Josh Hamilton notched his eighth RBI of the season when he singled in Kinsler.

Baltimore got the run back a half inning later when outfielder Adam Jones drew a bases loaded walk.

In the third inning the Rangers took the lead and took it for good. Kinsler launched a one-out solo home run, his third of the season. Later in the inning with two outs, Hank Blalock singled in Hamilton and Marlon Byrd doubled in Andruw Jones.

The Ranger offensive explosion came in the fourth inning when the team scored eight runs to increase the score to 12-3.

The inning was highlighted by Nelson Cruz’s fifth home run of the season. A two-out, grand slam on the first pitch from newly-promoted relief pitcher Radhames Liz. Kinsler recorded two singles in the inning, including one that scored shortstop Elvis Andrus, who tripled on the pitch before.

Texas added a 13th run in the fifth when Jones crushed his third double of the season and Byrd followed with an RBI single. Baltimore responded with Chad Moeller’s first home run of the season, a solo shot.

In the bottom of the sixth the stage was set for Kinsler, only needing a triple to complete the cycle, and on a 3-2 pitch he drove the ball into right-center field. 

The ball one hopped into the right-center field corner of the ballpark. Kinsler burst out of the batter’s box from contact, and slid head-first into third way ahead of the throw for the triple.

Kinsler became the fourth Ranger to hit for the cycle, the others were Oddibe McDowell (1985,) Mark Teixeira (2004,) and Gary Matthews Jr. (2006.)

Kinsler also got another RBI on the hit and after a Michael Young ground out scoring Kinsler from third, the Rangers led 15-4.

In the bottom of the eighth, Kinsler notched his sixth hit of the game, an RBI double scoring Andrus. Kinsler later scored on a sacrifice fly from Blalock.

After a Byrd single, his fifth hit of the evening, the bases were loaded once again for Nelson Cruz.

Cruz, looking for his second Grand Slam of the game, powered a ball down the left field line, but the ball’s trajectory was too low and it slammed off the wall for a two-RBI double.

Adam Jones hit a two-run home run in the ninth to finish the scoring onslaught with a Ranger 19-6 win. Those of you might remember that the Rangers beat the Orioles last season in Baltimore 30-3, and years ago 26-7.

RANGER HIGHLIGHTS:

Ian Kinsler: 6-6, two singles, two doubles, triple, home run, five runs, four RBI, SB

Marlon Byrd: 5-6, double, three RBI, one run

Nelson Cruz: 2-5, double, home run (Grand Slam,) six RBI

Andruw Jones: 1-3, double, two BB, four runs

Elvis Andrus: 2-3, triple, RBI, four runs