Mitch Moreland launched a go-ahead home run off Indians lefty Nick Hagadone in the eighth inning, helping power Texas to a 4-3 victory over Cleveland on Tuesday night. The win marked the seventh in a row for the surging Rangers and put them at .500 for the first time since beating the Astros to earn their third win on April 11.
Texas slugger Prince Fielder fell a triple shy of a cycle in the win, which improved the Rangers’ record to 7-1 on their current nine-game trek through Boston, New York and Cleveland. In those eight games, Fielder has hit .486 (17-for-35) with five home runs and 15 RBIs.
“As good as I’ve seen,” Rangers manager Jeff Banister said of Fielder’s run. “He’s a tremendous hitter. The first two-at bats, you saw two balls driven to left field. And then to come up for the third at-bat and hit the breaking ball out of the ballpark, it’s just exceptional. We needed that obviously, down three, to tie the ballgame up.”
Jason Kipnis and Ryan Raburn each belted a home run in the first inning against Rangers starter Wandy Rodriguez, giving the Tribe a quick 2-0 lead. Rodriguez managed to walk away with a no-decision despite some control woes (five walks in 5 1/3 innings), limiting Cleveland to three runs on four hits.
Indians starter Danny Salazar also ended with a no-decision after allowing three runs on six hits in his 5 2/3 innings. The hard-throwing righty struck out six, issued three walks and gave up all three runs on one pitch. With one out in the fifth inning, Fielder continued his strong May showing with a towering three-run homer to right field.
Indians outfielder Michael Brantley had a chance to swing the game in Cleveland’s favor in the ninth inning, but grounded out to end the game, stranding two runners to finish an 0-for-5 night at the plate.
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