Clint Barmes provided a spark knocking in 3 runs against San Diego native Cole Hamels while pitcher Ian Kennedy struck out a season-high 12 batters. But in the end, the team that appears to be heading to the postseason eked out a 4-3 victory in extra innings.
The Rangers scored the go-ahead run in the top of the 10th inning on a double by Mitch Moreland.
Barmes knows how to put the ball in play against Hamels. Barmes is batting over .350 against the lefty since joining the Friars. He was a thorn in the side of the former Phillie dating back to his days in a Colorado Rockies uniform.
He smacked a 2-run single in the 4th to give San Diego a 2-1 lead, and then in the 6th he reached safely on a fielder’s choice that should have been a double play. Lady Luck helped Justin Upton touch home plate on the play to give Barmes his 3rd RBI of the contest.
Kennedy struck out the side with gusto in the 7th inning to cap off a solid outing. But other than Barmes, there was little help from the Friars’ offense.
These are the types of games a team that has playoff aspirations finds a way to win. The Rangers new ace on the mound pitched 7 strong innings and gave them a chance to succeed.
For the second straight night, Elvis Andrus made a devastating play to swing the game in favor of the Rangers.
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Tuesday the shortstop stole home to provide an exclamation point in a 4-run 7th inning that led to an eventual 8-6 victory.
In the rubber match, Andrus gloved a grounder with the potential tying run on 2nd base and instead of throwing to first, he caught Yangervis Solarte in no-man’s land and tagged him for a crucial 2nd out in the bottom of the 10th inning. San Diego’s last gasp was snuffed out.
Two more reasons why Texas looks like a wildcard team in the American League and the Padres unfortunately look like a 4th place squad in their division.
