Rangers take 3 straight to win series

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.- The Texas Rangers went into Thursday’s game against the Tampa Bay Rays, looking to pick up their third consecutive win, and take the series three games to one.

Texas got on the board first in the top of the second, when Nick Solak hit a solo homer, his second of the season. The Rangers had another chance in the top of the third, with two outs and the bases loaded, but Adolis Garcia grounded out to short, stranding the runners on base. Tampa answered back in the bottom of the frame, tying things up at 1-1.

Nate Lowe, one of the Rangers’ more consistent hitters this season, led the top of the fourth off with a single to left. After a fielder’s choice from Solak, Charlie Culberson hit a two-run bomb, giving Texas their lead back at 3-1.

Tampa kept their bats rolling, however, putting together a two-out rally, that was capped off with a two-run shot of their own, tying things back up at 3-3.

In the top of the fifth it was Solak, who once again came through for Texas. With two outs and runners on first and second, Solak singled to center, bringing in Joey Gallo who walked earlier in the frame, to regain their lead at 4-3.

After a pair of scoreless frames, Tampa would tie the game up at 4-4 in the bottom of the seventh on a bizarre play. With runners on first and second, catcher Jose Trevino threw back at the runner on second base, and the ball got in to center field where Leody Taveras made a bad throw to third base, allowing the runner on second to come in to score.

Both teams were quiet in the eighth and ninth, and Rangers fans got to see their first extra innings game of the new season. Starting with a runner on second and no outs, Gallo came up to lead the inning off, but went down swinging. With one out and a runner on second, Garcia homered to right, giving the Rangers a 6-4 lead on his first career home run.

Closer Ian Kennedy came in to shut the door in the bottom of the 10th, and did so, retiring the Rays in order, securing the Rangers 6-4 win, and completing the series win.

The Rangers came into their four-game set agains the Rays with a record of just 3-6, but walk away with a 6-7 record, just two games back of the division leading Seattle Mariners. Texas returns home for a three-game series agains the Baltimore Orioles. First pitch for Saturday’s game is set for 6:05 p.m. before closing things out on Sunday with a 1:35 p.m. start.