Ian Kinsler had a pair of hits and drove in three runs to help the Texas Rangers to a three-game sweep of the Florida Marlins with Thursday’s 6-4 win.
Vladimir Guerrero hit his 15th home run of the season and Michael Young drove in a run as Texas has won five straight and eight of the past nine to maintain a 2 1/2 game lead in the AL West.
After starter Dustin Nippert pitched three ineffective innings, the bullpen picked him up by allowing just one run the rest of the way. Alexi Ogando (2-0) earned the win with 2 1/3 scoreless frames.
Neftali Feliz worked a perfect ninth for his 18th save.
Trailing by a pair of runs after two innings, the Rangers took the lead at 4-3 on Kinsler’s double to deep left center to bring home two runs. They added to the cushion on Young’s single and Kinsler’s sacrifice fly in the seventh to make it 6-3.
Florida starter Ricky Nolasco (5-6) gave up four runs - two earned - on seven hits in six innings to absorb the loss.
Ronnie Paulino had a pair of first-inning RBIs and Cody Ross and Chris Coghlan each drove in a run in defeat.
Texas | Florida | |
Dustin Nippert | Player | Ricky Nolasco |
No Decision | W/L | Loss |
3.0 | IP | 6.0 |
4 | Strikeouts | 4 |
7 | Hits | 7 |
9.00 | ERA | 3.00 |
Texas | Florida | |
Ian Kinsler | Player | Cody Ross |
2 | Hits | 3 |
3 | RBI | 1 |
0 | HR | 0 |
4 | TB | 4 |
.500 | Avg | .750 |