Michael Young had three hits, including a two-run home run, and four RBIs and the Texas Rangers continued their mid-season surge by crushing the Pittsburgh Pirates, 13-3, on Wednesday night.
Texas is riding a 10-game winning streak, and matched its season-high for runs scored and winning margin.
Young started the Rangers’ offensive outburst with a two-run blast in the first inning. Then the Rangers scored five runs in the second with RBI singles from Ian Kinsler, Vladimir Guerrero, David Murphy, Nelson Cruz and a sacrifice fly from Matt Treanor.
The Rangers added six more in the sixth, highlighted by run-scoring doubles from Young and Kinsler.
Rangers reliever Alexi Ogando (3-0) threw three scoreless innings to pick up the victory. Starter Dustin Nippert went three innings, allowing two runs on four hits with four walks and seven strikeouts.
Pittsburgh starter Paul Maholm (4-6) went one-plus innings, allowing seven runs - five earned - on seven hits with four walks and no strikeouts.
The Pirates scored single runs in the second, on Delwyn Young’s double, third, on Pedro Alvarez’s single, and seventh, on Neil Walker’s sacrifice fly.
Pittsburgh | Texas | |
Paul Maholm | Player | Dustin Nippert |
Loss | W/L | No Decision |
1.0 | IP | 3.0 |
0 | Strikeouts | 7 |
7 | Hits | 4 |
45.00 | ERA | 6.00 |
Pittsburgh | Texas | |
Bobby Crosby | Player | Michael Young |
2 | Hits | 3 |
0 | RBI | 4 |
0 | HR | 1 |
3 | TB | 7 |
.500 | Avg | .750 |
Team | Hits | HR | TB | Avg | LOB | K | RBI | BB | SB | Errors |
Pittsburgh | 6 | 0 | 8 | .188 | 10 | 12 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 1 |
Texas | 17 | 1 | 22 | .415 | 26 | 3 | 13 | 7 | 0 | 0 |