Josh Hamilton extended his hitting streak to 21 games with a two-run homer as the Texas Rangers pounded Roy Oswalt and the Houston Astros 10-1 on Sunday.
Ian Kinsler doubled twice and scored three runs and Matt Treanor drove in a pair for the Rangers, who have won 13 of their last 14 games.
Part of the pregame excitement revolved around Oswalt and trade rumors that have him as a target of Texas before the July 31 deadline. Rangers president Nolan Ryan has spoken glowingly of Oswalt in the past and the right-hander had recently expressed a willingness to waive his no-trade clause to move to Texas.
But Oswalt sure didn’t look like a pitcher the Rangers would want on Sunday, surrendering Hamilton’s blast in the second and a solo shot by Michael Young in the third. Texas grabbed another run on an error in the third and pick up one more in the fourth before Treanor highlighted a three-run fifth with his two-run single.
Oswalt (5-10) lasted just 4 2/3 innings and was charged with eight runs - seven earned - and seven hits while walking four and striking out three.
Tommy Hunter (4-0) picked up the win for Texas, allowing one run on five hits in six innings with one strikeout and two walks. Hunter, 23, has not allowed more than two earned runs in any of his five starts this season.
Houston | Texas | |
Roy Oswalt | Player | Tommy Hunter |
Loss | W/L | Win |
4.2 | IP | 6.0 |
3 | Strikeouts | 1 |
7 | Hits | 5 |
13.50 | ERA | 1.50 |
Houston | Texas | |
Jason Castro | Player | Ian Kinsler |
2 | Hits | 2 |
0 | RBI | 0 |
0 | HR | 0 |
2 | TB | 4 |
1.000 | Avg | .500 |