ARLINGTON, Texas — This time, Cliff Lee was rewarded for a quality start with his 99th career victory.
Lee (Benton, Arkansas Razorbacks) allowed five hits over 8 1 /3 innings to outpitch fellow All-Star Jered Weaver, and the Texas Rangers beat the Los Angeles Angels 3-2 on Thursday night to give the American League West leaders a season-high six-game lead over the second-place Angels.
Lee (9-4) struck out four and didn’t walk a batter in his third start since he was acquired from Seattle in a six-player deal July 9.
“Anytime you go out and give the team a chance to win, it feels good,” Lee said after his first victory for Texas. “Got the first one out of the way.”
Lee was the loser in a 6-1 defeat to Baltimore in his Rangers debut on July 10, but he went nine innings. Lee lasted nine innings in his second start for Texas on July 17, a no-decision in a game the Rangers lost to Boston 3-2 in 11 innings.
Lee retired Bobby Abreu on a fly ball to open the ninth, then seemed surprised when Manager Ron Washington walked to the mound. After a discussion, Washington brought in closer Neftali Feliz, who got Torii Hunter (Pine Bluff) and Mike Napoli to fly out for his 26th save.
Washington was booed by some in the crowd for the pitching change, but he felt that Lee had done enough throwing 99 pitches on a hot night.
“I told him he took us far enough,” Washington said. “I thought tonight he worked pretty hard, and it would have been a disaster for him ... one pitch and everything would have gone down the drain. So I brought the closer in.”
Lee wanted to finish what he started, but he didn’t argue, handing Washington the ball after the manager motioned for Feliz to enter the game.
Weaver (9-6) gave up 3 runs and 7 hits in 6 innings with 5 strikeouts and 2 walks in a game that had something of a playoff feel.
Lee was just a little better.
“Give Lee credit,” Angels Manager Mike Scioscia said. “On the mound, he controlled the tempo of the game. We couldn’t bunch many hits and he didn’t walk anybody.”
Michael Young homered and Josh Hamilton drove in the go-ahead run with a double in the sixth as the Rangers opened a stretch of seven games against the Angels over an 11-day span.
“Each game with these guys now is important,” Weaver said. “Falling six back isn’t where we want to be. We’re not used to this, but we’re not going to give up. They have a great club over there and if you make any mistakes, they make you pay for it.”
With one out in the sixth and the score tied 1-1, Vladimir Guerrero, who starred for the Angels in 2004-2009, stretched what should have been a single into a double after slapping an outside pitch to right-center.
Hamilton followed with a double to the gap in left-center to score Guerrero and put the Rangers ahead for good.
Hamilton went to third on Nelson Cruz’s infield single off the glove of second baseman Howie Kendrick,and Hamilton slid home on ex-Angel Bengie Molina’s sacrifice fly to extend Texas’ lead to 3-1.
Napoli homered for the Angels in the seventh.
YANKEES 10, ROYALS 4
Alex Rodriguez hit his 599th home run, Derek Jeter had an inside-thepark home run and host New York beat Kansas City Royals. Jorge Posada had a go-ahead double and a throwing error that cost New York a run and put Yuniesky Betancourt on second after striking out. But the Yankees rebounded to help CC Sabathia (13-3) win his ninth consecutive decision.
TWINS 5, ORIOLES 0
Carl Pavano pitched a five-hitter for his career-best seventh consecutive victory and visiting Minnesota beat incensed Baltimore. Pavano (12-6) struck out four and walked one in his fifth complete game of the season and 12th of his career. The right-hander is 7-0 in nine starts since June 3. Orioles first baseman Ty Wigginton, pitching coach Rick Kranitz and interim manager Juan Samuel were ejected in the seventh inning.
TIGERS 5, BLUE JAYS 2 Miguel Cabrera started a three-run eighth inning with an RBI double and Justin Verlander settled down after a rocky start to go eight innings in host Detroit’s victory over Toronto. Verlander (12-5) struggled through the first 2 innings but ended up allowing 2 runs and 8 hits. He walked two batters in the first but didn’t issue another walk.
National League PHILLIES 2, CARDINALS 0 Placido Polanco homered leading off the 11th inning, and the Philadelphia Phillies survived another poor offensive showing to end host St. Louis’ eight-game winning streak and avert a four-game sweep. Cole Hamels allowed one hit in eight innings.
MARLINS 3, ROCKIES 2 Ronny Paulino hit the winning single for host Florida with the bases loaded and none out in the ninth inning to beat Colorado.
BRAVES 8, PADRES 0 Tim Hudson dominated San Diego again, Alex Gonzalez finished his first homestand in Atlanta with four hits and the Braves rolled to an easy victory over the Padres. Hudson (10-5) allowed only four hits in seven scoreless innings. He is 5-0 in nine career appearances against the Padres, including two victories this season.
NATIONALS 7, REDS 1 Adam Dunn hit a two run home run off Edinson Volquez (1-1), who had a rough time in his second start since elbow surgery, and Washington earned a four-game series split against host Cincinnati.
BREWERS 3, PIRATES 2 Yovani Gallardo came off the disabled list and pitched six shutout innings for Milwaukee in its victory over host Pittsburgh. Gallardo (9-4), named to his first All-star game the day he sustained a left oblique strain in St. Louis on July 4, did not allow a runner to advance past second base. He gave up five hits and a walk, striking out five.
Thursday’s games
NATIONAL LEAGUE Florida 3, Colorado 2 Washington 7, Cincinnati 1 Atlanta 8, San Diego 0 Philadelphia 2, St. Louis 0, 11 innings Milwaukee 3, Pittsburgh 2 San Francisco 3, Arizona 0 NY Mets at LA Dodgers, (n) AMERICAN LEAGUE Detroit 5, Toronto 2 NY Yankees 10, Kansas City 4 Minnesota 5, Baltimore 0 Texas 3, LA Angels 2 Boston at Seattle, (n)
Sports, Pages 19 on 07/23/2010