MLB Game Recaps: Josh Hamilton’s Historic Night Leads Rangers Past O’s

There is something special about Oriole Park at Camden Yards, and not just for fans of the Baltimore Orioles. For the Texas Rangers, Camden Yards has become a very comfortable place to visit. In 2007, the Rangers laid a record-breaking 30 runs on the Orioles in the first game of a double-header. Last night, the Rangers made history again at Baltimore, this time by watching as outfielder Josh Hamilton connected for four home runs, becoming just the 16th player in history to accomplish the feat. The Rangers claimed a 10-3 victory over

Baltimore.

Each time Hamilton went deep, Elvis Andrus was on base ahead of him. The four two-run blasts would be unique enough, but doing so while driving in the same runner with all four home runs, well, that hadn’t been done since Hard Hittin’ Mark Whiten knocked in Gerald Perry with each of his four longballs for the St. Louis Cardinals back in 1993.

For the night, Hamilton added a double in his five at bats, collecting 18 total bases on the night, which sets a new American League record. The last player before Hamilton to record a four-homer game was Toronto’s Carlos Delgado in 2003.

AL Scores

• Chicago White Sox 5
• Cleveland  3 (10 inn)

After sweeping a double-header versus the Sox on Monday, Cleveland looked to make it three straight in the series last night. New ChiSox closer Chris Sale came on for what looked to be a six-out save chance, but before the eighth inning ended, Carlos Santana had tied the game with a two-run single. The score stayed tied until Alexis Rios tripled home the go-ahead run in the tenth against Tribe closer Chris Perez.

• Tampa Bay 3
• NY Yankees 5

Raul Ibanez homered twice and Curtis Granderson extended his streak of reaching base safely to 28-games with a homer of his own. David Robertson struggled in his first save chance since replacing the injured Mariano Rivera, loading the bases in the ninth before striking out Carlos Pena to end the game.

• LA Angels 0
• Minnesota 5

The Angels managed just four hit off Twins’ starter Scott Diamond, who lasted seven frames while striking out six. Dan Haren was roughed up and failed to survive the fourth inning. Ryan Doumit got the party started for Minnesota, connecting for a two-run homer in the first inning. Albert Pujols took an 0-of-4 to drop his average to .190.

• Boston 4
• Kansas City 6

Daniel Bard looked great through seven innings of work at Kauffman Stadium last night, but things fell apart quickly in the eighth. Bard issued walks to the first two batters of the frame before being lifted by manager Bobby Valentine. The Red Sox skipper turned to right hander Matt Albers to face Billy Butler protecting a two-run lead, but Butler wasted little time in putting the Royals ahead with a three-run shot.

• Toronto 3
• Oakland 7

A’s rookie Jarrod Parker and Jays’ ace Ricky Romero each turned in strong outings and this game was tied at two headed to the ninth. Eric Thames tripled to start the frame, but it took a two-out single to bring him home. Francisco Cordero couldn’t hold the lead, however, loading the bases before Brandon Inge sent the A’s fans home happy with a walk-off grand slam.

• Detroit 6
• Seattle 4

It took Justin Verlander 113 pitches to make it through the sixth inning and a shaky effort from the Jose Valverde, who walked three in the ninth, made things interesting, but the Tigers held on to beat the M’s for the first time in five tries this season. Detroit jumped out to a early 5-0 lead on Seattle starter Kevin Millwood. Andy Dirks knocked in three runs for the Tigers.

NL Scores

• NY Mets 7
• Philadelphia 4

Each of New York’s top four hitters collected two hits, including three consecutive two-out RBI singles during the decisive four-run seventh frame. Mets relievers combined to toss 3.2 scoreless innings of relief, allowing just two hits in the process.

• Washington 4
• Pittsburgh 5

Adam LaRoche‘s two-run blast off Bucs’ closer Joel Hanrahan gave the Nats the lead in the ninth, but Henry Rodriguez did his best Hanrahan impression in the bottom of the inning. Rod Barajas too Rodriguez deep for a walk-off winner for the Pirates.

• Atlanta 3
• Chicago Cubs 1

Dan Uggla collected three hits and knocked in a pair, both coming home on an eighth inning single to break a 1-1 tie in Chicago. Kerry Wood took the loss, allowing two runs in an inning of work. The Braves bullpen turned in 3.1 inning of scoreless relief.

• Miami 2
• Houston 3

A costly error by Omar Infante allowed the tying runs to score in the sixth inning, ruining an otherwise stellar effort from Annibal Sanchez. The Astros won it on a RBI double from Brian Bogusevic in the eighth.

• Cincinnati 3
• Milwaukee 8

Homer Bailey was roughed up for six runs on six hits in just 3.2 innings for the Reds. His counterpart, Yovani Gallardo, lasted six frames and struck out eight. Gallardo was one of five Brewers to drive in at least one run, lead by Aramis Ramirez, who brought home three.

• St. Louis 6
• Arizona 1

Carlos Beltran continues to find the fountain of youth with the Cardinals and he connected for a pair of home runs and knocked in all six runs versus the D-backs last night. Arizona’s Aaron Hill went 3-for-4, but the rest of his team batted a paltry 3-for-28. Jake Westbrook struck out eight and allowed just four hits over seven shutout innings.

• Colorado 1
• San Diego 3

Will Venable doubled home the go-ahead run in the fifth after tripling and scoring the first Padre run in the first. That would prove to be all the support need by Jeff Suppan as he held the Rockies to one run in five innings of work. Suppan improved to 2-0 on the campaign.

•  San Francisco 2
• LA Dodgers 1

Clayton Kershaw really just made one mistake all night, but it cost his club the game. In the second inning, Brett Pill took Kershaw deep and over the wall in left for a two-run homer. Through Giants’ starter Ryan Vogelsong was in trouble all night, the Dodgers couldn’t break through and wasted another strong performance by their ace.

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