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Wednesday, Aug. 30 8:05pm ET
Rangers lose fifth straight game | |||||
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BOX SCORE
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GAME LOG
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) -- Kenny Lofton's two-base error led to a Texas run, but that made the Cleveland center fielder even more determined to atone for his mistake at the plate. Lofton had three hits and three RBI as the Indians strengthened their position in the AL wild card race with a 5-3 victory over the Rangers on Wednesday night. "The situation just presented itself and I took advantage," said Lofton, who tied the game with an RBI single in the seventh and added a two-run double in the eighth. "We're just in a position where we've got to win games. That's the bottom line." Lofton has three straight three-hit games. "He's playing like he's capable of," Indians manager Charlie Manuel said. "He made the error, but then he came back with two big hits." Dave Burba pitched six strong innings in 99-degree heat and Roberto Alomar drove in the tiebreaking run with a seventh-inning double for the Indians, who won their third straight and improved to 18-8 since Aug. 2. Cleveland moved 1½ games ahead of Boston in the wild card race. The Red Sox lost 3-1 to Tampa Bay. "It ain't big enough," said Manuel of the lead. "We want more." Burba (12-6) allowed one run and six hits, struck out three and walked three. He said he understood Lofton's desire to make up for the error. "When somebody makes a mistake, you want to pick the team up," Burba said. "Guys take pride in that. You want to let your teammates know you're behind them." Cleveland has received effective starting pitching in the first three games of the four-game series. Bartolo Colon, Steve Woodard and Burba each went at least six innings and came away with victories. "When you get pitching like Burba gave us tonight, those are the ones we have to win," Manuel said. "When you lose games like this, you'll pay for it somewhere down the line." Bob Wickman pitched a perfect ninth for his eighth save. Texas has lost five straight and 14 of 18. The Rangers took advantage of a sixth-inning fielding lapse when Lofton misjudged Ricky Ledee's one-out line drive to center field, missing the ball for a two-base error. Rookie Pedro Valdes drove in Ledee with a single. Cleveland came back in the seventh against rookie starter Doug Davis (5-5) when Wil Cordero singled, took second on Einar Diaz's sacrifice bunt, and scored on Lofton's single. Alomar sent the Indians ahead 2-1 in the seventh with his double into the left field corner. Davis allowed two runs and nine hits over 6 2-3 innings. He struck out four and walked two. "It seems like when we pitch well, we can't hit," Davis said. "And when our pitching gives it up, we score six or seven runs. But I can't think if the team is going to score for you. I just think of it as me and the other pitcher." The Indians had a three-run eighth against Tim Crabtree. Travis Fryman doubled, Jim Thome walked, and Cordero singled to drive in Fryman. Lofton added a two-run double just inside the third-base line to make it 5-1. Texas pulled within 5-3 in the eighth on Royce Clayton's two-run single off Steve Karsay. Game notesAfter the game the Indians recalled third baseman Russell Branyan from Triple-A farm team in Buffalo. To make room for Branyan, infielder John McDonald was sent to Class A Kinston. ... Texas' Rafael Palmeiro was ejected in the eighth by home plate umpire Hunter Wendelstedt for complaining about a called third strike. ... The first-pitch temperature of 99 was the hottest for any Rangers home night game this season. ... Cleveland's seventh-inning run snapped a streak of 15 consecutive scoreless innings by Davis, longest by a Texas pitcher this season. ... Cleveland's Manny Ramirez extended his hitting streak to 14 games. ... Texas fell to 16 games under .500 for the first time since the end of the 1988 season (70-91). ... Valdes had his first RBI for Texas. ... Indians catcher Sandy Alomar missed the start with back spasms and is day to day. ... Indians pitcher Charles Nagy is working out with the team between minor league rehab starts. Nagy is on the 60-day DL recovering from elbow surgery. | ALSO SEE Baseball Scoreboard Cleveland Clubhouse Texas Clubhouse RECAPS Kansas City 8 Minnesota 7
Cleveland 5
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