MLB
  Scores
  Schedules
  Standings
  Statistics
  Transactions
  Injuries: AL | NL
  Players
  Weekly Lineup
  Message Board
  Minor Leagues
  MLB Stat Search

Clubhouses

Sport Sections
  Thursday, May 18 8:05pm ET
Rangers' formidable offense keeps rolling
 
  RECAP | BOX SCORE | GAME LOG

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) -- The Texas Rangers believe there's no such thing as a lost cause, and the way their offense is clicking, it's hard to argue with them.

Frank Catalanotto
Frank Catalanotto of the Rangers connects for a single in the first inning Thursday, his ninth consecutive hit.
David Segui hit a go-ahead, three-run homer that capped a six-run sixth inning Thursday night as the Rangers rallied to beat the Baltimore Orioles 8-7.

"We've proven we can come back," said Segui, who is recovering from the flu. "We don't give up, not as long as we have any outs left. Even when we're down, I think the opposition knows we're not going to roll over and go through the motions."

Mike Lamb had three doubles and Frank Catalanotto had three hits for the Rangers (21-20), who have won four straight and seven of nine to move over .500 for the first time since April 15 (6-5).

Texas started the night first in the league in hits, slugging and on-base percentage and second in runs, total bases and RBIs. With their 13-hit attack, the Rangers' team batting average improved to .306.

"We've got a lot of guys getting on base, and that's the key to scoring runs," Rangers manager Johnny Oates said. "It's a nice win to come back from that many runs down."

Baltimore, which has lost 13 of 15, took a 7-2 advantage into the sixth before going on to squander another lead. The blown save was the 11th for the Orioles this season.

"I don't think I've ever seen anything like this is all my years," Orioles manager Mike Hargrove said. "It will turn around. You keep confidence in people. We pitched our way into it and we've got to pitch our way out of it."

Catalanotto extended his streak of consecutive at-bats with hits to a team-record 10 with a third-inning single, then grounded out in the fourth. He had a two-run single off starter Sidney Ponson in the sixth, and Rafael Palmeiro had an RBI single off B.J. Ryan (1-3) that made it 7-5.

Segui hit Ryan's first pitch into the left-center field bullpen for an 8-7 lead.

Ryan was unable to get away with a fastball over the plate to Segui, who raised his average to .351.

"When you're going good, you make a bad pitch and you get a pop-up," Ryan said. "When you're going bad, you make a bad pitch and it ends up 10 rows deep."

Rick Helling (6-1) won his fourth straight decision despite allowing seven runs, 10 hits and four walks in six innings.

"I didn't think I pitched that badly," he said. "It's a good night when you give up seven runs and your teammates battle back for you to win."

John Wetteland pitched a perfect ninth for his eighth save in 11 chances and tied Jeff Montgomery for ninth place on the career list at 304.

Ponson allowed six runs and 10 hits in 5 2/3 innings.

Albert Belle's RBI groundout and Harold Baines' run-scoring double gave Baltimore a 2-0 lead in the first, and the Orioles made it 4-0 in the second on Brady Anderson's RBI single and Delino DeShields' sacrifice fly.

Texas got a run in the second on Royce Clayton's RBI single and another in the third on Chad Curtis' run-scoring double.

Greg Myers hit his first homer of the season in the fourth, then drew a bases-loaded walk in the fifth for a 6-2 lead. Brady Anderson homered in the sixth.

Notes: With a third-inning single, Catalanotto set a Rangers record with his 10th consecutive hit. Three Rangers shared the previous mark of eight, including Ivan Rodriguez in 1993. Catalanotto reached base 12 consecutive times, breaking the old club mark of 11 set by Todd Zeile in 1998. ... Lamb tied a team record with three doubles. The feat has been accomplished 15 times. ... Rodriguez was replaced in the starting lineup by C Bill Haselman as gave the defending AL MVP the night off for only the sixth time this season. ... Myers' homer was only his second hit of the season. He went 3-for-3 after coming in 1-for-8.

 


ALSO SEE
Baseball Scoreboard

Baltimore Clubhouse

Texas Clubhouse


Music to my ears: Rangers' Clayton, Curtis make peace


RECAPS
Detroit 0
Cleveland 0

Texas 8
Baltimore 7

Minnesota 10
Oakland 5

Cincinnati 4
Pittsburgh 3

Houston 0
Milwaukee 0

Atlanta 3
San Francisco 2

Los Angeles 0
Chicago Cubs 0

San Diego 6
Florida 2

Arizona 8
Montreal 6

St. Louis 7
Philadelphia 2

Colorado 0
NY Mets 0