Nolan Writin'
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Texas Rangers Go Yard, Beat Orioles 8-6.

By Reece Waddell

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Colby Lewis recorded the first win of his career at Camden Yards on Tuesday night, as the Texas Rangers beat the Baltimore Orioles 8-6.

After Rougned Odor led off the top of the 1st with a four pitch walk, Shin-Soo Choo flied out to left field and Prince Fielder bounced into a double play, ending the threat.

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Colby Lewis started the bottom of the first strong, retiring the first two batters before forcing Adam Jones to ground a routine ball to Odor at 2nd. Odor seemed to play the ball casually as he bounced it off the heel of his glove, allowing Jones to reach base. Chris Davis would be the next man up and took advantage of the miscue, driving a 3-2 change-up into the seats in right center. The homer extended his hit streak to 10 games and gave Davis 17 home runs on the year and put the Orioles up 2-0.

The Rangers were quick to respond. Josh Hamilton, in his first game since being activated from the disabled list, reached base on a single. That would bring the red-hot Mitch Moreland to the plate, who rocketed a 1-0 offering from Miguel Gonzalez over the right field wall to tie the game at 2.

After Lewis retired the side without event in the 2nd, Robinson Chirinos led off the 3rd inning with a base hit into center field. Odor then reached base on a ball that ricocheted off Gonzalez’ glove and Choo walked to load the bases. Fielder then, after working the count to 2-1, clobbered a fastball into center for an RBI single that put the Rangers ahead 3-2 and more importantly, kept the bases loaded. Beltre then hit a weak grounder to JJ Hardy that turned into an easy 6-4-3 double play before Hamilton grounded out to first to end the inning, limiting the Rangers damage and resulting in a 4-2 Texas lead.

Lewis then ran into trouble again in the 3rd when Davis hit his second two run homer of the game. After getting ahead in the count at 1-0, Davis crushed a 1-0 fastball to right field to tie the game at 4. Matt Wieters then flew out to the warning track to end the frame.

Both teams went quietly in the 4th before the Rangers finally chased Gonzalez from the game in the 5th. Robinson Chirinos led off the inning with a solo home run before Choo got in on the action with an opposite field solo home run of his own to push the Texas lead to 6-4. It wasn’t long before Orioles skipper Buck Showalter came out of the dugout to give Gonzalez the hook. Beltre would then ground into his second double play of the night to end the inning.

Jun 30, 2015; Baltimore, MD, USA; Texas Rangers outfielder Josh Hamilton (32) warms up prior to the game against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports

Manny Machado became the latest Oriole to homer off Lewis in the 5th, driving yet another belt high fastball over the wall in right to cut the Ranger lead to just one run at 6-5.

Lewis pitched an error free sixth inning, providing his sixth quality start of the season. His final line was 6.0 IP, 8 hits, 5 ER, 3 K and 0 BB. Lewis moves to 8-3 on the year.

The score would remain 6-5 until Mitch Moreland homered for the second time in the game. making it consecutive game with two home runs. His two run blast to right center field pushed the Ranger lead to 8-5, as that proved to be all the Rangers needed to beat the O’s.

Shawn Tolleson came on for the first time in 11 days and despite giving up a two out walk and RBI single to move Baltimore within striking distance, recorded his 11th consecutive save of the season.

Game Notes:

The Rangers ended the month of June above .500 at 14-13

Mitch Moreland recorded his second consecutive two home-run game.

The Rangers have hit 8 home runs in their last two games.

Texas has won 25 games on the road this season, the most in Major League Baseball.

Josh Hamilton, in his first game since being activated from the disabled list with a hamstring injury, went 2 for 4 with a nice sliding catch in left field.

Next: Adrian Beltre In Need Of The All Star Break

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