Texas MLB Capsules: Astros rally to beat Diamondbacks 6-5
PHOENIX (AP) — Carlos Lee has been an RBI machine for the Houston Astros since the end of July.
He tacked on four more Saturday night.
Lee hit a three-run homer in Houston's four-run eighth inning and also singled in a run in the first, leading the Astros to a 6-5 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Angel Sanchez tripled and scored on Aaron Heilman's wild pitch to get the Astros within two in the eighth but it looked as if the rally would fizzle when Michael Bourn struck out for the second out.
Jeff Keppinger kept the inning alive with a base hit and moved to third on Hunter Pence's double before Lee drove Heilman's next pitch out to left. The burly slugger's 20th homer put him at 82 RBIs for the season, including 34 in his last 34 games.
"That was a good pitch by Heilman, I have to say that. It was down and in and I just got to it," Lee said. "I feel good at the plate, I would say, the last two months."
Mark Melancon (2-0) pitched a scoreless inning to get the win and former Diamondbacks reliever Brandon Lyon worked the ninth for his 12th save in 13 chances this season.
"Our bullpen was absolutely amazing again," Astros manager Brad Mills said.
Heilman (5-6) was charged with four runs and four hits, wasting a strong outing by Joe Saunders.
"I made a couple of good pitches in that inning, made a couple of bad ones," Heilman said. "They kind of all got hit."
Mike Hampton made his Arizona debut in the ninth, getting Bourn to ground out to shortstop for the last out of the inning. The Diamondbacks promoted the veteran left-hander from Triple-A Reno on Friday.
Ryan Roberts hit a three-run drive off Bud Norris in the fifth to give the Diamondbacks a 5-1 lead. The two-out shot to left was his first of the season, coming in his 20th game.
"We had many chances to put these guys away," Diamondbacks manager Kirk Gibson said. "They hung around, and that's what happens in baseball."
Saunders allowed two runs and three hits in seven innings. He also singled in Miguel Montero in the second for his first career hit and added another single in the sixth before swiping second for his first steal. It was Arizona's first theft by a pitcher since Shawn Estes on May 27, 2005.
Adam LaRoche hit a run-scoring single in the first for Arizona, giving him 90 RBIs on the season — matching a career best.
The Diamondbacks had won four straight.
NOTES: Diamondbacks OF Justin Upton missed his third straight game because of left shoulder irritation. Gibson said he hopes Upton can play Sunday in the series finale. Upton said he still felt some discomfort in his swing, which was how he injured the shoulder during a game on Aug. 30. ... Police said a small group of about 15 to 20 people held signs and chanted outside Chase Field in protest of the state's controversial immigration law. The protest coincided with the team's Hispanic Heritage Day promotion. The club reissued a statement acknowledging that Diamondbacks co-owner Ken Kendrick has donated to Republican political candidates in the past, but Kendrick personally opposes the law. The statement also said the Diamondbacks "have never supported SB 1070" nor ever taken political stances.
Thome's pair of HRs powers Twins past Rangers 12-4
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Jim Thome has the classic slugger's swing, a hard uppercut that rarely yields a cheap home run.
He's sure getting the most out of his first season with Minnesota, too.
Thome homered twice, moving past Mark McGwire for ninth place on baseball's all-time list and powering the Twins over the Texas Rangers 12-4 on Saturday.
"He never ceases to amaze us," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. "He's just going up and whacking the ball. It's Babe Ruth all over again."
At age 40, Thome now has 584 career home runs, continuing to hack away at that hallowed — even if steroid-tainted — leader board. As for the Babe, though, he's still 130 homers ahead.
"I don't think so," Thome said, when asked if he could catch Ruth for third. "I think I'll be fishing by then."
Thome went deep leading off the third inning, a shot to the second deck above right field estimated at 449 feet. Then with two on and two outs in the fourth, Thome's full-count drive into the bullpen behind left-center made it 9-0.
Thome also drew a couple of walks, giving him 1,668 lifetime freebees. That moved him into ninth in that career category, too, passing Frank Thomas.
"Anything he does, you just like watching him," said Matt Tolbert, who had a career-high five RBIs. "It kind of doesn't set in that you're playing on a team with a future Hall of Famer."
In just 237 at-bats, Thome has 20 homers. He took over sole possession of the Twins lead, passing Jason Kubel and the disabled Justin Morneau.
His back and hip can be a bother, keeping him out for a few days even this week. That's why Gardenhire limits Thome's time even with Morneau's absence creating more need for a designated hitter. Thome insisted he didn't have expectations for this year, knowing he would no longer be an everyday player.
It's not easy for him to sit out, but it might help him down the stretch.
"In the past, you get to September and, let's face it, you're playing every day and your body starts to wear down," Thome said.
After six straight one-run games, the Twins let loose against slumping starter Colby Lewis (9-12) and the AL West-leading Rangers. Carl Pavano (16-10) got plenty of support, and the Twins kept their AL Central lead over Chicago at four games for the moment. Earlier in the afternoon, the second-place White Sox beat Boston in the opener of their doubleheader.
Tolbert hit two triples, and J.J. Hardy drove in two runs on three hits. After a two-run double by Hardy and a bases-loaded triple by Tolbert gave the Twins a 5-0 lead, both with two outs, Pavano had all he needed. He snapped a three-start losing streak with eight strong innings, allowing an RBI single by Mitch Moreland in the fifth and a two-run double by Julio Borbon in the sixth.
Lewis fell to 0-7 in his last nine starts, a skid that first started because of a lack of runs behind him but has been extended by some poor performances.
"I wish it wouldn't have happened," manager Ron Washington said. "He wasn't at his best. They put it to us today."
In his last four turns, Lewis has lasted only 22 1-3 innings with 32 hits and 23 runs allowed. He left after Thome's second homer and was charged with nine runs, eight hits and two walks.
"Left some pitches over the plate, and that's what happens," Lewis said. "I feel great. There's nothing wrong with me. I feel like I did opening day. It's a situation where I didn't really get very good calls when I needed to get calls."
Batting leader Josh Hamilton of Texas returned to center field for the first time since Sunday, but he was taken out in the fifth inning with the Twins leading big. He bruised his ribs making a running catch against the wall two innings earlier, and Washington said he'll probably be out for the next two days.
NOTES: Tolbert played 3B for Danny Valencia, who sat out after leaving Friday's game because of tightness in his right hamstring. ... Washington will join former teammates in a "legends game" Sunday afternoon as part of 50th anniversary festivities put on by the Twins. Gardenhire, however, will not. "I've missed enough balls. I've made enough outs. That's why I became a coach and a manager," he said. ... RF Jeff Francoeur made his first start for the Rangers since coming in a trade Tuesday with the New York Mets. He went 1 for 4. ... Ian Kinsler homered in the ninth off Twins RH Rob Delaney's fourth pitch in the majors. ... Former SS Greg Gagne was inducted to the Twins Hall of Fame before the game.
-- Dave Campbell
Cliff Lee's next start for Rangers still uncertain
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Cliff Lee and the Texas Rangers still aren't sure when he will pitch again.
Lee felt some discomfort in the area of his back where he recently got a cortisone shot, and he didn't go through with his scheduled bullpen session before Saturday's game at Minnesota. He threw in the outfield instead.
Lee will try to throw off a mound before Sunday's game, and then a decision will be made about whether he'll start Tuesday at Toronto.
"I feel better today than yesterday," Lee said. "If I see the same improvement tomorrow, we're definitely heading in the right direction."
The Rangers also took out shortstop Elvis Andrus in the fourth inning on Saturday, replacing him with Cristian Guzman because of tightness in his hamstrings. Trailing 9-1, the Rangers also removed center fielder Josh Hamilton and catcher Bengie Molina.
Hamilton, who left Friday's game early because of tightness in his lower back and also missed two games earlier this week following a painkilling shot in his knee, bruised his ribs after a running catch into the wall.
Manager Ron Washington said Hamilton would probably be out for the next two days. Precautionary X-rays were negative. Hamilton said the injury is similar to the one he endured last season that put him on the disabled list.
Andrus is day to day. He's been playing with the injury for "a while," Washington said.
Texas acquires former NL All-Star Mark Prior
FULLERTON, Calif. (AP) — Former NL All-Star pitcher Mark Prior has been acquired by the Texas Rangers after spending the last month with the Orange County Flyers of the independent Golden Baseball League.
Flyers manager Paul Abbott on Saturday confirmed the Rangers had acquired Prior and that he will be assigned to Triple-A Oklahoma City.
Prior, who turns 30 on Tuesday, worked in relief for the Flyers. He threw 11 innings over nine outings, striking out 22 of 44 total batters faced while not allowing an earned run. Opponents batted .143 against him.
Prior worked on developing the skills to come out of the bullpen. Last week, he pitched on consecutive days for the first time in his pro career.
Abbott says Prior came to the Flyers to face competitive hitting and see if his arm would hold up.
Prior's five-year major league career with the Chicago Cubs ended in 2006. The right-hander had a 42-29 record and a 3.51 ERA in 106 starts. He made the All-Star team in 2003, when he was 18-6.
He had shoulder surgery and missed the 2007 season, and a shoulder tear forced him to miss the next season. Prior spent last year in the minors with his hometown San Diego Padres.
