Texas MLB Capsules: Jones, Young propel Rangers past Rays 12-4

ARLINGTON - Even during a long slump when they struggled to scratch out runs, the Texas Rangers never wavered in their mindset at the plate.

That steady approach is beginning to pay dividends.

Andruw Jones homered and drove in four runs, Michael Young added a three-run double and the Rangers roughed up David Price to win their fourth in a row, beating the Tampa Bay Rays 12-4 Saturday night.

"We weren't swinging the way we're capable of," Young said. "But the best thing we can do is stay confident, stay the course, and keep working hard."

Texas was next to last in the American League with 99 runs scored in June.

The Rangers appear to have broken out of their offensive doldrums, scoring 33 runs in their winning streak.

Texas, which came into the day tied with the Los Angeles Angels for the American League West lead, is 5-3 on a home stand that ends Sunday. The Rangers then visit the Angels for a three-game series starting Monday.

"It was a matter of time," Rangers manager Ron Washington said after his squad scored its most runs since beating Oakland 14-1 on May 30. "Will this continue? I hope, but I know it won't. But we'll do enough to continue to win and that's all that matters."

Nelson Cruz, who had three hits, connected for his 20th home run of the season in support of Derek Holland (2-5), who won for the first time as a starter. The rookie left-hander allowed four runs and seven hits in six innings.

Jones' three-run shot in the first and Young's bases-loaded double gave the Rangers a 6-1 lead against an erratic Price (2-3), who gave up a career-high six runs in 1 1-3 innings.

The 2007 top overall pick walked five in the shortest of his nine career starts. Price has walked 30 in 38 innings this season.

The Rays have lost three in a row, all to rookie pitchers. Toronto's Ricky Romero shut down Tampa Bay on Wednesday and Tommy Hunter earned his first career victory for the Rangers on Friday.

"I'm embarrassed," Price said. "I can't really put any words on it. I needed to stop the bleeding and I let us down."

Tampa Bay's Jason Bartlett hit a solo homer in the second and Dioner Navarro added a three-run shot in the fifth.

After Navarro's homer, Holland retired six of the final seven batters he faced to pick up his first victory since winning in relief May 12.

Holland made it a point to try to use some more of his pitches against the Rays.

"I have to have more than just a fastball," Holland said. "When you fall behind, you need your off-speed pitch as well."

Price walked Young and Marlon Byrd with one out in the bottom of the first.

Jones drove an 0-1 pitch into the Tampa Bay bullpen in left for his 10th home run of the season. He also had and RBI double in the sixth.

The Rangers loaded the bases in the second on Taylor Teagarden's double, and walks to Elvis Andrus and Ian Kinsler. Young doubled over B.J. Upton's head in right-center to drive home three.

After walking Byrd, Tampa Bay took Price out of the game for reliever Lance Cormier.

"He just really struggled with his fastball command," Rays manager Joe Maddon said. "He could not throw the fastball where he wanted. That's the key to unlocking all his potential."

Cruz homered in the fifth, and Teagarden added an RBI single to make it 9-4.

NOTES: Rays and American League manager Maddon submitted his All-Star selections to the league office Saturday. "You're not going to please everybody," Maddon said. "There were so many close calls. But you have to make those calls." ... On the 70th anniversary of Lou Gehrig's luckiest man speech, former Rangers first baseman Pete O'Brien recited an abbreviated version of Yankee great's words before the game. ... Tampa Bay LF Carl Crawford extended his hitting streak to 12 games with a double in the first.

Hamilton's to play at least one more rehab game

ARLINGTON - Josh Hamilton will spend at least another day in the minor leagues.

The Texas Rangers All-Star center fielder's scheduled rehab game with Triple-A Oklahoma City was rained out Saturday.

The Rangers announced during their game against Tampa Bay that Hamilton will play for the Redhawks on Sunday, delaying the slugger's return to the majors from abdominal surgery until at least Monday.

Hamilton is 2-for-20 in four minor-league games, including one with Double-A Frisco. He wanted to be back with the Rangers on Saturday, but the team wanted him to playing the outfield one more time before he returned.

"We're not looking for him to hit ball out of the ballpark," Texas manager Ron Washington said. "We're looking for good at bats."

The Rangers finish a nine-game home stand Sunday against the Rays before playing seven on the road, including a three-game series starting Monday against the Los Angeles Angels. Texas and Los Angeles entered Saturday tied for the American League West lead.

Hamilton went on the disabled list June 2 and had abdominal surgery a week later.

He got hurt crashing into an outfield wall making a catch May 17. That came less than a week after he came off an earlier stint on the disabled list because of a strained ribcage muscle sustained when he crashed into another wall on another catch.

Hamilton, who hit .304 with 32 homers and an AL-high 130 RBIs last season, is hitting .240 with six homers and 24 RBIs in 35 games this season.

In his first All-Star appearance last year, Hamilton hit a record 28 homers in the first round of the Home Run Derby at Yankee Stadium, including 13 in a row.

Giants' Lincecum dazzles again, beats Astros 

SAN FRANCISCO - Tim Lincecum doesn't keep track of such things as scoreless innings streaks. He does know he's on a roll that might just earn him the starting nod for National League in the All-Star game.

"It would mean a lot - the hard work paid off," said Lincecum, who missed last year's Midsummer Classic because of an illness and was hospitalized. "If I do happen to start, it will make up for the fact I didn't even make it to the field last year."

NL manager Charlie Manuel of the World Series champion Phillies will certainly notice Lincecum's recent run.

Lincecum (9-2) extended his career-best scoreless innings stretch to 23 in winning his third straight start and also scored the first run in the San Francisco Giants' 9-0 victory over the Houston Astros on Saturday.

"Obviously Timmy has the numbers to go out there and start," center fielder Aaron Rowand said of the All-Star game. "Timmy's got to be in the running."

The reigning NL Cy Young Award winner struck out nine and allowed three hits with two walks in seven innings. Brandon Medders and Merkin Valdez each pitched an inning to finish the three-hit shutout, the Giants' majors-best 11th and fourth in their last seven games.

San Francisco had 12 hits a day after producing a season high in runs and pounding 15 hits in a 13-0 victory Friday night.

Pablo Sandoval singled home Lincecum in the fifth and Randy Winn added a two-run double and scored on a passed ball in the inning that got by Astros catcher Ivan Rodriguez. Aaron Rowand added a two-run single and Bengie Molina an RBI double.

"It was a good game there for a while and then it got away from us," said Houston's Lance Berkman, whose double was the team's only extra-base hit.

Lincecum, expected to be named an All-Star on Sunday for the second straight year, outpitched former Giant Russ Ortiz (3-4). Lincecum struck out Michael Bourn looking on his third pitch of the game. After Lance Berkman doubled to start the fourth, Lincecum struck out the side.

He has gone 18 consecutive innings without allowing a baserunner past second.

"He's throwing as well as I've seen him since he's been here and that's saying a lot," manager Bruce Bochy said.

Lincecum - coming off back-to-back complete games - walked in the fourth and later scored, then drew another free pass in the fifth to load the bases before Rowand's single. Winn doubled and Sandoval was intentionally walked before Ortiz's day was done. He received a warm ovation as he walked off the mound.

Lincecum's scoreless streak is the longest by a Giant since Robb Nen went 25 2-3 consecutive innings without allowing a run in 2000. Lincecum has won six of his last seven decisions.

"It's kind of one of those rolls you don't notice until it keeps going and going and going," he said. "You keep feeding off the goose eggs, I guess."

The Astros were shut out in consecutive games for the second time this year, also April 12-13 at St. Louis and Pittsburgh. The Giants shut out Houston in back-to-back games for the first time since Sept. 22-23, 1993.

"He's got a good arm," Astros manager Cecil Cooper said of Lincecum. "What else can you say? Good pitching can make you look bad, flat."

Ortiz struck out a season-high seven but lost his second straight decision and saw his winless stretch reach six starts.

He was a former fan favorite during six seasons covering two stints with San Francisco, last in 2007. He was the Giants' Game 6 starter in the 2002 World Series when the club collapsed and lost in seven games to the wild-card Angels.

The right-hander was a fourth-round draft pick by the Giants in 1995 and went 69-47 during his time with San Francisco. This marked his eighth appearance against his former team - and he is 0-4.

Sandoval bruised his right knee sliding wildly into home in the fifth but it wasn't considered serious. He was out on the play.

NOTES: Lincecum went 16 scoreless innings last season. ... He is 2-0 in five career starts vs. Houston and has never allowed a home run to the Astros. ... The Astros are 14-10 in day games. ... Houston is 15-7 against the NL West. ... A home-plate ceremony was held before the game on the 70th anniversary of Lou Gehrig's luckiest man speech.

-- Janie McCauley