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MLB Capsules - AL: Hamilton's HR gives Texas 7-6 win over Oakland
ARLINGTON (AP) — Josh Hamilton knew he had a game-ending home run when he hit the ball.
While the crowd went crazy and his Texas Rangers teammates gathered at home plate to mob him and celebrate their sixth straight victory, 7-6 over the Oakland Athletics on Saturday night, Hamilton put his head down and started trotting around the bases. His mind had to wander during what has been an emotional few days.
Hamilton's two-run homer came two nights after Brownwood firefighter Shannon Stone's accidental fatal fall at the stadium after reaching out to catch a ball tossed his way by the reigning AL MVP.
"It's been an up-and-down, roller coaster-type weekend, with everything that happened to Mr. Stone and his family. Obviously we're thinking about him and grieving about the situation," Hamilton said. "Tonight takes you from one extreme to the other pretty quick. I feel blessed I had the opportunity to do it."
Flags remained at half-staff at Rangers Ballpark and players on both teams again wore black ribbons in memory of Stone, who tumbled over a rail and fell about 20 feet to the concrete behind the left-field wall during the second inning of the series opener Thursday night, when he was at the game with his 6-year-old son. Stone died less than an hour later. His funeral is Monday.
Hamilton connected on a 2-0 pitch with two outs in the ninth off A's closer Andrew Bailey (0-2), a 435-foot shot into the second deck of seats in right field. It was Hamilton's fourth hit of the game, and his 11th homer of the season.
"I know as soon as I hit it, it was fun," Hamilton said.
Elvis Andrus reached on an infield single that first appeared to be a game-ending grounder. Second baseman Jemile Weeks' soft throw was a bit late and wide to first baseman Conor Jackson and when Jackson reached out to try to catch the ball, the speedy Andrus collided with him and both players went to the ground.
"I hit it in the right spot. I want hard as I could to get on base," Andrus said, knowing Hamilton was waiting on deck. "He's carried this team the last three or four years. ... I get on base, and everybody saw what he can do when he's under pressure."
The only other six-game winning streak for the AL West-leading Rangers came when they opened this season 6-0.
"The last six days, we're starting to play the way we're capable of playing," manager Ron Washington said. "I don't think they lack confidence in that clubhouse."
A day after Stone's fall, Hamilton chose to play Friday night instead of taking the day off Washington offered him.
He went 1 for 5, and in the sixth inning fouled off a ball that hit a fan in the head. The fan, who wasn't paying attention, needed stitches to close the cut but was OK.
Before his second career game-ending homer Saturday — coming exactly three years to the date after his other one in 2008 against the Los Angeles Angels — Hamilton had a pair of doubles, a single and drove in a run with a groundout.
"You've got to get ahead. You can't fall behind to that guy 2-0. He's one of the best players in the game. You can't put yourself in that position," Bailey said. "He's looking fastball, he put a good swing on it and we lost. You've got to tip your cap to him."
It was the first time since that 2008 game that Texas won at home after trailing with two outs in the ninth. The Rangers were 0-30 this season when trailing after eight innings.
Adrian Beltre, who will start for the AL along with Hamilton at next week's All-Star game, also homered for Texas.
Beltre will replace Alex Rodriguez in the starting lineup after the New York Yankees' third baseman withdrew from the game because of a right knee injury.
Coco Crisp and Josh Willingham homered for Oakland (39-52), which lost for the 12th time in 17 games and fell a season-worst 13-games under .500.
Crisp's fourth homer, a solo shot in the seventh off reliever Tommy Hunter, had given the A's a 6-5 lead.
Both starting pitchers — Oakland's Brandon McCarthy and Rangers right-hander Colby Lewis — allowed five runs over six innings.
Lewis struck out nine, but was gone after throwing 105 pitches and missed a chance to join teammates C.J. Wilson and Alexi Ogando as nine-game winners before the All-Star break.
Darren Oliver (2-5) worked 1 2/3 scoreless innings.
Oakland went ahead with a four-run second, the final run coming home when Hideki Matsui reached on catcher's interference with the bases loaded. Matsui hit what appeared to be an inning-ending infield popup, but home plate umpire Eric Cooper immediately signaled the play dead and catcher Yorvit Torrealba tabbed his chest protector as if to acknowledge his mistake.
Josh Willingham led off the second with his 11th homer before Cliff Pennington and Weeks had consecutive RBI singles.
Texas had a four-run outburst in the fifth. Beltre capped that with his 18th homer, a solo shot that tied the game at 5-all after he almost fell down coming out of the batter's box.<
Notes: Oakland 3B Scott Sizemore made a nifty grab in the eighth, reaching high over his head and leaning over the wall to catch a foul ball. ... Lewis has allowed an AL-high 23 homers, 15 of them solo shots.
Funeral set for man who fell at Rangers game
ARLINGTON (AP) — After a fan fell out of the club level of seats at Rangers Ballpark while trying to catch a foul ball last July, the team immediately assessed the railings throughout the stadium.
Since all the railings exceeded international and local building codes, and the only similar accident occurred during the ballpark's first game in 1994, it was determined that everything was adequate. Though there already were signs cautioning fans against leaning or sitting on the railings, the team made sure the signs were in every section.
A year and a day later, an eerily similar fall, this one fatal, has the Rangers again facing questions about safety at the stadium and evaluating whether they need to make changes.
Funeral services will be held Monday for Shannon Stone, a Brownwood firefighter who died less than an hour after he tumbled headfirst over a rail out of the seats in left field during a game Thursday night. Stone fell about 20 feet to concrete behind the outfield wall after reaching out to catch a ball tossed his way by All-Star outfielder Josh Hamilton.
The Rangers already have been in contact with city officials, as well as ballpark contractors and architects, about how to ensure safety for fans attending games played in the American League champion's stadium.
"More meetings will be taking place early in the week," team spokesman John Blake said Saturday. "The safety of Rangers fans is our top priority and we will be doing a thorough review to address this in a timely manner."
All flags inside and around the stadium, including three dozen Texas state flags flying high above center field, remained at half-staff for Saturday night's game against the Oakland Athletics. Players from both teams again wore black ribbons on their uniforms.
Texas won 7-6 after Hamilton hit a game-ending, two-run homer with two outs in the ninth inning. It was Hamilton's fourth hit of the game.
The protective railing in left field where Stone fell is at least 33 inches high.
Arlington building officials inspected the stadium Friday in the wake of Stone's fatal fall and again determined that everything was up to code. City building requirements are that guardrails must be at least 26 inches high.
"We're going to look into anything that we can do to make our stadium safer for our fans," team president Nolan Ryan said. "We will do a study on that, and we don't know what, if there is anything, that we can do. But we certainly are open to anything that we can do."
Stone's funeral will be held at First United Methodist in Brownwood, a town about 150 miles from Arlington. The 39-year-old Stone had been a firefighter there for 18 years.
Visitation is scheduled for Sunday night at Davis Morris Funeral Home in Brownwood.
Stone was at Thursday night's game with his 6-year-old son, Cooper.
During the second inning, Hamilton heard someone call out to him for a ball. He turned to see Stone and his son in the first row of seats, then responded to the pair with a nod. The boy's favorite player is the reigning AL MVP.
A few pitches later, Oakland's Conor Jackson hit a foul ball that ricocheted into left field. Hamilton scooped up the ball and tossed it their way.
When Shannon Stone reached out and caught the ball, he slipped over the rail and fell as his son watched and a nearby fan unsuccessfully tried to grab the man.
Fire officials said Stone, who witnesses said was conscious after the fall, "went into full arrest" in the ambulance and was pronounced dead at the hospital. Authorities said Friday that he died from blunt force trauma to the head caused by a fall from a height.
Stone fell through a gap of several feet between the first row of seats and the 14-foot-high outfield wall that has a video scoreboard on it.
That electronic board was installed before the 2009 season, replacing a hand-operated scoreboard that had been there since the stadium had opened.
As part of those changes, a deck-like covering that had been over the gap was removed. That covering, in part, protected workers operating the old scoreboard from falling objects such as baseballs and items dropped from the stands.
Ryan said that decking also created a safety hazard when baseballs were there, not far out of reach from fans in the seats.
"What we found was that it encouraged people when a ball was up there to jump down on to that surface and get the ball," Ryan said. "And we felt like that it increased risk, and so we removed it trying not to encourage people to do that."
A black tarpaulin was installed over the gap before Friday night's game. Ryan said the purpose of that tarp was to keep fans from taking pictures or gawking at the area behind the outfield wall where Stone fell.
Last July at Rangers Ballpark, a man survived after tumbling from an upper deck along the first-base side as he tried to catch a foul ball.
Tyler Morris, a firefighter from the Lake Cities Fire Department near Dallas, sustained a fractured skull and sprained ankle when he fell over a rail and dropped onto seats where other fans were sitting.
Morris then called the incident a "100 percent, total accident that could have happened to anybody." He said he didn't blame the Rangers or the ballpark.
In 1994, a Plano woman sustained multiple injuries when she fell about 35 feet as she posed for a picture after the Rangers' first game at the stadium.
-- Stephen Hawkins
Rangers sign another 16-year-old OF from Dominican
ARLINGTON (AP) — The Texas Rangers have signed their second 16-year-old outfielder from the Dominican Republic in a matter of days, handing out another big signing bonus, too.
Ronald Guzman got a 2012 contract Saturday with a signing bonus of $3.45 million.
Texas announced Guzman’s signing three days after the Rangers confirmed they had signed outfielder Nomar Mazara, another 16-year-old prospect from the Dominican Republic.
Mazara got a $5 million bonus.
Guzman and Mazara, both left-handed hitters, will report to the Rangers’ Dominican complex in Boca Chica when they return home. Both were in Texas this week.
The Rangers also promoted Cuban outfielder Leonys Martin from Double-A Frisco to Triple-A Round Rock. The Rangers signed Martin to a $15.5 million, five-year deal in May.
Other AL Capsules
Jeter, Yankees edge Rays
NEW YORK (AP) — Derek Jeter homered for his 3,000th hit and raced right past the milestone in a scintillating performance, going 5 for 5 with a tiebreaking single in the eighth inning of the Yankees' 5-4 win over the Tampa Bay Rays.
Jeter doubled and had three singles while starting a pair of Yankees rallies and finishing off their last one. He bounced a single through the left side his first time up, then sent a no-doubt drive into the left-field seats off Rays ace David Price in the third inning.
That made Jeter the 28th major leaguer to get 3,000 hits, one of baseball's biggest milestones, and the first to do it with the Yankees.
B.J. Upton hit a two-run homer for Tampa Bay, and Matt Joyce also went deep. Joel Peralta (2-4) got the loss.
David Robertson (2-0) got the victory and Mariano Rivera got three quick outs for his 22nd save in 26 chances.
Blue Jays 5, Indians 4
CLEVELAND (AP) — Jose Bautista led off the 10th inning with his second homer of the game, lifting the Blue Jays to the victory.
Bautista, who leads the majors with 31 homers, connected on a 1-0 pitch from Chris Perez (3-2) after the Indians tied it in the ninth on Travis Buck's two-out double. The All-Star slugger has four multihomer games this season and 15 in his career.
It was Toronto's second straight win in the series after a stunning loss on Thursday during which the Indians rallied for a 5-4 win on Travis Hafner's game-ending grand slam in the ninth.
Jon Rauch (3-3) got the victory and Shawn Camp pitched a perfect 10th for his first save.
White Sox 4, Twins 3
CHICAGO (AP) — Alexei Ramirez hit a game-ending RBI single with two out in the ninth inning, sending Chicago to its first win over the Twins in seven meetings this season.
The White Sox also ended a nine-game losing streak to Minnesota dating to last season.
A.J. Pierzynski, who entered when catcher Ramon Castro broke his right hand on a passed ball in the eighth inning, doubled off Jose Mijares (0-1) to start the ninth. After two fly outs, Juan Pierre walked and Alex Burnett relieved before Ramirez lined a single to center.
Jesse Crain (5-2) got three outs for the win.
Angels 9, Mariners 3
ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Torii Hunter drove in a season-high five runs with a pair of homers, Mark Trumbo also went deep and the Angels earned their 13th victory in the last 16 games.
Joel Pineiro (5-3) allowed three runs and 10 hits over seven innings for Los Angeles. The right-hander is 3-0 in his last five starts, after going 0-3 in his previous four.
Seattle rookie Michael Pineda (8-6) gave up a season-worst seven runs and six hits in five innings, equaling his shortest outing in 18 starts.
Seattle manager Eric Wedge was ejected during the Angels' four-run third inning.
Red Sox 4, Orioles 0
BOSTON (AP) — John Lackey rebounded from the worst start of his Red Sox career with 6 2/3 shutout innings and Boston extended its winning streak to five games.
Lackey, booed last Monday as he left the mound after allowing seven runs in 2 1/3 innings, got a standing ovation as he strode to the dugout with runners at first and second in the seventh. Daniel Bard then retired Nolan Reimold on an inning-ending popup.
Lackey (6-8) struck out seven and walked one just five days after his 9-7 loss to Toronto, the shortest outing in his two seasons with Boston.
Alfredo Simon (1-2) allowed three runs in the fifth on an RBI double by Kevin Youkilis and a two-run double by Josh Reddick.
The Orioles managed just four singles.
Royals 13, Tigers 6
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Alex Gordon belted a three-run homer and Kansas City roughed up Charlie Furbush, then weathered Luke Hochevar's struggles to get the win.
Alcides Escobar drove in three runs and scored three times for the Royals, who led 9-2 after three innings. Melky Cabrera and Billy Butler had two RBIs apiece.
Hochevar struggled with the big lead and was battered for six runs before he was yanked in the fourth. Greg Holland (3-1) got the victory, and Everett Teaford pitched three innings for first career save.
The 25-year-old Furbush (1-3), making his second career start, gave up nine runs in 2 2/3 innings — though just four of the runs were earned.
Other AL News
A-Rod has knee tear, could miss month if surgery
NEW YORK (AP) — Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez has a slight tear in his right knee, a probable cause of his sudden power loss, and the 14-time All-Star was expected to soon decide on the best course of action.
New York manager Joe Girardi revealed the injury before Saturday’s game against Tampa Bay and said Rodriguez was out of the lineup. An MRI exam Friday showed a slight tear in the cartilage, and left A-Rod with two options: He could try to play through it, or have surgery and miss perhaps a month.
Girardi said he expected a decision would be announced Sunday. Rodriguez, who turns 36 later this month, has already pulled out of next week’s All-Star game.
The three-time AL MVP is hitting .295 with 13 home runs and 52 RBIs this season. But the slugger with 626 career home runs has not connected since June 11 and has gone 85 at-bats without a homer, his longest single-season drought.
"I just don’t think he has the drive in his back side that he needs to have," Girardi said. "He’s not driving the ball."
Rodriguez tweaked his knee at Wrigley Field on June 19, and the tear in his meniscus has slowed him on the bases. He is batting .359 with 10 RBIs in his last 16 games, but has looked much more like a singles hitter than a power hitter.
"I think he’s just fought through it," Girardi said.
A week ago at Citi Field, Rodriguez hit a high drive off the center-field wall against the Mets. As he walked out of the clubhouse after the game, he said, "I have no pop."
Girardi said it wasn’t certain that Rodriguez would make the injury worse if he continues to play through it.
"You’re not going to have him at 100 percent," said Girardi, who added, "I don’t want to influence his decision."
Eduardo Nunez, who provided a spark while filling in recently for injured shortstop Derek Jeter, would likely take Rodriguez’s place at third if he opts for surgery.
Rodriguez was elected by fans to start for the AL in the All-Star game Tuesday in Phoenix. Boston’s Kevin Youkilis has replaced him on the roster.
-- Ben Walker
Ortiz apologizes for late-game fracas
BOSTON (AP) — Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz apologized Saturday for charging and swinging at Orioles pitcher Kevin Gregg.
Ortiz said wasn’t proud of his actions in the eighth inning of Boston’s 10-3 win over Baltimore on Friday night. He apologized to everyone, including Gregg.
"I haven’t had a fight since I was in kindergarten," he said with a smile. "That’s not what the fans want to see. That’s not part of my personality. I don’t like being caught in a situation like that."
Gregg threw two inside pitches to Ortiz, who started to the mound as benches and bullpens cleared without any punches. Ortiz then flied out and Gregg shouted at him, prompting him to charge the right-hander. Both were ejected.
"Nobody wants to see it," Orioles manager Buck Showalter said before Saturday night’s third game of a four-game series. "It’s a passionate game, with passionate people who care."
Asked if he expected to get suspended, Ortiz said he knows major league baseball is going to take action for the confrontation, but "I wasn’t the one that started it."
When he got home from the game, "I didn’t feel good about how that thing happened," he said. "I apologize to everyone for the situation. I have a lot of friends on that ballclub. Even to Gregg. I don’t really know him but he doesn’t seem like the kind of guy that acts like that. I’m not happy about it. That’s not what people come to see."
Baltimore, with the second worst record in the AL, fell behind 8-0 after one inning in the game. Ortiz drove in three of those runs with a homer.
"You’re wounded and you fight back," Showalter said. "You feel that way since spring training. You’re a family."
Ortiz didn’t speak with reporters Friday night, but Gregg defended his actions right after the game.
"I think you show them that we’re not backing down. We’re not scared of them — them and their $180 million payroll," he said. "We have just as much right to play the game here and we’re going to do everything we can to win."
Ortiz said he wouldn’t try to talk with Gregg.
"Why should I?" he said. "It’s over. I’ve put that behind me."
White Sox’s Beckham apologizes for ‘gay’ message
CHICAGO (AP) — Chicago White Sox second baseman Gordon Beckham has apologized for jokingly writing a message in the dirt calling friend and former teammate Chris Getz gay.
The message he left near second base in Monday’s game against Kansas City read: "GETZ IS GAY! GB." Some fans sitting in the upper deck at U.S. Cellular Field noticed the writing. The message was first reported Saturday by the Chicago Sun-Times. Getz, also a second baseman, was traded along with Josh Fields from the White Sox to the Royals in November, 2009. The White Sox got Mark Teahen in the deal.
"Obviously I apologize and kind of want to move on. Obviously it was meant as a joke but obviously it was in the wrong place and I didn’t mean it that way. I will just try to move on," Beckham told reporters before the White Sox played the Twins on Saturday.
"It’s one of those things that was unfortunate that happened and I want to try to move on from it."
Beckham was the White Sox’s first-round pick out of the University in Georgia in 2008 and played only 59 games in the minors before being promoted to the majors in 2009.
White Sox catcher broke his hand
CHICAGO (AP) — CHICAGO — Chicago White Sox catcher Ramon Castro broke his right hand while trying to catch a pitch in the eighth inning Saturday against the Minnesota Twins.
Castro was charged with a passed ball on the play on the pitch from Mark Buehrle. The ball appeared to hit near the top of his mitt. He was replaced by A.J. Pierzynski.
