AMERICAN LEAGUE
Texas starter Derek Holland pitched a complete game and lead the Rangers to a 6-0 win over the Oakland A’s on Thursday in a game that was marred by the death of spectator.
Holland pitched a dominant game from the mound, allowing just four hits over the nine innings, while striking out seven with a pair of walks. It improved his season’s record to 7-4.
Photo: Reuters
The AL West leading Rangers have now won four in a row and are nine games ahead of last-placed Oakland.
Josh Hamilton drove in four runs to pace the Rangers attack and Michael Young hit a solo home run. Mike Napoli also had an RBI for the Rangers.
Rich Harden made his second start of the season and took the loss for Oakland. He gave up five runs over five innings, allowing eight hits and two walks, while striking out two.
Meanwhile, a fan fell to his death after catching a ball tossed to him by Texas outfielder Hamilton.
The man was reaching for a ball thrown to him by Hamilton during the second inning and toppled over a railing after making the catch. Television pictures showed him falling about 6m from the outfield seats to a paved area behind a scoreboard.
It is almost a year to the day since a similar accident at Rangers Ballpark when fan Tyler Morris fell from the second level to the lower bowl while trying to catch a foul ball on July 6 last year. He suffered a fractured skull and broken ankle.
“We are deeply saddened that the man who fell has passed away as a result of this tragic accident,” club president Nolan Ryan said in a statement on the Rangers Web site.
The Rangers clubhouse was closed following the game as the players were informed of the tragedy.
“We spoke to the ballclub, so they understand what happened,” Ryan said. “As any of us would be, Josh is very distraught over this.”
The fan landed in sight of the Oakland bullpen.
“They had him on a stretcher and were carrying him out,” local media quoted A’s relief pitcher Brad Ziegler as saying. “He was staying stuff like: ‘Please check on my son.’ And people were telling him: ‘We’ll check on your son, sir.’
“I think he had his arm splinted from falling, but he was conscious and moving. To come in and find out about this is just tough,” Ziegler added.
RED SOX 10, ORIOLES 4
In Boston, Dustin Pedroia hit a three-run shot as Boston added three consecutive home runs in the seventh inning to overpower Baltimore.
Six different Boston players homered, including three straight by David Ortiz, Josh Reddick and Jarrod Saltalamacchia that helped the Red Sox blow open the game.
Jacoby Ellsbury added a two-run homer and Adrian Gonzalez had a solo drive for Boston, who moved a half-game up on the Yankees atop the AL East.
Red Sox pitcher Andrew Miller (3-0) won his third straight start, allowing three runs in five innings.
In other AL games, it was:
‧ Angels 5, Mariners 1
‧ Indians 5, Blue Jays 4
‧ Tigers 3, Royals 1
‧ Twins 6, White Sox 2
NATIONAL LEAGUE
AP, ST LOUIS, MISSOURI
Justin Upton’s two-run homer helped the Arizona Diamondbacks to a 4-1 win over S. Louis, dropping the Cardinals into a tie for top spot in the National League Central division.
Upton hit his 15th homer of the season off Kyle McClellan (6-6), who gave up four runs in seven innings and has not won in six starts. McClellan returned to the mound for the Cardinals after a 50-minute rain delay and gave up the homer on his sixth pitch following the break.
Arizona starter Joe Saunders (6-7) pitched five scoreless innings and was removed from the game after the delay.
DODGERS 6, METS 0
In Los Angeles, the hosts piled on five runs in the sixth inning to see off New York and end a five-game losing skid.
Los Angeles parlayed extra-base hits by Matt Kemp, Juan Uribe, Aaron Miles and Dioner Navarro into a game-breaking inning.
Dodgers starter Clayton Kershaw (9-4) pitched eight innings, striking out nine and walked two.
The Mets loaded the bases in the ninth with one out, but could not notch a fifth straight win.
In other NL games, it was:
‧ Braves 6, Rockies 3
‧ Brewers 5, Reds 4
‧ Giants 2, Padres 1
‧ Cubs 10, Nationals 9
‧ Marlins 5, Astros 0
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