Team Infidel
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http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/scorecard/mlbnews.asp?articleID=172526
Arlington, TX (Sports Network) - Nelson Cruz hit a grand slam, but there were seven ejections as bad blood brewed in the ninth inning of the Rangers' 9-3 win over the Angels in the finale of a brief two-game set at Ameriquest Field.
After Vicente Padilla was ejected from the game on Tuesday night for hitting Vladimir Guerrero and Juan Rivera, the Angels decided to retaliate on Wednesday while getting blown out.
Down 9-3 in the eighth, Kevin Gregg quickly retired the first two batters before the madness began. Gregg then threw behind Ian Kinsler and both benches were warned. Michael Young was hit in the back with a pitch and Gregg and Angels manager Mike Scioscia were ejected. Brendan Donnelly came in to pitch and he greeted Freddy Guzman with a ball to the back. Donnelly and LA bench coach Ron Roenicke were thrown out of the game.
Scott Feldman replaced C.J. Wilson in the ninth and, after getting two quick outs, it was time for the Rangers to exact some revenge. Adam Kennedy was hit in the backside by a pitch and he charged the mound. Feldman and Kennedy exchanged punches before Texas utility man Mark DeRosa tackled the second baseman.
Feldman, Kennedy and Texas manager Buck Showalter were all given the heave-ho before Rick Bauer got Jose Molina to fly out and end the game.
Adam Eaton, who started Wednesday's game, was thrown out of a game August 6 in Anaheim for throwing at hitting Rivera. Eaton (3-2) allowed two runs on four hits while walking two and striking out five in seven strong innings.
Kinsler finished 3-of-4 with a two-run homer and two runs scored and DeRosa drove in a run for the Rangers, who have won six of their last seven contests.
Joe Saunders (4-1) lasted just 2 2/3 innings, surrendering eight runs -- seven earned -- on five hits and five walks. Maicer Izturis went 2-for-4 with a homer and three RBI for the Angels, who have lost two of their last three games.
The Rangers got on the board first with a run in the opening frame. Kinsler and Young both walked before Carlos Lee grounded into a force out. On the play, Orlando Cabrera's throwing error allowed Kinsler to score and Lee to reach first.
Texas broke the game wide open with eight runs in the third frame. Kinsler stroked a two-run homer to straightaway center for a 3-0 lead. With runners on first and second DeRosa hit a run-scoring single to left. Gerald Laird then singled to load the bases before Jerry Hairston Jr. walked, plating DeRosa.
Gregg replaced Saunders and got ahead 0-2 to Cruz, but the right fielder crushed the next pitch he saw for his first career grand slam to left- center and a 9-0 advantage.
The Angels got in the board in the sixth with a two-run homer to right from Izturis.
LA added another run in the eighth as Izturis' base hit drove in Chone Figgins, who doubled off Wilson to begin the frame.
Arlington, TX (Sports Network) - Nelson Cruz hit a grand slam, but there were seven ejections as bad blood brewed in the ninth inning of the Rangers' 9-3 win over the Angels in the finale of a brief two-game set at Ameriquest Field.
After Vicente Padilla was ejected from the game on Tuesday night for hitting Vladimir Guerrero and Juan Rivera, the Angels decided to retaliate on Wednesday while getting blown out.
Down 9-3 in the eighth, Kevin Gregg quickly retired the first two batters before the madness began. Gregg then threw behind Ian Kinsler and both benches were warned. Michael Young was hit in the back with a pitch and Gregg and Angels manager Mike Scioscia were ejected. Brendan Donnelly came in to pitch and he greeted Freddy Guzman with a ball to the back. Donnelly and LA bench coach Ron Roenicke were thrown out of the game.
Scott Feldman replaced C.J. Wilson in the ninth and, after getting two quick outs, it was time for the Rangers to exact some revenge. Adam Kennedy was hit in the backside by a pitch and he charged the mound. Feldman and Kennedy exchanged punches before Texas utility man Mark DeRosa tackled the second baseman.
Feldman, Kennedy and Texas manager Buck Showalter were all given the heave-ho before Rick Bauer got Jose Molina to fly out and end the game.
Adam Eaton, who started Wednesday's game, was thrown out of a game August 6 in Anaheim for throwing at hitting Rivera. Eaton (3-2) allowed two runs on four hits while walking two and striking out five in seven strong innings.
Kinsler finished 3-of-4 with a two-run homer and two runs scored and DeRosa drove in a run for the Rangers, who have won six of their last seven contests.
Joe Saunders (4-1) lasted just 2 2/3 innings, surrendering eight runs -- seven earned -- on five hits and five walks. Maicer Izturis went 2-for-4 with a homer and three RBI for the Angels, who have lost two of their last three games.
The Rangers got on the board first with a run in the opening frame. Kinsler and Young both walked before Carlos Lee grounded into a force out. On the play, Orlando Cabrera's throwing error allowed Kinsler to score and Lee to reach first.
Texas broke the game wide open with eight runs in the third frame. Kinsler stroked a two-run homer to straightaway center for a 3-0 lead. With runners on first and second DeRosa hit a run-scoring single to left. Gerald Laird then singled to load the bases before Jerry Hairston Jr. walked, plating DeRosa.
Gregg replaced Saunders and got ahead 0-2 to Cruz, but the right fielder crushed the next pitch he saw for his first career grand slam to left- center and a 9-0 advantage.
The Angels got in the board in the sixth with a two-run homer to right from Izturis.
LA added another run in the eighth as Izturis' base hit drove in Chone Figgins, who doubled off Wilson to begin the frame.