Elvis Andrus Leads Exciting Rally to Push Texas Rangers Past the Baltimore Orioles

It wasn't like the first game of the series, but the Rangers bats eventually got hot and helped the Rangers defeat the Orioles 4-2.

Although the Rangers gave up a solo home run to lead off the game, the Rangers pitching still performed very well last night.

Matt Harrison started the day on the mound for the Rangers and went 6 innings while giving up 2 solo home runs on 11 hits. After 6 the Rangers had to go to their problematic bullpen which has been their Achilles's heel all season. However, the bullpen stepped up last night with Tommy Hunter, Mark Lowe and Neftali Feliz all pitching a complete inning without giving up a hit, let alone a run.

It fell to the Rangers hitting to finally get something going and it did in the 6th. After being held scoreless by Orioles pitcher Mitch Atkins through 5 inning, Nelson Cruz finally put the Rangers on the board with a one run single that scored Josh Hamilton.

The highlights of the 7th inning came from Elvis Andrus. On the defensive side Andrus ended the 7th on an acrobat leaping double play. Ian Kinsler caught the Vladmir Guerrero grounder and lobbed it to Andrus who had to leap over a sliding Adam Jones to throw the ball to first and complete the double play.

Ian Kinsler had this to say about the play:

"He did a good job getting out of the way. Vladdy's not going to be blazing down the line, so you've got time. He probably would have thrown it earlier, but wasn't able to get it out of his glove." -AP

In the 7th inning the Rangers took a lead that they would hold on to for the rest of the game. Josh Hamilton hit a long single that looked like it should only score one run but Andrus had other ideas. The hit easily scored Yorvit Torrealba but Andrus ran right past second and head long to third. Andrus beat the throw form Nolan Reimold and in the process caused the ball to ricochet off his body and fly towards the Orioles dugout. Andrus promptly got up and scored the go ahead unearned run. Immediately following the Andrus' score Andrian Beltre hit a double to score Hamilton and give the Rangers a bit of breathing room.

With the win the Rangers stay tied with the Angel's for first in the AL West and clinch their final series before the All-Star break.

The Rangers will be looking to complete the sweep tonight at 7 o'clock.