ekansekans's blog: "df"

ARLINGTON, Texas -- It took 10 starts for David Price to earn a win against Texas -- and nearly a month for the Rangers to lose a series this season. Patrick Willis Pink Jersey . Price beat Texas for the first time in his career and the Tampa Bay Rays won 5-2 on Sunday night, becoming the first team to take a series from the Rangers this year. Price (4-1) gave up two runs and six hits in 6 1-3 innings, striking out six and walking one. The two-time All-Star entered 0-6 with a 5.30 ERA against the Rangers -- including a pair of playoff starts. "Personally, for myself, Ive never beat those guys, so first and foremost, that feels great," Price said. "But Im pumped that we won. I can turn that page now. It feels great." Ben Zobrist had three hits and an RBI, and Price earned his fourth victory in five starts. Tampa Bay touched up Texas lefty Derek Holland (2-2) for five extra-base hits. Fernando Rodney loaded the bases with two outs in the ninth, then jammed Ian Kinsler on a soft liner back to the mound for his seventh save. The Rangers played most of the game without slugger Josh Hamilton, the American League leader in home runs and RBIs. He left in the third with back spasms and is day to day. Hamilton was injured while getting his 25th RBI on a single to centre in the first that scored Elvis Andrus. The outfielder winced as he ran back to the dugout after being forced out on Adrian Beltres grounder. He was slow to come out on the field for the start of the second inning and stayed in the dugout in the third. "Its no big deal," said Texas manager Ron Washington, ejected on his 60th birthday. "Well see (Monday at Toronto). If he feels better, hell be out there. If not, well give him another day." Price was able to work his fastball in and out and keep the leagues best-hitting club off balance with an effective changeup. "Theyve got power 1 through 9," Price said. "They can hit the ball out to any part of the ballpark here. Youve got to be able to make pitches and keep the ball down." Tampa Bay took two of three in Texas, marking the first loss in seven series this season for the Rangers, who entered the game 13-1-1 in their last 15 series at home. They had won a team-record 12 consecutive series dating to last season. Hamiltons departure left a hole in the lineup. The Rangers put runners on second and third with one out in the fifth but managed to score only Yorvit Torrealba on Andrus groundout to second. David Murphy, who replaced Hamilton, struck out to end the threat. Murphy fanned three times in three at-bats, including twice against Price. The left-hander was coming off a 5-0 shutout against the Los Angeles Angels last week. "David probably was not as sharp as the last game, but nevertheless very effective," Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon said. "I thought he pitched with a lot of composure." Zobrist, who was 3 for 4 with a double and a triple, was one of five Rays with RBIs. Jeff Keppinger, Luke Scott, Sean Rodriguez and Desmond Jennings -- whose triple in the seventh scored the teams fifth run -- all had run-producing hits against Holland, who turned in his second straight ineffective start. Tampa Bay knocked around the left-hander for six hits -- four for extra bases -- and four runs in the second and third. Zobrist led off the second with a triple and was followed by run-scoring hits from Keppinger and Scott and a sacrifice fly by Rodriguez that scored B.J. Upton. Holland allowed five runs and nine hits in seven innings, striking out eight. He walked Carlos Pena to start the third and gave up a run-scoring double to Zobrist. "I caught too much plate with all my pitches," Holland said. "Everything was down the middle. Obviously, at the major league level, theyre going to take care of you." NOTES: Washington was ejected at the end of the seventh by plate umpire Dan Bellino for arguing a called third strike on Kinsler. ... Andrus reached base for the 18th consecutive game with a walk in the first. ... Jennings extended his hitting streak to 11 games. ... Texas DH Michael Young is 3 for 23 in his last six games. . Evan Longoria is hitting .550 with runners in scoring position (11 for 20). ... Japanese media covering the Rangers and pitcher Yu Darvish presented Washington with a cake for his 60th birthday, a significant year in Japanese culture that also called for a Kanreki celebration, in which the birthday celebrant dons a red vest and a flat red hat that resembles a chefs hat. A.J. Jenkins Jersey . PETERSBURG, Fla. Jerry Rice Womens Jersey . -- Jerome Verriers power-play goal gave the Drummondville Voltigeurs the insurance they needed in a 3-2 win over the Val-dOr Foreurs in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League play Thursday. http://www.2013superbowl49ers.com/patrick-willis-jersey .S. Open. The 17-time Grand Slam champion was ranked No. 1 in the ATP rankings released Monday. Steve Young Womens Jersey . The Catalan club paid C8 million (US$12.7 million) to Palmeiras in 2008 for Henrique. Although the defender signed for five years, he did not fit into coach Pep Guardiolas plans for the club. David Akers Jersey . Brandon Jennings added 17 points for Milwaukee, Samuel Dalembert and John Henson each had 12, Monta Ellis finished with 11 and Mike Dunleavy had 10. Andre Drummond scored 19 points for Detroit before fouling out, and Corey Maggette added 14.TORONTO -- On another day the Toronto Blue Jays bats couldnt deliver Carlos Villanueva a victory, the pitcher was left feeling bad for a teammate who made a miscue in the field. Anthony Gose lost a routine flyball in the sun before Nelson Cruz hit a two-run homer that gave Texas all the run support it would need in a 2-1 victory over the Blue Jays on Saturday afternoon. Villanueva didnt fault the rookie right-fielder for the game-turning play. Toronto was ahead 1-0 when Gose allowed Adrian Beltre to reach base on a ground-rule double to lead off the fifth inning. "The sun was right there," said Villanueva. "You cant really say that much. Hes trying his best out there. I know he feels bad enough." Cruz hit his 19th homer on the very next pitch -- essentially the only mistake made by Villanueva (6-3) as he continued a strong run since being elevated from the bullpen at the end of June. Called the teams "most consistent starter" by manager John Farrell prior to the game, Villanueva allowed two runs on four hits over 6 1-3 innings of work against the American Leagues highest-scoring team. Hes been tagged with three losses in his last four starts, but received just seven total runs of support in those outings. A loss to the AL West-leading Rangers seemed like another unjust result for the 28-year-old. "A first-pitch changeup to Cruz is the difference in the game," said Farrell. "But you cant say enough about the way Carlos continues to pitch." Reliever Michael Kirkman (1-2) picked up the victory for Texas and Joe Nathan pitched a perfect ninth to set a team record with his 22nd successful save attempt in a row. He has 24 total saves on the season. Roy Oswalt made his first start for the Rangers since July 30 and allowed one run on two hits with five strikeouts. He also had a hit batter and two balks -- and didnt seem too thrilled at being lifted from the game after just 62 pitches. However, the veteran acknowledged that fatigue set in during a surprise start that came after Canadian Ryan Dempster left thee Rangers for "personal reasons. Y.A. Tittle 49ers Jersey. " "I havent started in a month so I was getting a bit gassed at the end," said Oswalt. The Rangers starter looked to be in total control while retiring Torontos first seven batters until coming up against Gose in the bottom of the third. After walking the Blue Jays rookie, he watched him steal second before committing a balk to move him over to third. Adeiny Hechavarria promptly picked up his first career RBI by driving in Gose with a single to make it 1-0. That was the only offence Toronto would be able to muster. Texas countered in the top of the fifth with a little help from the bright sunshine splashed across the outfield. After Beltre reached base on a play that should have been an out, Cruz came to the plate with an offspeed pitch in mind. He drove it into the left-field seats. "It was a changeup," said Cruz. "I was looking for something up, something I could drive. I think it was one of the few mistakes (Villanueva) made. He was throwing the ball really well, everything was down and on the corners." Villanueva steadied himself from there, retiring seven of the next nine before getting lifted for Aaron Loup with one out in the seventh. The Rangers managed just five hits in the game. The Blue Jays had their chances to tie the game. Gose had an excellent 10-pitch at-bat with the bases loaded in the sixth before striking out to end the inning. Toronto then got its first two runners on in the seventh and ended up loading the bases, but again came away with nothing. "Tough ball game," said Farrell. Notes: Torontos record in August dropped to 5-12 ... Torontos Yunel Escobar was tossed from the game by umpire Jeff Nelson in the seventh for arguing balls and strikes ... The Jays hope to get Brett Lawrie (rib cage) and Jose Bautista (left wrist) back in the lineup over the next week ... Henderson Alvarez (7-10) is expected to close out the three-game series for Toronto on Sunday against Matt Harrison (13-7) ... Announced attendance was 30,033. ' ' '