Adduci, Allen flex as Rangers' split-squad triumphs
PEORIA, Ariz. -- The Rangers flexed their muscles on Saturday, when they peppered the Padres for double-digit hits and two home runs in a 5-2 victory at Peoria Stadium. Jim Adduci and Brandon Allen both drilled two-run homers for Texas, and San Diego made three errors en route to the loss.
The Padres' first error -- a bobbled ball by third baseman Chase Headley -- came on the second play of the game. Craig Gentry reached base on that play and later stole second base, and he came around to score the game's first run on a one-out single by second baseman Jeff Baker.
Texas came back to extend the lead in the third inning on a monster home run by Allen, who took southpaw starter Eric Stults deep to right-center field. San Diego only netted two hits in the first four innings, and Adduci put the Padres down, 5-0, with a two-run shot to left-center off Anthony Bass.
The Padres didn't get on the scoreboard until the bottom of the sixth inning, when Headley drew a leadoff walk and Kyle Blanks blasted a towering drive over the fence in left field.
Stults worked three innings for the Padres, allowing five hits and two earned runs. Bass, who pitched two innings in relief, gave up five hits and walked one batter in his brief outing. Closer Huston Street came into a 5-0 game and pitched a scoreless sixth inning.
"I really felt comfortable throwing to the arm-side of the plate, away to righties," said Stults. "I felt really good with all my pitches on that side of the plate. I felt good overall. I felt like I threw the ball well and got a lot of ground balls. Some of the ground balls weren't hit at anyone and got through. I felt like my biggest struggle today was glove-side fastball. I left a few up, especially the home run to Allen."
Texas starter Matt Harrison was scratched before the game due to a lingering injury on the second toe of his left foot, and the Rangers coped with a series of relievers. Neil Ramirez, Tanner Scheppers, Nate Robertson, Coty Woods and Cory Burns all threw scoreless innings for Texas.
Yoshinori Tateyama worked the sixth inning and allowed the two-run shot to Blanks.
Up next: Robbie Ross continues his bid to be the Rangers' fifth starter on Sunday at 3:05 p.m. CT, when Texas plays the Indians in Goodyear, Ariz. Ross has pitched nine innings over three games and allowed three runs on nine hits, a walk and two strikeouts. He was a setup reliever last year but could be the top candidate for the fifth spot.