Rangers' offense erupts late in win over D-backs
PHOENIX -- A four-run eighth inning helped the Rangers beat the D-backs, 7-1, on Tuesday night in the first of a two-game series at Chase Field.
With the game tied at 1, Rangers left fielder Jake Smolinski reached first on a one-out error by Cliff Pennington, before Leonys Martin drew a walk. Elvis Andrus then drove home Smolinski with a chopper over Pennington's head, and Prince Fielder capped the rally with a two-run homer.
Video: TEX@ARI: Fielder hits a two-run shot to pad the lead
"I'm just here to drive in runs," Fielder said. "Home runs are a great way to drive in multiple runs at one time, but as long as I'm hitting the ball hard and driving in runs I'm doing my job."
The Rangers' eighth-inning outburst spoiled an outstanding outing by Arizona starter Chase Anderson, who allowed just one run on three hits over seven innings. Texas reliever Shawn Tolleson (1-0) picked up the win, after Nick Martinez had tossed six innings of one-run ball.
Video: TEX@ARI: Anderson fans five over seven strong innings
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Rough one for Huddy: D-backs reliever Daniel Hudson had been dominant in his four relief appearances this year, but he struggled with his command in the eighth inning and allowed four runs (three earned) to suffer the loss.
Video: TEX@ARI: Martin scores on error, pads Rangers' lead
Streak ends: Martinez entered Tuesday's game without having allowed an earned run in 14 consecutive innings to start the season. He extended the streak to 15 frames with a scoreless first to tie Kevin Brown (1992) for the third-longest season-opening streak by a starter in Rangers history. D-backs third baseman Yasmany Tomas hit a one-out single in the second and scored to snap Martinez's streak and tie the game at 1.
Video: TEX@ARI: Martinez limits D-backs to one run over six
Tomas debuts at third: Tomas got his first big league start Tuesday, playing third base. Tomas singled to right in his first at-bat and legged out an infield single in his third. He committed an error in the third inning. More >
Video: TEX@ARI: Tomas collects first Chase Field base hit
Prince of Pop: Fielder hit his first home run of the season Tuesday, leaving Martin as the only regular player without a home run. Fielder finished 2-for-5 and has reached base safely via hit or walk in 12 of his last 13 games. He's hitting .415 during that stretch and has a .386 batting average for the season. More >
Video: TEX@ARI: Fielder's ground-rule double starts scoring
QUOTABLE
"We laid an egg tonight." -- D-backs manager Chip Hale
WHAT'S NEXT
Rangers: Right-hander Yovani Gallardo makes his fourth start of the season Wednesday. Gallardo, who is 7-0 with a 1.86 ERA in seven starts against the D-backs, is coming off of back-to-back wins. He is 5-0 with a 1.93 ERA at Chase Field.
D-backs: Rookie right-hander Archie Bradley will make his third big league start Wednesday night. In his first two starts this year Bradley has been matched up against the Dodgers' Clayton Kershaw and Giants' Madison Bumgarner.
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