By ANTONIO GONZALEZ
AP Sports Writer
Associated Press Sports
updated 12:57 a.m. ET June 9, 2012
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Matt Harrison threw one final changeup, watched Hector Sanchez swing and miss and pumped his fist to touch off a first-of-its-kind Texas Rangers celebration in San Francisco.
No, this one wasn't for the World Series.
Just a not-so-subtle reminder of how much has changed since these teams last met.
Craig Gentry had a career-high five hits and drove in two runs, Harrison pitched his third career shutout and the Rangers beat shorthanded San Francisco 5-0 on Friday night in a rematch of the 2010 World Series that the Giants won in five games.
"I don't do it very often," Harrison said of his game-ending elation. "I'm a low-key guy. But it feels good to come out with a shutout, especially knowing it was a big win for us."
The Rangers left little doubt about who is best now.
Josh Hamilton and Ian Kinsler homered as Texas earned its first victory in San Francisco's waterfront ballpark after an 0-11 start, including two during the memorable Fall Classic.
Harrison allowed five hits, struck out four and didn't issue a walk to outlast Barry Zito (5-3) in a matchup of left-handers. Harrison (8-3) tied Tampa Bay's David Price for the most wins in the American League.
"I would have to say of all his starts, that's the best, because he completed the game," Rangers manager Ron Washington said. "And he completed it the same way he started it."
Simply dominant.
The Giants, playing without Melky Cabrera and Buster Posey, were shut out for the first time since a 3-0 home loss to the Dodgers on Sept. 10.
Zito gave up four runs, nine hits and two walk in six innings. He also overran second base in the third inning in one of the few times the Giants threatened.
Zito, who was left off the postseason roster two years ago, was touched for two home runs for only the second time this season.
"Their guy threw great. He threw hard, was locating and used all his pitches," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. "Barry was a little bit off, that's all, and we just couldn't mount any offense."
The good news for San Francisco is that reinforcements are on the way.
Bochy said after the game the Giants plan to recall switch-hitting third baseman Pablo Sandoval, rehabbing from surgery to remove a broken hamate bone in his left hand, before Saturday's game. Brett Pill will be optioned to Triple-A Fresno to make room on the roster.
The Giants beat the Rangers in five games - including the finale in Texas - in 2010 to capture the franchise's first World Series since moving from New York in 1958.
So much has changed in San Francisco since.
The only player in the Giants' starting lineup Friday night that was on that World Series roster was Nate Schierholtz, and he was filling in while Cabrera rested his strained right hamstring. Posey also had the day off to rest, and so many of those other postseason stars - not counting the core pitching trio of Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain and Madison Bumgarner - are gone or injured.
Texas is the two-time defending AL champion and boasts one of baseball's best lineups.
While ace C.J. Wilson is gone, the hitting had never slowed until lately. The Rangers had lost seven of the last nine games, including three of four this week across the bay to the Oakland Athletics, and scored a total of four runs in those losses at the Coliseum.
The short trip over the Bay Bridge made all the difference.
Kinsler pulled the second pitch of the game over the wall in left for the first of 14 hits by Texas. It was his second leadoff home run this season and No. 22 for his career, a franchise record.
Hamilton hammered a hanging curveball from Zito in the fifth into the fifth row in center for his 22nd homer of the season. The 2010 AL MVP hadn't gone deep since May 29 against Seattle.
Gentry doubled home a run in the fourth and had an RBI single in the ninth to push the Rangers ahead 5-0. He had never had more than three hits in a game.
The Rangers had dropped seven straight in the regular season to San Francisco since a 2-0 home win on July, 16, 2001. It was the franchise's longest active losing streak to one opponent.
"All night it felt like we were in the dugout the whole time," Gentry said. "Harry just set the tone for the whole game and pitched great."
NOTES: Further tests on Rangers LHP Derek Holland, placed on the 15-day DL Thursday with a fatigued left shoulder, showed no structural damage. Holland will not throw for at least a week and his focus will be on strength training after a stomach virus caused him to lose 10-15 pounds. ... Combined with Monday's day off, the Rangers will give RHP Yu Darvish an extra two days off before making his next start Friday at home against Houston.
---
Follow Antonio Gonzalez at: www.twitter.com/agonzalezAP
? 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
advertisement
More newsGetty ImagesHitless in Seattle
??Kevin Millwood and five Seattle relievers combined on a no-hitter, the third in franchise history, and the Mariners beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 1-0 on Friday night.
phoenix coyotes bruce irvin charlie st cloud celtics josh hamilton nba playoffs rosario dawson
No comments:
Post a Comment