Rangers Set Records In 30-3 Rout

Thursday, August 23rd 2007, 7:44 am

By: News On 6

The Texas Rangers rounded the bases at a dizzying pace and became the first team in 110 years to score 30 runs in a game, setting an American League record Wednesday in a 30-3 rout of the Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards.

``That was ridiculous. I have never been in anything like that in my life,'' said Jarrod Saltalamacchia, one of two Texas players who homered twice and drove in seven runs.

It was the ninth time a major league team scored 30 runs, the first since the Chicago Colts set the major league mark in a 36-7 rout of Louisville in a National League game on June 28, 1897, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

Hours after announcing manager Dave Trembley would return for the 2008 season, the Orioles absorbed the most one-sided defeat in franchise history and set a team record for hits allowed (29).

And that was just Game 1 of a doubleheader.

Trailing 3-0 in the opener, the last-place Rangers at last did something right. They scored five runs in the fourth inning, nine runs in the sixth, 10 in the eighth and six more in the ninth.

``This is something freaky. You won't see anything like this again for a long, long time. I am glad I was on this end of it,'' said Marlon Byrd, who hit one of two Texas grand slams.

The Rangers kept right on hitting in the nightcap, too, although at a decidedly tamer pace. Travis Metcalf drove in four runs and Texas used a three-run eighth for a 9-7 victory.

With the sweep, the Rangers set an AL record for runs in a doubleheader, surpassing the 36 scored by Detroit in 1937.

``What am I going to remember about today? Thirty runs scored in one game and having to play another one after that,'' Texas second baseman Ian Kinsler said. ``It was a very strange day.''

In other AL games, it was: New York 8, Los Angeles 2; Tampa Bay 2, Boston 1; Cleveland 11, Detroit 8; Minnesota 8, Seattle 4; Oakland 4, Toronto 1; and Kansas City 7, Chicago 6.

Travis Metcalf hit the other grand slam for the Rangers after being called up from the minors earlier in the day. Saltalamacchia and Ramon Vazquez, the bottom two batters in Texas' lineup, each homered twice and finished with seven RBIs.

David Murphy had five of Texas' 29 hits, the most by a major league team since Milwaukee had 31 in a 22-2 victory over Toronto on Aug. 28, 1992, according to Elias.

The Rangers totaled 28 runs in their previous nine games, including two runs on seven hits in their last two. Texas set a team record for runs in a doubleheader _ before the second game even started.

``I knew we'd get the bats going, but I never expected anything like this,'' manager Ron Washington said. ``When the faucet is on, you want it to stay on. You never want to cut it off.''

Daniel Cabrera (9-13) took the loss, giving up six runs and nine hits in five-plus innings.

Winning pitcher Kason Gabbard (6-1) allowed three runs in six innings.

Even with the one-sided score, Wes Littleton earned his second major league save by pitching three scoreless innings.

Yankees 8, Angels 2

At Anaheim, Calif., Andy Pettitte tossed seven strong innings to win his fifth consecutive start and New York salvaged the finale of a three-game series.

Pettitte (11-7) beat John Lackey (15-8) and came to the rescue for the Yankees yet again, one night after the Angels roughed up New York's pitching staff in an 18-9 rout highlighted by Garret Anderson's 10 RBIs.

The victory was Joe Torre's 1,150th as New York manager, surpassing Casey Stengel for sole possession of second place on the franchise list behind Joe McCarthy (1,460).

Bobby Abreu homered for the Yankees, who moved within five games of AL East leader Boston. They're 1 1/2 back of Seattle in the wild-card race. The AL West-leading Angels remained two games in front of the Mariners.

Devil Rays 2, Red Sox 1

At St. Petersburg, Fla., B.J. Upton hit a two-run homer and Tampa Bay beat Daisuke Matsuzaka (13-10) for the third time this season. Edwin Jackson (4-12) allowed one run in six innings.

Al Reyes retired Jason Varitek with two on for his 19th save in 21 opportunities. The Red Sox stranded 14 runners and fell to 9-3 against the Devil Rays this season.

Indians 11, Tigers 8

At Detroit, Franklin Gutierrez hit a three-run homer and Cleveland beat Justin Verlander (13-5) to increase its AL Central lead to 1 1/2 games over the Tigers. The Indians overcame homers by Carlos Guillen, Magglio Ordonez and Marcus Thames.

Gary Sheffield will be out of Detroit's lineup for at least the rest of the current homestand because of a sore right shoulder that has bothered him for more than a month.

Twins 8, Mariners 4

At Minneapolis, Michael Cuddyer's grand slam fueled a seven-run first inning against Miguel Batista (13-9), and the Twins ended Seattle's five-game winning streak.

Carlos Silva (10-12), who entered with the second-worst run support among AL starters, cruised with the big lead and completed seven innings for his first victory this month.

Athletics 4, Blue Jays 1

At Toronto, Esteban Loaiza (1-0) came off the disabled list and won his season debut, outpitching A.J. Burnett (7-7) to help Oakland finish a three-game sweep.

The Athletics (64-64) have won four straight and eight of 10 to reach .500 for the first time since the All-Star break. Alan Embree earned his 16th save.

Royals 7, White Sox 6

At Chicago, Billy Butler homered and drove in three runs for the Royals, who ended a three-game skid and kept the White Sox from completing their first series sweep at home since last August against Detroit.

Brian Bannister (10-7) won for the fifth time in seven starts and lowered his ERA to 3.28, eighth-best in the AL. Kansas City struck early against struggling Jose Contreras (6-16).