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Tuesday, May 2 7:15pm ET
Helling pitches Rangers over Devil Rays | |||||
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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME LOG
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) -- Good things happen for Rick Helling and Rafael Palmeiro at Tropicana Field. Helling didn't allow a hit until the sixth inning, and Palmeiro had a homer and three RBI Tuesday night as the Texas Rangers beat the Tampa Bay Devil Rays 8-1. Despite control problems, Helling (3-1) kept the Devil Rays hitless until Fred McGriff lined a one-out single to right on the right-hander's 104th pitch of the game. "I was right on the money for stretches, and then I'd lose it for a batter or two," Helling said. "I felt like I kept making a bunch of good pitches, but for stretches I'd lose it a little bit." Helling allowed just the one unearned run and one hit in 7 1/3 innings, struck out six, walked six and hit a batter. "I'm not really happy about the six walks," he said. "More times than not, that's going to kill you. Luckily, tonight I made the big pitches when I had to." "I saw more baserunners out there in a one-hitter than I think I've ever seen in my life," Texas manager Johnny Oates added. Helling is 5-1 against Tampa Bay, including 4-0 at Tropicana Field. "We couldn't get anything going offensively ... we had some chances but he was tough," Tampa Bay manager Larry Rothschild said. "He made pitches in good spots, didn't give in to hitters at all and really had us off balance all night. When you play a game and you don't hit much, it always looks like there's not to many good things going on and tonight there wasn't. I'll give Helling credit tonight." Mike Venafro retired one batter in the eighth, and Tim Crabtree finished the two-hitter, allowing a ninth-inning single to Steve Cox. Ivan Rodriguez hit a solo homer in the ninth inning, his 10th of the season. He is 6-for-10 with three homers, four RBI and six runs scored the past two games. "Hitting is not easy," Rodriguez said. "I just concentrate and try to hit the ball hard." During the past seven games at Tampa Bay, the Rangers have hit 22 homers. In 10 home games this season, the Devil Rays have been outhomered 23-10. Texas won for the ninth time in 12 games at Tropicana Field, where the Rangers went 6-0 last last season. Palmeiro, who went 2-for-2 with two walks, returned to the starting lineup for the first time since straining his left hamstring Friday. He hit a second-inning solo homer and added a two-run single in the sixth that made it 4-0. "One leg or two, he can hit," Oates said. "I've seen him do that a lot." Palmeiro is 19-for-48 (.396) with four homers and 10 RBI at Tropicana Field. Chad Curtis hit a fifth-inning solo shot, and David Segui, Ruben Mateo and Jason McDonald had RBI singles in a three-run eighth. Palmeiro was not inserted into the lineup until after batting practice. He needed just three pitches to make his presence felt, sending a 1-1 pitch from Ryan Rupe (0-4) into the right-field stands. Palmeiro's homer was his ninth this season and the 370th of his career, moving him past Ralph Kiner into a tie for 46th on the career list with Gil Hodges. Rupe allowed four runs and six hits in five-plus innings. He has given up 36 runs -- 33 earned -- in 30 2/3 innings during six starts this season. "It's a tough stretch for me," said Rupe, who made his 30th career start. "All I can do is learn something from it and it will all come out better in the end." Rupe had lost six straight decisions since beating Baltimore last Aug. 31. Rothschild was ejected by plate umpire Tony Randazzo for arguing a check-swing, third-strike call against Gerald Williams in the third inning. Announced attendance was 15,067. Tampa Bay has drawn 15,464 or less in five of its last seven home games. Game notesTampa Bay's Greg Vaughn became the fifth active player with 300 homers and 100 stolen bases after stealing second in the fourth. The others are teammate Jose Canseco, Ken Griffey Jr., Barry Bonds and Sammy Sosa... Canseco was scratched from the starting lineup because of right calf stiffness. He hopes to return Friday. ... Rangers OF Gabe Kapler left in the fifth inning with a hip flexor injury and might be placed on the disabled list. ... Texas hit into double plays in five consecutive innings starting in the third. ... Royce Clayton is 1-for-14 with three walks when leading off the Texas first inning. He flied out starting the game. | ALSO SEE Baseball Scoreboard Texas Clubhouse Tampa Bay Clubhouse RECAPS Baltimore 7 Anaheim 6
Texas 8
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