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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME LOG
PHOENIX (AP) -- Luis Alicea knew what his winning hit meant.
"It was a heart-breaking loss for them, but I think it'll mean
momentum for us," Alicea said after his two-run single capped a
last-inning rally, sending the Rangers to a 6-4 victory over the
Arizona Diamondbacks on Thursday night.
|  | | Matt Williams returned from the disabled list Thursday and went 1-for-4 for Arizona. |
The Rangers rallied for five runs in the ninth, tying it at 4 on
a two-run triple by David Segui.
But manager Johnny Oates felt the key was a two-out solo homer
in the eighth by pinch-hitter Scott Sheldon. It was a breakthrough
against Brian Anderson, who had only allowed three hits and retired
15 of the previous 16 batters.
"We had a lot of contributions," Oates said. "It was big to
come out here right after the break and beat a first-place
ballclub. But Shelly hit that home run, and that got us started."
"I was just trying to see it as good as I can, and relax,"
said Sheldon, who had just one homer in 22 previous at-bats. "All
the simple things. I was able to get enough of it to go out. You
like to think that it does spark the club."
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Williams back from DL
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PHOENIX (AP) -- Third baseman Matt Williams and first baseman
Erubiel Durazo were activated from the disabled list Thursday by
the Arizona Diamondbacks, who regained some offensive for their
interleague series against Texas.
Both had been on the DL for the second time this season,
Williams with a strained right quadriceps and Durazo because of
pain in his right wrist following surgery.
Arizona optioned outfielder Rob Ryan to Triple-A Tucson and used
the disabled list for the 12th time this season, placing infielder
Danny Klassen on the DL with turf toe in his right foot.
Williams, who was returned to his customary cleanup spot, missed
the first 43 games with a broken right foot and the last 15 after
straining his quad on June 25.
He aggravated the injury on Sunday during a rehabilitation
assignment with Class A High Desert, but Showalter decided to bring
the slugger back after watching him take batting practice.
The injuries have caused Williams, who had 35 home runs and 143
RBIs last year, to struggle to find his groove. He hit .269, with
two homers and four RBIs in 25 games and was 1-for-25 with runners
in scoring position.
Durazo had wrist surgery to repair cartilage damage June 1 and
went on the DL for the first time. He returned June 24 and played
in two games before joining Williams and right-hander Todd
Stottlemyre on the DL. Stottlemyre has tendinitis in his throwing elbow and isn't
expected to return until September.
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Jay Bell, 0-for-20 coming in, drove in four runs with two homers
and an RBI single as Arizona built a 4-1 lead, but the Diamondbacks
bullpen blew a save chance for the third time in four games.
Handed a three-run lead by Anderson, Byung-Hyun Kim (2-4) walked
Rusty Greer leading off and hit Rafael Palmeiro with an 0-2 pitch
with one out.
Frank Catalanotto hit an RBI single and Segui, batting for Gabe
Kapler, followed with a triple that dropped below the glove of a
diving Steve Finley in center.
Mike Lamb was intentionally walked, and pinch-hitter Dave
Martinez walked with two outs. Alicea then singled to right.
Jeff Zimmerman (2-4) won despite allowing an RBI infield single
to Bell in the eighth, and John Wetteland pitched a scoreless ninth
for his 22nd save.
Bell hadn't homered or driven in a run in nine games before his
solo shot in the third off Rick Helling. After Tony Womack's
fifth-inning single, Bell hit an opposite-field homer, giving him
11 this season.
It was Bell's first multihomer game of the year and the seventh
of his career. He had been homerless in 43 at-bats since connecting
off Cincinnati's Pete Harnisch.
"It doesn't matter what I do offensively," Bell said. "What
matters is if we win. We just let this one get away."
Arizona third baseman Matt Williams, and first baseman Erubiel
Durazo were activated from the disabled list before the game. Both
went 1-for-4.
Anderson, beaten by the Reds on July 3 for his first home loss
in 20 starts since Sept. 19, 1998, allowed four hits in eight
innings, striking out six and walking none. It was his second
straight no-decision in games he left with the Diamondbacks
leading.
"I felt I was a step ahead all night long, and it was probably
the best fastball I've had in a while," Anderson said. "I knew I
had some pretty good juice, and I just tried to use that to our
advantage."
Helling, who gave up seven hits and four walks, left after a
leadoff walk to Bell in the seventh.
Helling escaped a bases-loaded jam in the fourth when Travis Lee
struck out on three pitches and Anderson hit into a forceout.
Game notes
The Diamondbacks put INF Danny Klassen on the DL and optioned OF Rob Ryan to Triple-A Tucson. ... Ivan Rodriguez's
hitting streak ended at 11 games, but Greer's single in the first
inning extended his streak to 11 -- his longest since last August.
... Texas LHP Darren Oliver, on the DL since June 17 with weakness
in his left shoulder, is scheduled to make his third rehab start
for Triple-A Oklahoma on Friday at Nashville.
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