Vicente Padilla pitches 7 strong innings and Rangers beat skidding Blue Jays 4-1
Associated Press | Apr 17, 08 8:56 PM CDT in
Sports
Vicente Padilla pitched seven strong innings, Ian Kinsler had three hits and the Texas Rangers beat Toronto 4-1 on Thursday night, handing the Blue Jays their fifth straight home defeat.
Rangers outfielder David Murphy went 3-for-4 with three doubles. He scored twice and drove in a run and Texas won its second straight following a five-game losing streak.
Padilla (2-1) allowed one run and seven hits with three walks and two strikeouts.
The last time Toronto dropped five straight at home was April 20-24, 2005.
One night after 16 pitchers were needed for a 14-inning, 4:53 game, this one was gentler on the bullpens. Halladay went the distance for Toronto, while Jamey Wright worked the eighth for Texas before handing it over to C.J. Wilson, who worked the ninth for his fifth save, second in as many games.
Halladay (2-2) lost for the first time in three starts, allowing four runs and 11 hits. He walked one and struck out six.
In 19 career games against Texas, Halladay is 7-6 with a 5.34 ERA, his second-highest earned run average against an American League opponent. He has a 5.35 ERA in 11 games against Oakland.
The Rangers opened the scoring in the second when Murphy doubled home Milton Bradley, then added another run in the fourth when Kinsler singled, stole second and scored on a base hit by Frank Catalanotto.
Murphy doubled and scored on singles by Gerald Laird in both the seventh and the ninth.
Toronto's lone run came in the seventh when Gregg Zaun doubled, went to third on a grounder and scored on David Eckstein's two-out single.
The Rangers won despite playing without third baseman Hank Blalock (stiff back) and shortstop Michael Young (right calf). Both are expected back for a weekend series in Boston.
Notes:@ Texas grounded into three double plays and Toronto grounded into two. ... The Rangers put OF Marlon Byrd (left knee) on the 15-day DL and purchased the contract of INF German Duran from Triple-A Oklahoma. ... Toronto put RHP Brian Wolfe (strained right triceps) on the 15-day DL and recalled LHP David Purcey from Triple-A Syracuse. Purcey will make his major league debut against Detroit Friday in place of A.J. Burnett, who was pushed back to Sunday after pitching in relief Wednesday.
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