Rangers’ leadoff batter Ian Kinsler takes the second pitch from DC starter Garrett Mock deeeep to left, off Nationals’ left fielder Wily Mo Pena’s glove, and into the visting team’s bullpen for a leadoff home run that gives Texas a 1-0 lead over Washington. Two outs later, two runs score when Rangers’ left fielder David Murphy drives a two-RBI double over Elijah Dukes’ head in right for a 3-0 Rangers’ lead. Kason Gabbard takes the mound for the Rangers and retires the Nationals in order to end the first, freezing Lastings Milledge with a two-strike curve for the final out of the frame.
Felipe Lopez bounces the throw to first on a grounder from Ramon Vazquez, and DY can’t make the grab, so the runner’s safe. Kason Gabbard fouls out bunting with two strikes. Garrett Mock is all over the place in walking Ian Kinsler. Frank Catalanotto helps Mock out by grounding to second, Felipe Lopez to Guzman to DY, double play...DY starts the DC second with a single to center. Ronnie Belliard goes down swinging. Felipe Lopez works Gabbard for a free pass. Paul Lo Duca grounds into a force at second, so it’s first and third with two down for Wily Mo Pena, who strikes out to end the second. 3-0 Rangers.
Michael Young doubles off Mock to start the Rangers’ third. Josh Hamilton grounds out to the right side of the infield, allowing Young to take third. Marlon Byrd fouls strike three into Lo Duca’s glove. Mock gets David Murphy swinging, stranding Young at third...Kason Gabbard gets Mock, Guzman and Dukes in order to end the third.
Jarrod Saltalamacchia singles to center to start the fourth. Saltalamacchia takes third on Dukes' arm when Ramon Vazquez singles to right. Kason Gabbard grounds into a double play that scores Salty. 4-0 Rangers. Lastings Milledge lays out after sprinting a good distance to make a diving play on a fly ball from Ian Kinsler....and then MIlledge picks up a bat and leads off the DC fourth with a long fly ball to left and GONE! Goodbye! Twenty-rows deep for Mr. Milledge! 4-1 Texas. DY drills a double by third and knocks the helmet off before he’s even around first. Ronnie Belliard grounds DY over to third, and Felipe Lopez grounds out to score him. 4-2 Texas after four.
Garrett Mock throws a full-count fastball by Frank Catalanotto for a swinging strike three. Michael Young and Josh Hamilton ground out, Mock retires the Rangers in order. WIly Mo Pena grounds one off Gabbard’s foot and up in the air long enough to allow him to reach safely. Mock gets down a bunt, and Wily Mo Pena “beats” Salty’s attempt to cut down the lead runner. Mock and Pena are safe. Two on, 0 outs for Guzman. The Guzzzz grounds through short to load the bases. Elijah Dukes grounds into a double play, but Pena crosses. 4-3 Rangers.
Marlon Byrd swings over a two-strike curve. David Murphy grounds out to second. Mock gets Salty to chase a power change for the final out of the Texas' sixth...DY singles through short to start the home half. Ronnie Belliard walks. Felipe Lopez chases a curve into the dirt for an unproductive K. Gabbard’s out. Frank Francisco’s on in relief. Paul Lo Duca gets two fastballs at 96 and 97 from Francisco, but the pitcher tries a curve, and Lo Duca lines it to center. Wily Mo Pena up with the bases loaded, one out. WMP flies out unproductively to short center. Kory Casto pinch hits for the pitcher...Casto fouls off a few 2-2 pitches, and takes ball three, full count...Casto lines out to short. Inning over.
Charlie Manning pitches the top of the seventh for the Nationals. Manning throws a high full-count fastball by Ramon Vazquez. Pinch hitter German Duran drives a single by Bellliard at third. Ian Kinsler accepts a walk from Manning. Milton Bradley steps in to pinch hit. Bradley slices a single right over second. Bases loaded. Manning’s done. Brian Sanches comes on in a tough spot...Michael Young smacks a change-up through short to drive in two runs. 6-3 Texas. Josh Hamilton’s first hit of the series scores another run. 7-3 Rangers. David Murphy singles up the middle, 8-3 Texas. After Byrd lines out, Murphy singles. Salty walks to reload the bases, and Ramon Vazquez clears them with a three-run double. 11-3 Texas...
Jesus "Everyday" Colome surrenders another run on a Josh Hamilton single in the eighth. 12-3 Texas. Rangers' reliver Luis Mendoza gets Belliard, Lopez and Lo Duca in order to end the inning....Chris Shelton's two-out single scores another Rangers' run, 13-3. Wily Mo Pena starts the DC ninth with a rally-starting single...Wil Nieves goes down swinging. Cristian Guzman flies out to right. Elijah Dukes chases a curve for the final out of the night...
Nationals now 30-46.