Hamilton, 4th Inning Carry Rangers In Comeback: Rangers 9 Rays 6

When Josh Hamilton has a homer and a double in one inning, you know things are going well.

Hamilton, who bashed three extra base hits on the night, led off the fourth inning with a solo home run to put the Rangers within 4-3. It was the first hit and first run scored in an inning that would feature seven hits and seven run. The Rangers sent 11 men to the plate, meaning Hamilton and David Murphy each batted twice. Unfortunately, Murphy was tagged with the indignity of accounting for two outs in the inning on a flyout and a groundout.

The inning also included singles by Justin Smoak, Julio Borbon, Elvis Andrus and Michael Young (what’s new). Andrus’s and Young’s bases-loaded hits brought home one and two runs, respectively. But once again the biggest hit of the inning came from Vladimir Guerrero, who returned to the lineup in his personal palace after missing two games when a ball ricocheted and hit him in the eye during Wednesday’s batting practice. Guerrero’s double cleared the bags and resulted in the last three runs of the inning before Guerrero was thrown out at third with a smile on his face.

Smoak’s 2-run homer in the second set up the barrage in the fourth after the team sat in a 4-0 hole early. He also hit singles in the fourth and the fifth to complete his first 3-hit game as a Major Leaguer.

C.J. Wilson struggled, but made it through five innings for the victory. Darren O’Day, Matt Harrison, Darren Oliver, Frank Francisco and Neftali Feli all pitched in relief. Feliz hit two batters after striking out two in route to 15th save.

The Rays, who entered the game with the best record in the league, also hit two batters.

Former Ranger Hank Blalock received a warm reception when he pinch hit for Gabe Kapler, another former Ranger in the sixth. He was 0-for-2 with a groundout and a strikeout.