The Daily Southerner, Tarboro, NC

Sports

July 9, 2009

Jones homers 3 times to carry Rangers past Angels

The Associated Press Associated Press

ANAHEIM, Calif. — Andruw Jones has been relishing his role in his first season with the Texas Rangers.

On Wednesday night, he was one home run shy of matching one of baseball’s hallowed records.

Jones hit three home runs in his first three at-bats and the Rangers routed the Los Angeles Angels 8-1.

Formerly a Gold Glove center fielder, Jones signed a minor league contract during the offseason to play sparingly in the outfield with the Rangers.

He hit 25 or more homers with Atlanta from 1998 to 2007, including a major league-best 51 in 2005, but ended up a dud with the Los Angeles Dodgers in ’08 when he was put on the disabled list three times.

“All these years I’ve been playing wasn’t a fluke,” said Jones, who hit .156 with 14 RBIs and three home runs for the Dodgers. “Just because you have one bad year and things didn’t go well ... things like that happen. I was lucky enough to put it behind me and work hard on things I had to work on. Luckily Texas gave me the opportunity to play and kept me on the team.”

The Rangers got to Angels starter Ervin Santana early, with Jones hitting home runs off him in the first and third, the latter sailing over the left field pole to give Texas a 4-0 lead.

Jones added a solo shot in the fifth off reliever Rich Thompson. Taylor Teagarden and Marlon Byrd also homered for Texas.

With a chance to tie the record for home runs in a game, Jones popped out in the sixth against Kevin Jepsen and struck out against Jason Bulger in the ninth.

“I was thinking about it. I tried. I just didn’t get it done,” Jones said. “I’m just happy we won.”

The five homers matched a season-high for the Rangers, who regained the AL West lead for the first time since June 26.

It’s the second career three-homer game for Jones, who last did it Sept. 25, 2007, against Philadelphia. He’s also the second player to hit three homers in a game in the last two days. Paul Konerko of the Chicago White Sox went deep three times against Cleveland on Tuesday night.

“Andrew put us on his back and everyone followed,” Washington said.

Rays 10, Blue Jays 9

At St. Petersburg, Fla., All-Star Ben Zobrist hit a three-run homer and had an RBI single in the bottom of the ninth inning for Tampa Bay.

J.P. Howell (5-2) pitched the ninth to get the victory.

Scott Rolen had three hits and drove in a run, extending his career-best hitting streak to 25 games for Toronto, which has lost nine of 11 games to fall to .500 (43-43).

Tigers 3, Royals 1

At Detroit, rookie Lucas French (1-0), making his second major-league start, held the Royals to one run and six hits in 6 1-3 innings. Three Tigers relievers finished, with Fernando Rodney pitching the ninth for his 19th save in as many tries.

Zack Greinke (10-5) gave up three runs, all in the first two innings, and seven hits in six innings. He struck out nine and walked two.

Red Sox 5, Athletics 4

At Boston, first-time All-Star Tim Wakefield earned his AL-leading 11th victory, and David Ortiz homered and drove in four runs for the Red Sox.

Wakefield (11-3) left to a standing ovation in the seventh inning in his final scheduled start before the break. The 42-year-old knuckleballer is 9-0 in his last 11 starts at Fenway Park. He gave up three earned runs and 10 hits. He struck out eight and walked one.

Jonathan Papelbon gave up a run in the ninth, but got his 22nd save.

Yankees 4, Twins 3

At Minneapolis, A.J. Burnett won his third straight start, and Brett Gardner’s two-run single helped New York build an early lead.

Joe Mauer drove in runs for the Twins with a double and a homer.

Burnett (8-4) walked four, gave up seven hits and got the first out of the seventh inning, before Phil Coke gave up Mauer’s 15th homer. Mariano Rivera relieved with two outs in the eighth to notch his 22nd save.

Twins rookie Anthony Swarzak (2-3) took the loss.

White Sox 5, Indians 1

At Chicago, Jose Contreras allowed one run over 6 1-3 innings and Jermaine Dye had three RBIs as the White Sox won their 16th in 22 games.

Contreras (4-7) allowed six hits, walked one and struck out nine. Jhonny Peralta’s sixth homer of the season ended Contreras’ shutout bid in the seventh.

Orioles 5, Mariners 3

At Seattle, the Orioles took advantage of two errors by second baseman Jose Lopez to rally for five runs in the ninth inning.

Entering the ninth with a 3-0 lead, closer David Aardsma (2-3) blew just his second save in 19 chances.

Brian Bass (5-2) worked two innings for the victory, while George Sherrill earned his 19th save.

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