AMERICAN LEAGUE

Determined Ogando helps shut out Astros again

HOUSTON - A day after watching Yu Darvish come within one out of a perfect game, Alexi Ogando was determined to pitch well to help the Texas Rangers wrap up the threeg ame series against Houston with a victory.

Ogando got things started well and four Texas relievers finished it off to shut out the Astros again, combining for a five-hitter in the Rangers’ 4-0 victory Wednesday.

“It was a spectacular game, and it certainly motivated me to pitch well today,” Ogando said.

Lance Berkman doubled in a run for the Rangers a day after they defeated Houston 7-0 behind Darvish’s gem. It is the first time the Rangers have pitched consecutive shutouts since they had three in a row in July 2011.

Ogando (1-0) allowed 4 hits with a career-high 10 strikeouts in 6 1/3 innings. The Astros have struck out 43 times in their first three games.

“Ogando is known for striking folks out,” Texas Manager Ron Washington said. “He has a good fastball, he has a tremendous slider, and now he’s got a change up and a curve ball to go with all of that.”

It’s the most strikeouts a pitching staff has combined for in the first three games of a season in major-league history, and the most since Cleveland struck out 42 in the first three of the 1966 season.

Houston starter Philip Humber (0-1) yielded 5 hits and 1 run in 52/ 3 innings in his Astros debut.

WHITE SOX 5, ROYALS 2 Adam Dunn homered and host Chicago went deep four times to back a solid start by Jake Peavy in a victory over Kansas City. Tyler Flowers, Dayan Viciedo and Alexi Ramirez also connected.

TWINS 3, TIGERS 2 Eduardo Escobar’s two run double with one out in the ninth inning lifted host Minnesota to a victory over Detroit. After Joaquin Benoit issued a lead off walk to Trevor Plouffe, reliever Phil Coke took over. Coke got the first out, but Brian Dozier’s single advanced pinch-runner Jamey Carroll to third. Then Escobar drove the first pitch Coke to the deepest part of the park in front of the bullpens in left-center field. The ball bounced between outfielders Andy Dirks and Austin Jackson and both runners scored easily.

RAYS 8, ORIOLES 7 Matt Joyce led off the bottom of the ninth inning with a towering home run against Tommy Hunter, giving host Tampa Bay a victory over Baltimore.

INDIANS 3, BLUE JAYS 2 Mark Reynolds hit a tie breaking home run in the 11th inning and visiting Cleveland beat Toronto. Reynolds drilled a lead off shot into the second deck off Sergio Santos (0-1), the fifth Blue Jays reliever. Cleveland’s Michael Brantley went 4 for 5.

RED SOX 7, YANKEES 4 Clay Buchholz chilled the Yankees’ bats, speedy Jackie Bradley Jr. got his first major-league hit and visiting Boston beat New York.

Interleague REDS 5, ANGELS 4 Brandon Phillips hit a three-run home run in his new role as Cincinnati’s cleanup hitter, and Joey Votto drove in the winning run with a ninth-inning single, rallying the Reds to a victory over visiting Los Angeles.

National League NATIONALS 3, MARLINS 0 Left-hander Gio Gonzalez homered, providing all the offense necessary to back his six scoreless innings, and host Washington beat Miami.

BRAVES 9, PHILLIES 2 Freddie Freeman had three RBI and Justin Upton homered to back Paul Maholm’s solid start, helping Atlanta to a victory over visiting Philadelphia.

METS 8, PADRES 4 Matt Harvey allowed one hit and struck out 10 in seven scoreless innings, Lucas Duda hit the first of the Mets’ three home runs in a whipping wind and New York beat San Diego.

PIRATES 3, CUBS 0 Wandy Rodriguez allowed just two hits over 62/ 3 innings and host Pittsburgh edged Chicago. Andrew McCutchen smacked an RBI double for the Pirates.

ROCKIES 7, BREWERS 3 Juan Nicasio pitched six effective innings for his first victory in almost a year while Wilin Rosario, Michael Cuddyer and Dexter Fowler homered to lift visiting Colorado over Milwaukee.

Wednesday’s games

NATIONAL LEAGUE

Pittsburgh 3, Chicago Cubs 0 Washington 3, Miami 0 Atlanta 9, Philadelphia 2 NY Mets 8, San Diego 4 Colorado 7, Milwaukee 3 St. Louis at Arizona, (n) San Francisco at LA Dodgers, (n)

AMERICAN LEAGUE

Chicago White Sox 5, Kansas City 2 Texas 4, Houston 0 Minnesota 3, Detroit 2 Boston 7, NY Yankees 4 Cleveland 3, Toronto 2 (11) Tampa Bay 8, Baltimore 7 Seattle at Oakland, (n)

INTERLEAGUE

Cincinnati 5, LA Angels 4

Sports, Pages 20 on 04/04/2013

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