Rangers 2, Giants 1
ARLINGTON, Texas -- Texas left-hander Martin Perez allowed two hits in 8 1/3 innings as the Rangers edged the San Francisco Giants 2-1 on Sunday,
Perez, who was making just his fourth start since returning from Tommy John surgery, needed just 80 pitches in his outing and came out after allowing a one-out double to center fielder Angel Pagan in the ninth inning.
Pagan came around to score after Jake Diekman walked the only batter he faced and Sam Dyson allowed consecutive singles, with catcher Buster Posey's liner through the left side cutting the lead to one.
But Dyson got designated hitter Hunter Pence to ground into a double play to end the game and record his first career save.
Perez struck out six and didn't allow a hit until right fielder Justin Maxwell reached on an infield single with two outs in the fifth inning. He's just the second Texas pitcher to record at least 25 outs on 80 or fewer pitches (Kevin Brown, 1990).
The Rangers provided Perez with the only run support he'd need in the sixth inning when left fielder Josh Hamilton smacked a two-run homer to right of new Giants starter Mike Leake.
The Rangers had eight hits off Leake in his 6 1/3 innings but he worked out of several jams. That ended with two outs in the sixth though as Texas first baseman Mitch Moreland singled ahead of the Hamilton homer.
NOTES: Texas put RHP Tanner Scheppers on the 15-day disabled list with left knee inflammation. The set-up man has a 5.66 ERA in 38 appearances for the Rangers. ... Texas recalled RHP Phil Klein to take the roster spot of Scheppers. This is fourth stint with the Rangers this season and the second in a week. ... The Rangers have used four catchers since the All-Star break. That matches the most catchers the Rangers have used in a single season since needing six in 2001. ... Texas 2B Rougned Odor was selected the team's player of the month for July after batting .319 with five home runs and 16 RBIs. ... Giants 2B Joe Panik was out of Sunday's lineup because of back stiffness. It is the second time in a week that Panik has missed time because of the back. ... The Giants lead the majors in scoring runs with two outs. Five of the nine runs scored by San Francisco in its 9-7 win Saturday with two outs, pushing its percentage of runs this year with two outs to 44 percent.