Rangers at Giants
It certainly didn't make up for the World Series defeat in 2010, but the Texas Rangers ended a pair of lengthy hexes against the San Francisco Giants on Friday night. The Rangers won for the first time in 12 matchups at AT&T Park while beating the Giants at home for the first since since June 1998. Texas collected 14 hits, including a career-high 5-for-5 night by Craig Gentry, to get its offense back on track after being outscored 24-8 in losing three of four in Oakland.
Playing without National League batting leader Melky Cabrera and catcher Buster Posey, San Francisco was shut out for the first time since Sept. 10, 2011. Cabrera suffered a strained hamstring in Thursday's game against San Diego and is listed as day-to-day. Giants manager Bruce Bochy said third baseman Pablo Sandoval will be recalled from Triple-A Fresno. He has been working his way back from surgery on a broken bone in his left hand.
TV: 4:05 p.m. ET, FSH (Texas), CSBA (San Francisco)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Rangers RH Scott Feldman (0-4, 7.01 ERA) vs. Giants RH Ryan Vogelsong (4-2, 2.38)
Feldman's move into the starting rotation - due to an injury to Neftali Feliz - has been a disaster. He has lost all four starts and has failed to get through the fifth inning in each of them. Feldman was bludgeoned for eight runs in 1 2/3 innings by the light-hitting Oakland Athletics in his last outing. He is 0-2 with a 7.04 ERA in three appearances (one start) against San Francisco.
Vogelsong has settled into a nice groove, going 4-0 and allowing a total of eight runs in his last six starts. He has battle control issues for much of the season, but did not walk a batter for the first time last time out in holding the Chicago Cubs to two runs on eight hits in seven innings. Vogelsong keeps the ball in the park, surrendering only four home runs in 68 innings.
WALK-OFFS
1. Rangers 2B Ian Kinsler extended his team record Friday when he led off the game with a home run for the 22nd time in his career.
2. After collecting 10 hits in 18 at-bats during his previous four games, Giants 2B Ryan Theriot went 0-for-4 Friday.
3. Josh Hamilton snapped an eight-game homerless drought with his major league-leading 22nd blast.