Rangers 8, Mets 1
Adrian Beltre, Michael Young and Josh Hamilton hit two-run homers, and Matt Harrison pitched seven strong innings as the host Texas Rangers cruised to an 8-1 victory over the New York Mets on Friday.
After NBA Finals MVP Dirk Nowitzki of the champion Dallas Mavericks threw out the ceremonial first pitch, the Rangers struck for three runs in the first against Mike Pelfrey (4-6), who fell to 1-6 on the road this season.
Ian Kinsler led off with a double and scored on Hamilton's single before Beltre belted his 13th homer of the season and his second in 25 games. Hamilton has driven in at least one run in six of his last seven contests and has 11 RBIs in that span.
Elvis Andrus made it 4-0 with an RBI single in the fourth but sprained his left wrist while stealing second base and left the game. Young had his blast in the seventh to extend his hitting streak to 10 games and Hamilton hit his homer in the eighth, both off Manny Acosta.
Harrison (6-6) allowed seven hits in winning for the first time in four starts. The lefthander has yielded fewer than two earned runs in five of his last six outings.
Jason Bay had three hits and Ruben Tejada drove in the lone run for the Mets, who had won five of eight on the road.