Rangers 8, Rays 6
Mike Napoli and Ian Kinsler each drove in two runs to help the Texas Rangers square up their American League Division Series against the visiting Tampa Bay Rays at one game apiece with an 8-6 triumph on Saturday.
Napoli’s two-run single highlighted a five-run fourth inning as the Rangers rebounded from a humiliating 9-0 home loss in Friday’s opening contest. Game 3 is Monday in St. Petersburg, Fla.
Neftali Feliz walked B.J. Upton with one out in the ninth before retiring Evan Longoria and Ben Zobrist to seal the win.
Texas starter Derek Holland (1-0) gave up three runs - one earned - and six hits in five innings.
In addition to Napoli’s hit, the Rangers scored fourth-inning runs on a hit batter, a wild pitch on a strikeout and an infield out.
Kinsler delivered a two-run double in the sixth inning to give Texas a 7-3 lead.
Tampa Bay cut its deficit to one run in the seventh when Longoria belted a three-run homer to left-center field off Koji Uehara.
Mitch Moreland homered in the eighth to give Texas an insurance run.
Matt Joyce hit a two-run homer in the fourth to give the Rays an early 3-0 lead.
Tampa Bay starter James Shields (0-1) gave up seven runs and eight hits in five innings.