Martin HR Gives Rangers Back-To-Back Walk-Off Wins
ARLINGTON (CBSDFW.COM) -- For Leonys Martin, it was a dream come true – literally.
Martin hit a three-run homerun in the 10th inning as the Rangers rallied for a second consecutive night to beat the Angels 14-11 on Tuesday night in Arlington.
Following last night's walk-off homerun from catcher Geovany Soto, Martin said he dreamed that he too would hit a game-winning homerun.
With one out in the bottom of the 10th and the score knotted at 11, Martin had his chance against reliever Daniel Stange.
"When I was in that moment, I asked God to help me out – and it happened," said Martin through a translator. "It was the biggest moment I've had in my whole career."
For the first time since 1981, Texas has won consecutive games with walk-off homeruns. The team also gained ground on the division leading Athletics for the first time since June 27.
But Martin's heroics would not have been possible without the efforts of third baseman Adrian Beltre.
Down to their final out in the ninth inning and trailing 11-10, Rangers second baseman Ian Kinsler drew a four-pitch walk from closer Ernesto Frieri, who blew the save in Monday night's game. After Kinsler stole second, Beltre singled to left to tie the game.
"Tonight we proved that we're capable of doing it," said manager Ron Washington following the game. "We just kept battling, and I can't say enough about those guys in that clubhouse."
Angels DH Josh Hamilton had a productive game, while former Ranger CJ Wilson struggled through a season-low four innings, surrendering 11 hits and six runs.
Hamilton was 0-for-3 to start the game, but collected two key hits and four RBI's to put the Angels on top.
With the bases loaded in the seventh, Hamilton drove a 1-1 pitch from reliever Robbie Ross to the wall in center field, clearing the bases and giving the Angels a 7-6 lead.
The 32-year-old then singled home a run in the eighth inning to extend the lead to 11-7.
Rangers catcher Geovany Soto – the hero in Monday night's 4-3 walk-off win – hit a three-run homerun in the eighth inning to pull the Rangers within one at 11-10.
Reliever Tanner Scheppers allowed five hits and four runs -- three unearned -- in a pivotal eighth inning.
The Angels jumped on Rangers started Derek Holland (ND, 8-6) early. After retiring the first two batters, Mike Trout – a career .409 hitter against Holland -- singled to the gap in left. First baseman Mark Trumbo then crushed an 0-1 breaking pitch 432 feet to centerfield for his 23rd homerun of the season.
Trout finished the game 4-for-4 with two walks, three runs, and an RBI.
The Rangers responded with a pair of runs in the bottom of the first on RBI singles by Kinsler and Cruz.
The Rangers and Angels conclude their three-game series in Arlington on Wednesday night, as Martin Perez (3-3) takes on Jerome Williams (5-7).
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