Andrus' tiebreaking single lifts Rangers over Rockies
DENVER (AP) -- Elvis Andrus hit a tiebreaking two-run single in the ninth, and the Texas Rangers bounced back from blowing an early five-run lead to beat the Colorado Rockies 10-8 on Wednesday.
Rougned Odor homered and finished with three hits for the third time in the last six games for the Rangers.
Carlos Gonzalez and Nick Hundley homered in Colorado's four-run eighth. Gonzalez's three-run shot off Tanner Scheppers (4-1) tied it at 8.
Odor, who has raised his average 124 points to .268 since being recalled from Triple-A Round Rock on June 15, led off the ninth with a walk against closer John Axford (2-3). Adrian Beltre singled and one out later pinch-hitter Prince Fielder was intentionally walked.
Andrus singled to left on drawn-in infield to give the Rangers the lead, and Shawn Tolleson worked a perfect ninth for his 15th save.
The Rangers led most of the way after a four-run first inning. Colorado starter Jorge De La Rosa nearly escaped down 2-0 but first baseman Wilin Rosario inexplicably cut off a strong throw home from Gonzalez and allowed Beltre to score easily without a play at the plate.
Shin-Soo Choo made it 4-0 with a single, but followed with four strikeouts a day after hitting for the cycle.
Odor's solo homer in the second, his sixth of the season, made it 5-0. Colorado answered with a run in the bottom of the inning and three more in the fourth to get within a run, but Delino DeShields stole third and scored on an error in the fifth to make it 6-4.
Odor had an RBI triple in the seventh and scored on a fielder's choice to make it 8-4. He came to bat in the ninth needing a double for the cycle, but his 10-pitch walk sparked the winning rally.
Gonzalez's home run, his 14th, denied starter Martin Perez his first win in 15 months. Perez missed more than a year after undergoing Tommy John surgery on May 14, 2014, and returned to take the loss against Houston on Friday.
He allowed four runs -- three earned -- and walked four.
DJ LeMahieu had two singles for Colorado to extend his hitting streak to 13 games.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Rockies: Backup C Michael McKenry did not make his usual start with De La Rosa on Wednesday because of fluid in his right knee. He pinch-hit for De La Rosa in the sixth. Manager Walt Weiss said McKenry should be ready Friday against the Reds.
UP NEXT
Rangers: RHP Colby Lewis (9-4) opens a three-game series in Anaheim on Friday. He is 5-1 with a 4.55 ERA since June 1.
Rockies: RHP Eddie Butler (3-6) gets his second start since being recalled from Triple-A Albuquerque on Sunday, facing Cincinnati on Friday.
