Beltre triples as Texas beats Rockies 5-2 to end 7-game skid
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) -- Adrian Beltre hit a tiebreaking two-run triple in the eighth inning, and the Texas Rangers stopped a seven-game slide with a 5-2 win over the Colorado Rockies on Saturday.
The 39-year-old Beltre, who has been on the disabled list twice this season because of a strained left hamstring, got the triple on a fly ball that went over the head of right fielder Carlos Gonzalez and ricocheted off the bottom half of the outfield wall. It was Beltre's 3,095th career hit, tops among active players.
Delino DeShields drew a leadoff walk against Harrison Musgrave (0-2), and went to third on Jurickson Profar's single. Both scored on Beltre's 38th career triple. Ryan Rua took over as a pinch runner and came home on Rougned Odor's sacrifice fly.
Jose Leclerc (2-2) struck out two in a perfect eighth and Keone Kela worked the ninth for his 15th save, the most in the majors without a blown chance.
A day after a late call-up from nearby Double-A Frisco, catcher Jose Trevino tied it at 2 with his first big league hit. His RBI single in the seventh sent home Isiah Kiner-Falefa, whose run-scoring double followed Odor's leadoff triple.
Rangers starter Mike Minor struck out six while matching his season long with seven innings. He had a balk and a wild pitch, both playing into the two Rockies runs.
Ian Desmond walked in the second and advanced on a balk before a two-out single by Gonzalez. D.J. LeMahieu had a leadoff single in the sixth, and was at third after a wild pitch before coming home on Nolan Arenado's sacrifice fly.
Colorado left-hander Kyle Freeland, who won all four of his interleague starts as a rookie last season, permitted two runs and eight hits in seven innings.
GETTING ON BASE
Rangers outfielder Shin-Soo Choo had a leadoff walk in the first, before adding two hits. He has reached base in 30 consecutive games for the longest streak in the American League this season.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Rangers: SS Elvis Andrus, out since fracturing his right elbow April 11, was moved from Frisco to Triple-A Round Rock. He could rejoin the Rangers as early as Monday. ... C Carlos Perez was placed on the 10-day DL with a sprained right ankle after getting hurt in the series opener Friday night.
UP NEXT
RHP Yovani Gallardo, who has pitched for three different major league teams since leaving his hometown Rangers after the 2015 season, is expected to start the series finale for Texas. He has been at Triple-A since signing a minor league deal in April after being designated for assignment by Cincinnati. RHP Jon Gray, with a 7.98 ERA his last six starts, goes for the Rockies.
