Hamilton walk-off gives Rangers split of series with Yankees
ARLINGTON, Texas – The Rangers and Yankees produced so many big moments Thursday, their game was bound to end in walk-off fashion -- but with a twist.
Josh Hamilton provided the walk-off hit in the bottom of the ninth inning, scoring Leonys Martin from second base for a 7-6 Rangers win over the Yankees.
It was Martin who provided the twist.
After Delino DeShields walked to lead off the Rangers' half of the ninth, Martin came up with one out. It was a chance for Martin, who pinch ran for slugger Prince Fielder in the seventh, to knock in the fleet-footed DeShields.
Martin hit a sharp line-drive off Yankees closer Andrew Miller. It was so sharp, it hit DeShields in the foot as he started off from first.
By rule, DeShields was out and Martin, credited with a hit, replaced him at first base.
Instead of batting in the winning run, Martin scored the winning run. Following a walk by Adrian Beltre, Hamilton lined a ball into right field and earned his second postgame Gatorade bath of the season.
Hamilton also had a walk-off hit on May 31. He now has seven career walk-offs as a Ranger, tying him for fourth place in club history.
Hamilton also had a three-run homer in the first inning, one of six homers hit on the night, three by each team.
"He had made a comment that he had been working on a couple of different things and said he felt really good going into the game yesterday," Rangers managger Jeff Banister said. "He sure looks good. I trust him at his word."
One of the home runs was an inside-the-park trip around the bases by the Rangers' Ryan Rua in the fourth inning. Rua hit a line drive to center field that hopped past the Yankees' Jacoby Ellsbury and rolled to the wall.
Rua never slowed down and scored easily to tie the game at 5-5.
"I think everybody in the ballpark was yelling for him to go," Banister said. "I think they may have tackled [third base coach] Tony Beasley if he wouldn't have sent him."
It was the 25th inside-the-park homer in club history and the first since Ian Kinsler pulled the feat on Aug. 23, 2013.
Shin-Soo Choo had the Rangers' other home run with an upper deck blast to right field in the second inning.
The Yankees had their own power display with Mark Teixeira hitting two bombs, including a seventh-inning shot for a 6-5 lead.
Teixeira's first homer was in the first inning off Rangers starter Yovani Gallardo, who had another bruising outing. Gallardo allowed five runs and eight hits in six innings, but exited with the score tied.
Gallardo has given up five runs in each of his last three starts, but managed to retire 11 of the last 14 batters he faced Thursday.
"I know he gave up the home run to Teixeira but there were not a lot of other balls that were barrelled," Banister said. "There were some balls that were off the end. There were some balls that were in on the hands. I felt like this was a crisp outing for Yo, and again Yo is that competitor, not going to give in."
The Rangers answered in the bottom of the seventh when No. 9 hitter Robinson Chirinos drew a leadoff walk. Chirinos scored when Prince Fielder hit into a fielder's choice to knot the score at 6-6.
Brian McCann had the Yankees' other home run with a two-run shot in the third inning for a 5-4 lead. Rua's inside the park home run erased the deficit, one of three times the Rangers came from behind in the game.
Follow Keith Whitmire on Twitter: @Keith_Whitmire
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