Rangers fall after Beltre passes Gwynn in hits

Veteran plates Texas' only run on RBI double in 9th

August 30th, 2018

ARLINGTON -- had an RBI double in the ninth inning on Wednesday night. It was the 3,142nd hit of his career, allowing him to pass Hall of Famer Tony Gwynn and tie Robin Yount for 17th place all-time.
The double was also the 1,135th extra-base hit of his career, moving him past Hall of Famer Tris Speaker and into 15th place all-time.
The problem for the Rangers was that was their only extra-base hit on a night when the Dodgers accomplished something never done in a Major League game on their way to a 3-1 victory at Globe Life Park.
Dodgers ignore 3rd base, so Beltre steals it
The Dodgers won the game with just four hits, but they consisted of three home runs and a triple. It's the first time in Major League history that a team has had three home runs, a triple and no doubles or singles.
Two of the home runs came from in the third and Manny Machado in the fourth off of Rangers pitcher Mike Minor. Those were the only two hits off Minor, but he still took the loss and had a four-game winning streak come to an end.
"They were bad pitches, they put good swings on it and that's what happens," Minor said.

Beltre's double kept the Rangers from being shut out at home for the first time this season. It was also his first extra-base hit since a double and a home run on Aug. 10 against the Yankees.
"It was nice to see him drive the baseball tonight," Rangers manager Jeff Banister said. "Feel like he's always one hit away, or one swing like that that kind of gets him going in those situations and feel confident that he's going to get back on track and start driving the baseball. In that middle part of the lineup we really need for those guys to continue to progress and take some pressure off some of the other parts of the lineup."
The Rangers were held to four singles through seven innings by left-hander Alex Wood, who took advantage of a lineup that tilts to the left. The Rangers had four left-handed hitters in the lineup -- , , and -- and they were just 1-for-15 off him.
"The consistency to the four left-handed hitters was the best I've had all year," Wood said. "Definitely the most lefties I've seen in a lineup that I can remember and I was glad with the way I attacked."
Beltre's double was the Rangers only extra-base hit in two losses to the Dodgers and they have gone three straight games without a home run. They have lost all three and are now 11-35 in games in which they don't hit a home run this season.
"The home runs are obviously great ... the instant offense," Banister said. "But I've said it all along, you need to be diverse in your offense. You are going to face pitchers that just don't give up home runs. You've got to be able to score whether it's playing what's called obsolete small ball…but still scores runs."
MOMENT THAT MATTERED
The Rangers had one serious rally against Wood when and singled with one out in the second. But Wood got Guzman to ground into an inning-ending double play. The Rangers were 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position on the night.

SOUND SMART
Minor is the first Rangers pitcher to allow multiple hits in a game and have them all be home runs since allowed five home runs on May 10, 2012, against the Orioles. The last time it happened at home was when Rick Helling allowed two home runs against the Angels on June 14, 1998.
YOU GOTTA SEE THIS
Dodgers outfielder hit a triple off Rangers reliever with two outs in the seventh. Claudio, with the runner at third, then went to work out of the stretch with his back to Puig. He was also seemingly not paying attention and Puig tried to steal home. But Claudio received enough warning and was able to throw out Puig at the plate. More >

UP NEXT
The Rangers will open a three-game series against the Twins on Friday at 7:05 p.m. CT at Globe Life Park. Right-hander (2-2, 6.52 ERA) will make his fifth start for the Rangers in the opener. He is 2-0 with a 4.41 ERA in three starts against the Twins but will be facing them for the first time since 2015. Minnesota has not yet named a starter for the opener.