Sun Jun 29 21:12:16 2008

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Hurley leads Rangers over Phils with first career victory

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Arlington, TX (Sports Network) - Eric Hurley got his first career victory as the Texas Rangers downed the Philadelphia Phillies, 5-1, in the rubber match at Rangers Ballpark.

Hurley (1-1) gave up just one run on five hits in 5 2/3 innings while Chris Davis hit a solo home run for the Rangers, who have won five of their last eight games.

Ryan Howard drove in the lone run while Jamie Moyer (7-6) was handed his third straight loss for giving up three runs on seven hits in 5 2/3 innings of work for the fading Phillies, who have dropped nine of their last 11 games and now hold a one-game lead over Florida for first place in the NL East.

The Rangers got on the board in the first inning as Ian Kinsler led off with a triple to the right field corner and then came home on a groundout by Michael Young.

Texas took a 2-0 lead in the second courtesy of a solo homer from Davis that just cleared the wall in dead center.

Texas then took a 3-0 lead in the third when Young led off with a double to left and came home when Josh Hamilton followed with a single to right.

The Phillies, who had men on base in each inning through five, finally got on the board in the sixth. Chase Utley hit a one-out double and, after Pat Burrell looked at strike three, came home on a single to left-center from Howard to make it a 3-1 game.

The Rangers, though, padded their lead in the eighth inning. Marlon Byrd led off with a double to left and moved to third on a groundout from Davis. Max Ramirez was then hit by a pitch and, with the Philadelphia infield playing in, Ramon Vazquez plopped a bloop single over the head of Utley to score Byrd. After Kinsler bunted to load the bases, Young hit into a fielder's choice that plated Ramirez for a 5-1 lead.

C.J. Wilson then retired Philadelphia in order in the ninth to complete the victory.

Game Notes

The Phillies continue their nine-game road-trip with a three-game set in Atlanta starting Tuesday...Texas hits the road as the team travels to new York for a three-game set against the Yankees beginning Monday...Philadelphia started June by winning seven of eight, but finished the month with a 12-14 mark...Moyer is 4-3 in nine road starts this season and is 14-8 in 34 career starts against the Rangers...Attendance was 26,283.