ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) ― Prince Fielder homered, Matt Harrison earned his first win since 2012 and the Texas Rangers beat Colorado 5-0 on Thursday night after being overwhelmed by the Rockies the previous three games.
Harrison (1-0) and four relievers combined on a five-hitter, the Rangers’ major league-best seventh shutout. Joakim Soria worked a perfect ninth with two strikeouts for his eighth save in as many chances.
Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado extended his hitting streak to 28 games with a single in the third. That broke the team record he matched Wednesday night.
Colorado had been the only National League team without a shutout loss. The Rockies, whose 22 wins are tied for most in the majors, had 50 hits and outscored the Rangers 29-5 the previous three nights ― the first two in Denver before the interleague matchup switched to Texas.
Harrison allowed three singles over 5 1/3 innings, with four walks and two strikeouts. The left-hander made his first home start since April 6, 2013, his last before two operations for a herniated disk in his back, and got his first victory since September 2012.
The Rockies had won the last four starts by lefty Franklin Morales (3-2). He allowed five runs (four earned) with five strikeouts and three walks in six innings.
Giants top Dodgers in 10
LOS ANGELES (AP) ― From a personal standpoint, wins and losses aren’t as important to Ryan Vogelsong as vindication. So is keeping his team in the games he pitches.
Thursday night, the San Francisco Giants’ right-hander succeeded on both counts, pitching into the eighth inning and giving them a chance to pull out a 3-1 victory in 10 over the Los Angeles Dodgers. Pinch-hitter Hector Sanchez drove in the decisive run with a sacrifice fly in the opener of a four-game series. Vogelsong yielded one run and five hits through 7 1/3 in his seventh start and third against the defending NL West champion Dodgers. The other two were San Francisco victories in which he did not get the decision.
