Rangers snap Bucs’ win streak

Associated Press

ARLINGTON, Texas

Josh Hamilton extended his hitting streak to 17 games with a home run and a double, Julio Borbon hit a three-run homer and the Texas Rangers stretched the majors’ longest winning streak to nine with a 6-3 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Tuesday night.

Michael Young also homered in his first home game since becoming the franchise’s career hits leader last week at Florida during the Rangers’ eight consecutive victories on the road. Texas stopped the Pirates winning streak at two.

Hamilton doubled in the fifth, when he scored on Borbon’s second homer of the season that made it 4-2. An inning later, Hamilton homered onto the grassy hill in center for his 17th of the season and majors-best eighth in June.

Tommy Hunter (3-0) struck out six without a walk in six innings. He threw 68 of his 88 pitches for strikes while allowing three runs (two earned) and nine hits.

Rookie Neftali Feliz worked the ninth for his 20th save in 22 chances after Darren Oliver worked two perfect innings.

Pirates starter Ross Ohlendorf (0-6) is winless his past 15 starts, 10 this season, since a victory on Aug. 18 against Milwaukee.

Ohlendorf retired the first 10 Rangers batters before Young’s one-out homer in the fourth.

The last 10 hitters the Pirates’ right-hander faced, including Young and Borbon, went 5-for-8 with two walks for four runs.

Borbon is hitting .429 (27 for 63) over his past 18 games, raising his average from .233 to a season-high .294. And that still isn’t as good as Hamilton.

Hamilton has hit .485 (33 for 68) during his career-best hitting streak, which is the longest active in the majors, and is at .339 for the season.