Rangers Blow Out Tigers To Win Second Straight Game

While the Texas Rangers' offense got going early, starter Dane Dunning nearly put together the first complete game of his career.

Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

ARLINGTON, Texas — The Texas Rangers exploded for four first-inning runs and starter Dane Dunning threw his best start of the season in a 10-2 victory over the Detroit Tigers on Wednesday night at Globe Life Field. 

For the American League West-leading Rangers (49-31) it was their second straight win and are now the franchise's third-best start after 80 games, behind their 51-29 start in 2016 and 50-30 start in 2012.

The Tigers (34-45) lost their second straight as Dunning nearly threw a complete game shutout.

The Rangers sent up 10 hitters in the first inning and scored four runs, going 4-for-8 with runners in scoring position. The four hits in that situation were more than the three hits they collected in that situation in the first two games of the series combined. 

In the third, the Rangers extended the lead to 6-0 on solo home runs by Josh Jung and Ezequiel Duran, the latter of which was a line drive that curled around the left-field foul pole and into a space between the pole and the left-field stands. 

Adolis García added a two-run home run in the sixth, giving him a third straight game with a home run and his third straight season with at least 20 home runs. He later had an RBI double, part of a 3-for-5 night in which he was a triple short of the cycle. 

Jung, Duran and Taveras each had two hits for Texas.

Dunning (7-1) gave up a leadoff single to Detroit's Zach McKinstry and then retired the next 17 Tigers before McKinstry singled off him with two out in the sixth. 

He then retired the next nine hitters before Andy Ibanez legged out a deep ground ball to third base with two out in the ninth. The following hitter, Kerry Carpenter, homered to right field, ending Dunning's shutout bid. Yerry Rodriguez got the final out in relief.

Dunning also set a season-high and matched a career-high with 10 strikeouts. He didn't allow a walk. His 8 2/3 innings pitched were a career high. 

Joey Wentz (1-9) took the loss for Detroit. He went 4 2/3 innings, giving up nine hits, six runs (four earned) and two walks while striking out five.

The Rangers and Tigers wrap up their four-game series at 1:05 p.m. Thursday. The Tigers are expected to start Reese Olson (1-2, 4.74). The Rangers have not announced their probable starting pitcher.

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