Jul 8, 2008 8:40 pm US/Pacific
Rangers Rookie Pitcher Top Angels, Saunders
Josh Hamilton's major league-leading 87th RBI helped Texas Rangers left-hander Matt Harrison win his debut, 3-2 over the Los Angeles Angels on Tuesday night.
Harrison was just a little better than All-Star lefty Joe Saunders of the Angels, who was pitching with his wife three days past the due date for their first child.
After Ian Kinsler doubled in the sixth to extend his hitting streak to a career-high 20 games, Hamilton put the Rangers ahead with an RBI single.
Texas closer C.J. Wilson loaded the bases with two outs in the ninth before getting Juan Rivera to ground out for his 22nd save in 24 chances.
Chris Davis homered for the fourth time in four starts at home to tie the score at 2 in the fifth.
Harrison faced the minimum of 12 batters and had a 1-0 lead through four innings before running into trouble in the fifth. Garret Anderson's two-run single followed a walk to Torii Hunter and a double by Howie Kendrick.
Davis answered with his fifth homer with two outs in the bottom of the fifth, then Kinsler doubled to start the sixth and set up Hamilton's hit. Hamilton drove in another run with a sacrifice fly that scored Michael Young in the first.
Harrison bounced back from his rough fifth with two more shutout innings, giving him the longest start for a Rangers pitcher in his debut since 2000. He allowed five hits with one strikeout and one walk.
Saunders (12-5) had to settle for an eight-inning complete game instead of becoming the Angels' first 13-game winner before the All-Star break since Nolan Ryan in 1977. Ryan, now the Rangers' president, watched the game from a seat next to the home dugout.
