ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Nick Solak and Charlie Culberson drove in three runs apiece to back the pitching of Kyle Gibson and help the Texas Rangers beat the Tampa Bay Rays 8-3 Tuesday night to end a season-high four-game losing streak.
Solak delivered the biggest blow in a four-run fourth-inning against Ryan Yarbrough (0-2), a double down the left field line that cleared the bases after the Rangers loaded them with three consecutive singles.
Culberson finished the fourth with an RBI double, then pushed the lead to 8-2 with a two-run homer off Trevor Richards in the eighth.
“It feels good to come out and win,” said Solak, whose first-inning fielding error on a sharp grounder to second base allowed Tampa Bay to take a 2-1 lead.
The second baseman wasn’t surprised he got an opportunity to make amends. Four of his five RBIs this season have either tied the score or given Texas a lead, and the timing couldn’t have been better Tuesday night considering the Rangers’ offensive struggles of late.
“This game tests you in all kind of ways” said Solak, who’s now batting .500 (5 for 10) with 14 RBIs with the bases loaded for his career. He’s 8 for 18 with seven RBIs in his career vs. Tampa Bay.
Shut out in three of their previous four games, including Monday night’s series opener in which they were limited to three hits in a 1-0 loss, the Rangers quickly ensured they wouldn’t make franchise history by being blanked in three consecutive games.
Isiah Kiner-Falefa singled to begin the game, took second on a balk and scored on Joey Gallo’s single.
One night after managing just two hits off Rays ace Tyler Glasnow over 7 2/3 innings, the Rangers finished with 13 hits. Most of the damage was inflicted against Yarbrough, who yielded six runs and 10 hits over six…
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