Rangers Rally in the Ninth

The Texas Rangers continue to make winning interesting.

On Tuesday night their bullpen wasted an early lead before Ivan Rodriguez’s two-run single with one out in the ninth inning lifted the Rangers to a 7-6 victory over the Kansas City Royals.

Thanks to their three-run ninth, the Rangers now have 38 come-from-behind wins this season and they cut the Angels’ lead in the AL West to two games.

“To come back like that in the ninth is extra special,” Texas Manager Johnny Oates said. “We needed it again and we came through again.”

Mark McLemore drew a leadoff walk from Jeff Montgomery (2-5). Pinch-hitter Luis Alicea singled him to second before Rusty Greer had a run-scoring double to make it 6-5. Juan Gonzalez was intentionally walked to load the bases. After Will Clark struck out, Rodriguez blooped a single down the right-field line.

“The pressure was on Pudge [Rodriguez] to get the ball to the outfield,” Oates said. “What we didn’t want was a ground ball. When I see it tomorrow in the box score, it will look like a line drive.”

Danny Patterson (2-5) got three outs for the victory.

Montgomery had his fifth blown save in 37 attempts this season and is 0-2 with a 21.60 earned-run average in four appearances against Texas in 1998.

“I was getting behind hitters and wasn’t sharp,” Montgomery said. “I didn’t have good location. It wasn’t a good game.”

The Royals had 15 hits, including three from Jeremy Giambi, who hit his first major league homer, but left seven men on base in the first three innings and 11 for the game.

“As bad as we played offensively, we were up two runs [in the ninth],” Kansas City Manager Tony Muser said.

Ranger starter John Burkett gave up three runs and nine hits in 4 2/3 innings. He struck out four and walked three.