Streaking Rangers sweep Rays, welcome back slugger Josh Hamilton for series vs. Angels

Streaking Rangers getting Hamilton back vs. Angels

ARLINGTON, Texas — The streaking Texas Rangers have been winning lately with some outstanding pitching and defense. Their offense is about to get a huge lift — and that’s bad news for opponents.

With All-Star slugger Josh Hamilton set to return from the disabled list, Texas extended its winning streak to five games by completing a three-game sweep of the Tampa Bay Rays with a 5-2 victory Sunday night.

“Anytime you can get some wins under your belt and have any kind of momentum in this game is a big thing,” All-Star third baseman Michael Young said. “Anytime we can establish some momentum and take it out on the road is a good thing for us. It all starts with pitching and defense and that’s been picking us up lately.”

Manager Ron Washington received more good news after the game when he learned that Hamilton will be activated from the disabled list before Monday night’s series opener against the Los Angeles Angels — who share the AL West lead with the Rangers.

“It’s time for Josh to get back here and start doing something for us,” Washington said.

Hamilton, selected to his second straight All-Star game earlier Sunday, has been recovering from abdominal surgery. He played a doubleheader with Triple-A Oklahoma City on Sunday in a minor league rehab assignment, going 2 for 7 in the two games, including a triple, double and stolen base.

To make room for Hamilton, the Rangers will send struggling first baseman Chris Davis to Oklahoma City to get his swing untracked. Davis is batting .202 and leads the majors with 114 strikeouts.

The Rangers hope Davis can regain the swing that produced 17 homers and 55 RBIs in 80 games as a rookie last season.

“Chris needs to get down there and get things together a little bit,” Washington said. “More than anything else, it was Chris’ interest we were thinking about. He needs to get to a less pressure environment and get it back together.”

Hank Blalock, Texas’ DH in 47 games this season, will take over at first base.

Scott Feldman (7-2) allowed three hits in six innings, and David Murphy had three hits and an RBI on Sunday.

Tampa Bay lost its fourth in a row and fell six games behind first-place Boston in the AL East.

The Rays’ big three run producers — Evan Longoria, Carlos Pena and Ben Zobrist — were a combined 1 for 30 in the three-game series.

Tampa Bay had been on a roll, winning seven straight before dropping a game to Toronto, and then getting swept in Texas.

“We were in a nice little groove and piled up some wins in a row,” Pena said. “Now we’ve dropped a few in a row. Is there anything different? I don’t think you can come up with the answer. I would say no. That’s how the game goes.”

At New York, Derek Jeter had four hits including the go-ahead two-run homer off B.J. Ryan (1-1), Hideki Matsui homered and drove in four runs, and the Yankees rallied from a four-run hole to beat Toronto.

There were four homers hit — all to right field — to raise the total to 139 at the new Yankee Stadium midway through the season.

Jonathan Albaladejo (3-1), recalled after Chien-Ming Wang went on the disabled list with a shoulder injury, got the win in relief.

At Boston, David Ortiz had a tying RBI single and Mark Kotsay added a key two-run hit during a five-run seventh inning, and the Red Sox avoided a three-game sweep.

All-Star Dustin Pedroia homered among his three hits for the Red Sox, who haven’t been swept at home this season. Ortiz and Jacoby Ellsbury also each hit solo homers.

At Kansas City, Mo., Alberto Callaspo got his fourth RBI in two days and Miguel Olivo hit a two-run homer to help the Royals earn a split of their four-game series with Chicago.

Brian Bannister (6-6) held Chicago to five hits and two runs through six innings and snapped a personal four-game losing streak to the White Sox.

At Minneapolis, Justin Morneau punctuated a productive series with a two-run homer for Twins.

Nick Blackburn (7-4) took a shutout into the ninth inning before left fielder Denard Span dropped a line drive for an error and Brandon Inge followed with a two-run home run, his 19th.

At Cleveland, Oakland’s Gio Gonzalez pitched six strong innings for his first win of the season.

Before the game, Indians general manager Mark Shapiro said manager Eric Wedge will keep his job for the rest of the season, even though Cleveland has the worst record in the AL.

Cliff Lee (4-8) allowed three runs in six innings. Last season’s AL Cy Young winner, hasn’t won since June 14.

At Anaheim, Calif., Vladimir Guerrero hit a tying two-run homer in his first game back in right field, and the Angels took advantage of a wild Baltimore bullpen to rally for a win.

The Angels took control in the seventh with three runs off Matt Albers (1-3), who walked in two runs.