Texas Rangers vs Atlanta Braves Match Player Stats On Sep 06, 2017

The Sports Xchange
Sep 6, 2017

ATLANTA -- Shortstop Elvis Andrus was 4-for-5 with a home run and the Texas Rangers produced a season-high nine extra-base hits in a 12-8 win over the Atlanta Braves in the first game of a day-night doubleheader at SunTrust Park.

Andrus hit his 20th homer, added a double and drove in three runs. First baseman Mike Napoli hit his 29th homer and the Rangers won their third straight game.

Texas took the lead with a four-run rally in the fourth. An opposite-field RBI double by Brett Nicholas and a two-run triple by pinch hitter Will Middlebrooks, who then scored on a wild pitch, gave the Rangers a 6-4 lead.

The Rangers added three runs in the fifth to go ahead 9-4 on a two-run homer from Napoli and an RBI single from Nicholas.

Texas put it away with two more runs in the sixth. Shin-Soo Choo doubled home Delino DeShields and scored on a sacrifice fly by Carlos Gomez.

Texas starter Miguel Gonzalez lasted only three innings in his debut with the team. He allowed four runs on four hits, two of them home runs, and left the game trailing 4-2.

Reliever Austin Bibens-Dirkx (5-2) picked up the slack by throwing three scoreless innings of relief while the Rangers tallied nine runs over three innings to put the game away. Bibens-Dirkx gave up five hits, all singles, and struck out two.

Atlanta's Luiz Gohara (0-1) gave up six runs in four innings in his major league debut. The left-hander allowed four hits and walked four, with six strikeouts.

Atlanta's 15-hit attack was led by center fielder Ender Inciarte, who went 3-for-5 with a homer, his 11th, and two RBIs. Matt Kemp added a two-run homer, his 17th.

NOTES: Atlanta activated LHP Luiz Gohara on Tuesday and he became the fourth rookie pitcher used by the club this season. He is the 11th starting pitcher used by the Braves. Gohara is the fifth Brazilian to play in the major leagues. ... The doubleheader marked the first time Texas has played two games on the same day since May 27, 2013 at Arizona. That was the longest existing span without a doubleheader among major league teams. ... Texas RHP Miguel Gonzalez walked in his first plate appearance. It was his first career base on balls. He came around to score his first career run. ... Texas LF Delino DeShields doubled in the sixth to extend his streak of reaching base in consecutive games to 19. ... Texas C A.J. Jimenez made his major league debut as a pinch hitter in the seventh inning and hit into a double play.