NEW YORK, 9 June 2004 — Hank Blalock drove in the winning run with a single in the bottom of the 10th inning as the Texas Rangers edged the Pittsburgh Pirates 6-5 in the first Interleague game of the season in Arlington on Monday.
Laynce Nix scored from third base on Blalock’s hit, which bounced just in front of charging Pirates outfielder Tike Redman to end the three hour, 38 minute marathon.
It was the fourth straight time Texas has defeated Pittsburgh, as the Rangers swept a three-game series from the Pirates two years ago in the only other series between the teams. The Pirates lost for the eighth time in nine games, despite their pitching staff posting 15 strikeouts.
Mark Teixeira hit a two-run home run for the Rangers, while Gary Matthews Jr. also drove in a pair of runs for the winners.
Alfonso Soriano added three hits for the Rangers and also scored a pair of runs.
Francisco Cordero (2-0) pitched two shutout innings of relief for the win.
Craig Wilson hit a two-run home run for the Pirates, while Jose Castillo drove in a pair of runs and Rob Mackowiak added a pair of hits.
In other Interleague play, Scott Hatteberg hit a grand slam home run as the Oakland Athletics pounded the Cincinnati Reds 13-2.
Mark Kotsay, Erubiel Durazo and Damian Miller also homered for Oakland, winners of six of seven. Hatteberg had five RBI and Bobby Crosby added three hits.
Cory Lidle (4-5) was rocked for nine runs on nine hits in just 3 2/3 innings. Sean Casey homered for the Reds.
In Seattle, Clint Nageotte pitched six shutout innings for his first major league victory as the Mariners blanked the Houston Astros 5-0.
Nageotte (1-1) allowed six hits and struck out eight and walked three and Julio Mateo added three shutout innings to complete the eight-hitter and earn his first save.
In the National League, Pedro Felix hit a pair of home runs to lead the San Francisco Giants to a 10-5 win over the Colorado Rockies.
Yorvit Torrealba added a three-run homer for the Giants, who scored five runs in the first inning but still needed a run-scoring single by Damon Minor in the seventh inning to break a 5-5 tie.
In Chicago, Scott Rolen hit a three-run home run to lead the St. Louis Cardinals to a 4-3 win over the Cubs.
Chris Carpenter (7-1) won his sixth straight game, allowing three runs on nine hits over 8 1/3 innings, striking out six and walking none. Jason Isringhausen got the final out for his 13th save while Reggie Sanders also homered.
Corey Patterson and Glendon Rusch homered for the Cards. Rusch (2-1) allowed four runs on six hits over seven innings and took the loss.
