Dickey scuttles Pirates' ship with knuckleball

A 37-year-old knuckleballer who had never won more than 11 games in any previous season, Dickey (20-6) overcame an outstanding, climbing catch by Travis Snider more than 2 feet above the right-field wall that robbed Mike Baxter of a tying home run in the second inning.

Dickey allowed three runs and eight hits in 7 2-3 innings, walking two and reaching double digits in strikeouts for the seventh time this season. He leads the NL with 222 Ks.

Kevin Correia (11-11) gave up six runs and seven hits.

Athletics 7, Rangers 9 Ian Kinsler got Texas started with a leadoff homer, Matt Harrison earned his 18th victory and the AL West-leading Rangers held on to win 9-7 Thursday for a four-game split with the chasing Oakland Athletics.

The two-time defending American League champion Rangers (92-64) have a four-game division lead over the A's with six to play, including three games in Oakland next week. The Athletics own a two-game edge in the race for the second wild card.

Kinsler's 19th homer, his major league-best seventh leadoff shot this season, started a five-run first for the Rangers against Travis Blackley (5-4). The Rangers had four consecutive two-out hits, capped by Mike Napoli's two-run homer.

Harrison (18-10) went six innings, allowing four runs, to become the Rangers' first 18-game winner since Kenny Rogers in 2004.

Josh Reddick went deep twice, including one of Oakland's three solo homers in the eighth off reliever Mike Adams. Joe Nathan worked a perfect ninth with two strikeouts for his 36th save in 38 chances.

The Rangers are one win from clinching a playoff berth.

1|2|Next Page>>

SHARE CLOSE
Blogger		Google+
Live Journal		Plurk
Stumble Upon

Tweet

	PREVIOUS ARTICLE
	Ravens beat Browns as regular refs return

NEXT ARTICLE
Tennis greats to face off in Taiwan exhibition match

Write a Comment

Terms

Enter your comments - 3000 characters max

Type in image code

 Receive China Post promos
 Respond to this email

Submit