Arlington, TX – Michael Cuddyer, Tyler Colvin and Chris Nelson each drove in a pair of runs as Colorado swarmed Colby Lewis early and hung on to post an 11-7 decision over Texas in the second test of a three-game interleague set.
Wil Nieves hit a two-run homer while Dexter Fowler contributed a solo homer among his three hits and two runs scored for the Rockies, who had won just twice in their last 10 games coming in.
"It's been a frustrating month to say the least (but) we came out and swung the bats well today," said Fowler. "It's encouraging going into the rest of the month and July."
Rex Brothers (3-2) tossed two innings of two-hit, scoreless relief for Josh Outman, who exited after giving up eight hits and five runs over 4 2/3 frames.
Nelson Cruz finished with three hits -- including a three-run homer and solos hot -- driving in four for the Rangers, whose seven-game win streak came to an end.
Lewis (6-6) was pulled after four innings, charged with 12 hits and eight runs -- seven earned -- with six strikeouts.
"I think the more frustrating thing is making good pitches and the players putting them in play," said Lewis. "That's kind of what happened today. And they took advantage of mistakes."
Texas nearly erased a 10-run deficit, closing within 11-7 in the bottom of the fifth.
Brandon Snyder led off with a single and Elvis Andrus walked two batters later. After Josh Hamilton struck out, Beltre's single scored Snyder and Michael Young added another RBI hit which chased Outman.
Adam Ottavino entered, but Cruz greeted him with a three-run homer which cut the hosts' deficit to 11-6. Mike Napoli doubled and Yorvit Torrealba singled him home before pinch-hitter David Murphy lined out.
Brothers followed with two successive scoreless frames. Matt Belisle and Rafael Betancourt turned in one each to keep it a four-run margin.
Jason Giambi singled home Jonathan Herrera to get the Rox on the board in the first, then Colorado put up four runs in the third as a Colvin single plus Hamilton throwing error plated two as did Nelson's base hit.
The lead grew to 8-0 in the fourth as Herrera doubled in Fowler, who began the frame with a single, and Cuddyer later scored two on a two-out double.
Cruz answered with a solo homer in the home half, but the Rockies tacked on three more in the top of the fifth as Nieves homered to left center after Nelson hit a leadoff double and Fowler followed with his blast to right center.
Game Notes
Colorado has beaten Texas three out of the last four meetings since June of 2006, upped its record over the Rangers to 11-9 overall since interleague play began, and 4-6 in Arlington...Saturday marked the Rockies' first win in 11 tries against AL West competition this season.
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