Recap: Texas vs. Tampa Bay

By Sports Network

Arlington, TX (Sports Network) - David Murphy went 3-for-3 with a run batted in, as the Texas Rangers completed a three-game sweep of Tampa Bay with a 5-2 victory over the Rays.

The Rangers also extended their overall winning streak to five games, despite going 2-for-11 with runners in scoring position and stranding nine runners. Murphy, Elvis Andrus and Marlon Byrd each had a sacrifice fly.

Texas starter Scott Feldman (7-2) got the win after giving up two runs -- one earned -- on three hits and four walks over six innings. Jason Jennings, C.J. Wilson and Frank Francisco each threw a perfect inning of relief, with Francisco notching his 14th save this season.

Rays starter Matt Garza (6-6) gave up five runs on seven hits and two walks in five frames, and took the loss. Garza also struck out seven for the Rays, who have lost four in a row.

Carl Crawford had one of Tampa's three hits to extend his hitting streak to 13 games, walked, and scored a run in the loss.

The Rangers got on the scoreboard in the first inning. Leadoff hitter Ian Kinsler was hit by a pitch, and Murphy's base hit two batters later put runners on the corners. Byrd then reached on a soft hit to third, plating Kinsler. Jarrod Saltalamacchia scored on Andrus' sac fly in the second inning to make it a 2-0 game.

Tampa, though, tied the contest in the third thanks to an error. B.J. Upton was hit to lead off and went to second after Crawford worked a walk. The speedy pair then executed a double steal before Evan Longoria lofted a fly to right field.

Upton tagged up on the play, beating an errant throw to the plate. Saltalamacchia then tossed the ball into left field trying to catch Crawford going to third, allowing him to score.

But Texas quickly re-assumed the lead. Michael Young began the home third with a double, and Murphy's single again put runners on the corners. Byrd walked to load the bases before Hank Blalock struck out.

The Rangers got a run when Nelson Cruz batted a ball to the right side, and Rays shortstop Jason Bartlett couldn't hang on to the ball for the force out. Young scored on the play, but Garza got the next two batters to keep it a one- run game.

However, Texas tacked on two more runs in the fourth, when the Rangers loaded the bases with no outs. Sac flies from Murphy and Byrd pushed the Rangers' lead to 5-2.

The Texas pitching staff sealed the win from there, though it got some help from a pair of double plays. Crawford and Carlos Pena were each doubled off first base to end the fifth and sixth innings, respectively.

Jennings worked a flawless seventh, Wilson got three fly outs in the eighth, and Francisco set the Rays down in order in the ninth to finish off the victory.