ARLINGTON, TX — Alec Burleson hit a home run from the first pitch into right field in the eighth inning and the St. Louis Cardinals defeated Texas 1-0 Wednesday night, ending Rangers infielder Marcus Semien’s 25-game hit streak.
Semien was 0 for 4, stopping the longest streak in the major leagues this season and the longest of his career. The streak was the second longest in club history, behind Gabe Kapler’s 28 players in 2000.
St. Louis also ended a five-game losing streak and ended the Rangers’ five-game winning streak.
Jordan Hicks (1-3) secured the win with a scoreless seventh inning, and Ryan Helsley made his seventh save in 11 attempts.
Jon Gray (6-2) threw the second full game of his career in a loss, ending a personal six-game winning streak. He allowed four hits, conceding none, and had a season-high of 12.
The Cardinals left just one runner on base in the ninth inning while three were previously erased on base trails. Nolan Arenado took the lead in the second with a single down the middle, but was wiped out by a double play. Arenado doubled on the left field line early in the fifth round, but when he tried to break into third through a long Alec Burleson flyout to the left, he was knocked out – the initial safe decision was reversed after video review. Jordan Walker was hit by a pitch with an out in the sixth set, but was thrown out trying to steal second place from Gray.
Texas, on the other hand, allowed nine runners on board. That included three in the first pass when Jack Flaherty pulled off three straight one-out walks but knocked out Jonah Heim and grounded Travis Jankowski out.
Flaherty left the game after six innings and threw 105 pitches. He gave up two hits and walked five.
TRAINING ROOM
Cardinals: OF Dylan Carlson (sprained ankle) was scheduled to DH for nine innings for Triple-A Memphis on Wednesday. … RHP Jake Woodford (shoulder infection) is scheduled to serve 3-4 innings for Memphis on Thursday.
Rangers: Activated RHP Spencer Howard (lat coach), who hasn’t pitched this season. RHP Jonathan Hernandez was selected for the Triple-A Round Rock.
NEXT
Cardinals: LHP Jordan Montgomery (2-7, 4.23 ERA) will open a three-game home series against Cincinnati RHP Ben Lively (3-3, 3.03) Friday night.
Rangers: A three-game streak in Tampa Bay between the teams with the highest AL records begins Friday night with Texas LHP Andrew Heaney (4-3, 4.03) versus Rays RHP Tyler Glasnow (0-0, 3, 72).
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