Rangers Become First Team in 110 Years To Score 30 Runs

BALTIMORE — The Texas Rangers rounded the bases at a dizzying pace, touching the plate so often it became almost embarrassing to make an out.

The Rangers became the first team in 110 years to score 30 runs in a game, setting an American League record yesterday in a 30–3 rout of the Baltimore Orioles.

Trailing 3–0 in the opener of a doubleheader, Texas scored five runs in the fourth inning, nine in the sixth, 10 in the eighth and six in the ninth.

It was the ninth time a major league team scored 30 runs, the first since the Chicago Colts set the major league mark in a 36–7 rout of Louisville in a National League game on June 28, 1897, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

"When you're on this end of it," said Marlon Byrd, who hit one of two Texas grand slams, "you don't want to be the one to make the out. You feel like you have to get a hit every time up."

Hours after announcing manager Dave Trembley would return for the 2008 season, the Orioles absorbed the most lopsided loss in franchise history and set a team record for hits allowed in a game (29).

The Rangers had totaled 28 runs in their previous nine games, including two runs on seven hits in their last two.

"I knew we'd get the bats going, but I never expected anything like this,"Texas manager Ron Washington said. "When the faucet is on, you want it to stay on. You never want to cut it off."