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Hamilton returns to a rolling team as Rangers win sixth in a row

The Associated Press
May 26, 2015 at 2:59AM
Texas Rangers' Josh Hamilton signs an autograph for a fan prior to the Rangers baseball game against the Cleveland Indians Monday, May 25, 2015, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Aaron Josefczyk)
Before his first major league game of 2015, and back with his old team, Texas’ Josh Hamilton signed an autograph for a fan on Monday. (The Minnesota Star Tribune)

CLEVELAND – Josh Hamilton has played in two World Series, appeared in five All-Star Games and won a Most Valuable Player Award. Yet he still had to fight off nerves in his return to the majors Monday.

"It was good to get the first at-bat out of the way, I was a little nervous up there," Hamilton said after making his season debut in the Rangers' sixth consecutive victory, 10-8 over the Cleveland Indians. "After that, second at-bat I was feeling pretty good. It was just good to be out there. It was good to feel the energy in the dugout."

Hamilton, slowed this season by shoulder surgery, was 0-for-3 with two strikeouts and a walk and scored a run. He also reached on a key error in the seventh inning that led to the winning run as Texas ended Cleveland's six-game winning streak.

The 2010 AL MVP came up with runners on first and second and two outs in the seventh inning with the score 8-8. He hit an easy tapper back to pitcher Zach McAllister, whose throw was well over the head of first baseman Carlos Santana for a two-base error. Prince Fielder scored.

Hamilton was traded from the Angels back to Texas in late April. He finished a minor league rehab assignment Saturday.

The Rangers didn't arrive in Cleveland until 4 a.m. after completing a three-game sweep in Yankee Stadium on Sunday night, but they looked like a refreshed bunch in Hamilton's return.

"Mentality's everything," he said. "You start winning some ballgames, guys get a lot of confidence. It goes from hitting to pitching to playing defense, so I like it, man. I like winning and the situation I'm in. Guys are hungry, and I want to go out there and fight and play hard and have fun."

Rangers manager Jeff Banister told Hamilton before the game to fit in and play his game.

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"First major league game back, looked fine," Banister said. "More than anything else had a great smile on his face, had some energy."

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