Texas Rangers Have another Historic Performance

A couple days ago Texas Rangers outfielder Josh Hamilton set a new AL record for total bases in a single game (18) courtesy of a 5-5 day at the plate that included four 2-run home runs.

Not to be outdone, on Thursday another member of the team turned in another historic performance. The only problem is he's not nearly as proud of it as Hamilton.

Colby Lewis is a good pitcher. He proved that against the Baltimore Orioles in Game One of Thursday's doubleheader when he struck out 12 batters. The only problem is he also showed why he was stuck playing baseball in Japan just a few years ago by giving up five home runs.

No other player has ever allowed five home runs and stuck out more than 10 batters in a single game since 1918. What makes this even more interesting is how it happened.

Before he threw eight pitches he had already given up three homers. While no one would have been surprised if he fell apart, Lewis instead did the exact opposite. The man retired the next 18 batters, 12 of them via strikeout.

Now of course the wheels fell off once again in the seventh when he gave up two more home runs to give the Orioles a 6-1 lead. The team almost saved him from getting the loss, but fell short losing the game 6-5.

The Rangers did win the second game, 7-3. Josh Hamilton continued his home run barrage with his 15th of the season in the first inning.

Article by Travis Pulver