Jair Jurrjens One-Hits Orioles; Nelson Cruz and Adrian Beltre Power Rangers

Players of the Day for Friday, July 1, 2011

American League

Adrian Beltre

Nelson Cruz

As interleague play winds down into final series, the Texas Rangers are counting the blessings of the schedule, having drawn a three-game set with the Marlins in Texas to complete their cross-league encounters for the season.

In the opener, the Rangers took full advantage of Florida's frailties, smashing 15 hits in a 15-5, one-sided romp.

At the heart of the Texas tornado were Nelson Cruz and Adrian Beltre, who together accounted for five hits and ten RBI.

Beltre went 3-for-4, with two doubles, a single and four RBI, while Cruz, recently returned from the disabled list, had a three-run homer in the 3rd inning (his 19th) and produced a bases-loaded triple in the 8th for a six RBI night.

The Rangers increased their lead in the AL West to two games over the Angels, who lost to the Dodgers, 5-0, and remained 3 1/2 better than the Mariners, 6-0 winners over the Padres.

National League

Jurrjens: 1-Hitter
and 1.89 ERA

Jair Jurrjens flirted with a perfect game for five innings and a no hitter for 6 1/3, eventually walkng Mark Reynolds to lead off the 6th, then giving in to Adam Jones, who singled to center, the Orioles' only hit of a game.

After Jones' hit, Jurrjens simply cruised through the final eight Baltimore batters, finishing with a one-hit shutout, the first blanking of his career, and his second complete game of the season, as Atlanta won, 4-0, remaining four games behind the Phillies in the NL East.

The walk to Reynolds was the only free pass issued by Jurrjens, who took over the NL lead in wins with his 11th, against just three losses.

The Atlanta ace struck out eight, lowered his WHIP to 1.06 and reduced his already-league-leading ERA to a minuscule 1.89.

INTERLEAGUE TALLY: The American League took back the lead with 8 wins on Friday, giving them a two-game edge over the NL, 113-111.