ATLANTA -- The Texas Rangers were swept in their first series at Turner Field eight years ago, so they played like a different team in their return to Atlanta. "The Texas Globetrotters?" second baseman Ian Kinsler asked. "Is that what we are now?" The Rangers made some fancy defensive plays and Josh Hamilton had four hits, including a two-run homer, to beat the Atlanta Braves 6-2 on Friday night and protect their lead in the AL West. Colby Lewis and Nelson Cruz shook off slumps in the win as Texas, which began the night with a half-game lead over Seattle in the AL West, snapped a five-game losing streak. Cruz, who had been 0-for-18 with 10 strikeouts in his last five games, drove in three runs with two doubles. Lewis (6-7) recovered after two ugly losses in which he gave up a combined 15 runs on 17 hits in only 4 2-3 innings. The right-hander gave up two runs on five hits in 6 2-3 innings while matching his career high with 10 strikeouts. The Rangers also won with defensive flash. With two outs in the fifth, Lewis ran toward the first-base line to pick up a weak grounder by Jason Heyward. After making the scoop, Lewis made a backhanded flip of the ball from his glove to first baseman Young to throw out Heyward, who slammed down his helmet in disgust. "That was just a crazy play," Kinsler said. "I dont know how he got it out. Hes got a big pitchers glove. Its not like the ball is coming out of there easy." Lewis called the play "just a shot that you kind of take and it worked out. It turned out well." Third baseman Adrian Beltre made a bid to challenge Lewis for the top defensive play of the game in the sixth inning. Sprinting toward left field with his back to the infield, Beltre made an over-the-shoulder catch of a foul pop-up hit by Eric Hinske. "I didnt think he had a chance," Kinsler said. Rangers manager Ron Washington said his team needed the defence to shake its losing streak. "You know you needed everything that happened and defence was a big part of it," Washington said. "Beltre going down the line, Ive never seen a third baseman go after a ball the way he did." Washington said the scoop and flip by Lewis was about the pitchers creativity. "You dont teach that," Washington said. The Rangers made another unusual play in the seventh. With Jordan Schafer on first base and two outs, Heyward hit a grounder to Beltre, who threw toward second base in hopes of forcing Schafer. Kinsler was late covering the bag and caught the throw behind Schafer on the first-base side of the bad. Unable to beat Schafer to second base, Kinsler instead threw out Heyward at first base. Hamilton drove in three runs, including a run-scoring single in the ninth. "I felt good at the plate," Hamilton said. "I felt like I had a plan for what they were going to do. ... I felt I was in a good place." Lewis gave up homers to Brian McCann in the fourth and Freddie Freeman in the sixth. Right-hander Randall Delgado (0-1), recalled from Double-A Mississippi, gave up seven hits and four runs, three earned. He was knocked out without recording an out in the Rangers four-run fifth, when Hamilton hit his fifth homer. "Its a different world," Delgado said. "At the same time, its the same game, baseball." Delgado, 21, made his major league debut after the Braves placed right-hander Tommy Hanson on the 15-day disabled list with inflammation in his right shoulder. Cruz snapped his hitless streak with his second-inning double to right field to drive in Michael Young, who also reached on a double. Cruz had a two-run double off Cristhian Martinez in the fifth. The Braves were without third baseman Chipper Jones, who left Thursday nights game against the Mets with a strained adductor muscle in his right leg. Manager Fredi Gonzalez said Jones felt discomfort when he took swings in the batting cage on Friday and may return Sunday or Monday. "Im not going to push him," Gonzalez said. Neftali Feliz, acquired by the Rangers from Atlanta in the seven-player trade in 2007 that sent Mark Teixeira to the Braves, pitched a perfect ninth. NOTES: Lewis had 10 strikeouts for the second time this season and eighth time in his career. ... The Rangers were swept by the Braves in three games in Atlanta in 2003 in their only previous series at Turner Field. The teams are playing for the first time since the Rangers won two of three at Texas on June 17-19, 2008. ... The Braves optioned INF Brandon Hicks to Triple-A Gwinnett. RHP Jairo Asencio, recalled from Gwinnett, gave up one run on three hits in two innings.
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Darrelle Revis Super Bowl Blue Jersey . Dexter Fowler had two hits in his first start in the cleanup spot and Nolan Arenado added an RBI double as the Rockies caught Arizona in the standings. The Diamondbacks entered the day tied with San Francisco for first in the NL West.FRANCEVILLE, Gabon -- Gabon sailed through to the quarterfinals of the African Cup of Nations as the surprise Group C winner on Tuesday, leaving the last two quarterfinal places to be decided on the final day of group matches. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored the decisive goal in a tight 1-0 win over Tunisia at Stade de Franceville as already-qualified Gabon finished the first round with three wins. On Wednesday, Ghana, Guinea and Mali all have a shot at the two remaining last eight spots from Group D. In Group Cs other game, Morocco salvaged some pride with a 1-0 win over Niger via a second-half goal from Younes Belhanda. While in Equatorial Guinea, Zambia was distracted ahead of its quarterfinal against Sudan when midfielder Clifford Mulenga was sent home for breaking a team curfew. Aubameyangs 62nd-minute goal in Franceville, his third in three games, separated Group Cs top teams and likely sent second-place Tunisia to a last-eight meeting with title contender Ghana -- which is expected to top Group D after the final day of the group stage. The Black Stars need just a point against Guinea to confirm their progression as group winner, although Mali and the Guineans have a chance of stopping that from happening. Gabon has gone against all pre-tournament form by beating Morocco and now Tunisia to make a dream start. Aubameyang was again the star for the buoyant co-host in Franceville, where Gabon first lady Sylvia Bongo again put her faith in the striker by wearing a bright yellow team shirt with his No. 9 on it. He decided the battle of the two teams who had already qualified when he slipped a deflected shot past goalkeeper Rami Jeridi. The stadium -- which was only half full at kiickoff -- was packed and celebrating as Gabons players danced in celebration in the centre circle after the final whistle.dddddddddddd They were applauded by President Ali Bongo and his wife, who have attended all three of Gabons games so far. "Of course its a motivation for us," captain Daniel Cousin said of the VIP fans. "Hes (the president) always supporting us." At Stade de lAmitie in Libreville, Morocco ended its disappointing tournament with a 1-0 win over debutant Niger to avoid the humiliation of finishing bottom, scarce consolation for the Moroccans but perhaps enough to save coach Eric Gerets job. "They (the Morocco players) stood up and gave a first sign of life today ... and I think a lot of players showed me that we still have a reason to continue our job together," Gerets said. On Wednesday, back at Stade de Franceville, Ghana will attempt to hold off a Guinea team that faces an all-or-nothing match against Africas No. 2-ranked team and the four-time champion. "Against Ghana, it will be like a final," Guinea coach Michel Dussuyer said. "We have respect for them but we want to win, we want to qualify for the quarterfinals." There could be all sorts of permutations at the end of Group D, but if Mali beats Botswana in Libreville -- as expected -- Guinea has to win against Ghana to have a chance of going through on goal difference. In Bata, Zambias build-up to the knockout stage was interrupted as Mulenga was expelled from the team camp for staying out too late with two other unidentified players. The other two had apologized, a team spokesman said, but Mulenga "showed no remorse" and was sent home.
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