SAN DIEGO -- The Rangers scored all the runs they would need in the first inning Monday in a 2-1 victory over the San Diego Padres.
Without Josh Hamilton in the starting lineup, the Rangers struck out 12 times in the opener of a three-game interleague series at Petco Park.
Left-hander Matt Harrison bounced back after allowing a run in the first inning, following with five scoreless innings. He gave up six hits, struck out four and walked two to improve to 9-3.
Meanwhile, Padres starter Jason Marquis struck out 10, holding the Rangers to two runs in seven innings.
Hamilton (illness) was out of the starting lineup for the fourth consecutive game, but entered the game in the ninth in left field.
First-inning issues: Harrison’s troubles in the first inning continued Monday, as he allowed three consecutive hits to start the game. The Padres scored a run on Chase Headley’s double. But Harrison stranded two baserunners with a flyout, strikeout and groundout. Harrison has given up 10 runs in the first inning this season. Only the fourth inning (12 runs) has given him more problems.
Step No. 1: Leonys Martin logged the first stolen base of his career after he doubled in the second inning.
Stat of the night: The Rangers offense tied its season high for strikeouts. Texas batters have struck out 12 times three times this season. The last time was April 27.
Passing a legend: Joe Nathan collected his 14th save and moved ahead of Mariano Rivera for highest save percentage in major league history (200 or more saves).
A milestone: Marquis recorded the 1,000th strikeout of his career when he struck out Ian Kinsler in the second inning. Monday was the second double-digit-strikeout outing of Marquis’ career and his first since 2001, when he struck out 13 against the Milwaukee Brewers.
On the other hand: Marquis also issued three walks, which hurt him in the first inning. After the Rangers loaded the bases with a single and two walks, David Murphy delivered a two-run single.
LOB: The Rangers were helped by the Padres’ offensive woes. The Padres left men on base, two in the first inning, one in the second, three in the sixth and two in the eighth. With the bases loaded and two outs in the sixth, pinch hitter Yonder Alonso grounded out to end the inning.
You again: Mike Adams faced his former team in the eighth. Chase Headley greeted him with a leadoff single. After two flyouts, Adams hit Everth Cabrera with a pitch, but ended the inning by getting pinch hitter Mark Kotsay to fly out.
The crowd: A good amount of 29,315 in attendance were Rangers fans.