SAN DIEGO -- Josh Hamilton returned to the Texas Rangers lineup Tuesday and showed he’s healthy, going 2-for-5 with two runs and two RBIs in the Rangers’ 7-3 victory over the San Diego Padres.
Hamilton was back in the lineup for the first time since Thursday after recovering from an intestinal virus. He hit a go-ahead, two-run triple and scored on a shallow sacrifice fly in the third inning of the Rangers’ fifth consecutive win.
Starter Scott Feldman (1-6) earned his first victory of the season, allowing two runs, striking out five and walking none in six innings.
The Rangers broke the game open with a three-run sixth that gave them a 6-1 lead. Adrian Beltre hit his 12th home run in the seventh for a 7-2 margin.
Padres starter Edinson Volquez struggled against his former team, allowing six runs, striking out six and walking four in five-plus innings.
The Padres rallied for a run in the sixth to cut the lead to 6-2 but left two on base against Feldman. Tanner Scheppers gave up a run in the ninth.
Hamilton recap: Besides his triple and single, Hamilton also grounded out and struck out twice. He started in center field and moved to left field in the seventh.
Checking it out: The umpires confirmed that Beltre’s hit off the right-field foul pole in the seventh was a home run after they consulted instant replay. Brad Brach gave up the solo shot.
Injury update: Mitch Moreland exited the game in the second inning with a left hamstring strain. He’s day to day. Michael Young replaced Moreland at first base in the bottom of the second after Moreland suffered the injury running to first base after hitting into an inning-ending double play with the bases loaded in the top of the second.
Helping himself: Feldman drove in a run on a line-drive single for a 6-1 lead in the sixth. It was the third major league hit of the pitcher’s career. He also hit the ball hard in his previous at-bat, lining out to left field in the fifth.
Remember when...: Hamilton faced one of the pitchers from the trade that brought him to the Rangers. The Cincinnati Reds traded Hamilton in 2007 to Texas for Danny Herrera and Volquez, who started for the Padres. Hamilton struck out in the first, tripled in the third and singled in the sixth against Volquez.
Lack of command: Walks have been an issue for Volquez, and he loaded the bases with three walks in the second inning. But he escaped when Moreland hit into an inning-ending double play. Volquez has walked 51 in 87 2/3 innings.
The end of his night: The Rangers knocked Volquez out of the game by scoring two runs on three consecutive hits to begin the sixth. Hamilton singled, Beltre doubled and Nelson Cruz hit a two-run double for a 5-1 lead.
Ks: After striking out a season-high-tying 12 times in Monday’s 2-1 victory over the Padres, the Rangers struck out 10 times Tuesday.
Defensive gems: After replacing the injured Moreland, Young made a nice play at first base in the fifth inning, snaring a sharp grounder off Nick Hundley’s bat. Beltre made a lunging play at third base to grab a liner in the seventh.