Kinsler Steals Win For Rangers

Sure, many Seattle Mariners fans might feel the Texas Rangers stole a victory from them on Tuesday night. Or more likely and importantly, several Oakland A's fans — all 100 of them — might feel the same way about the game that ended well into Wednesday morning.

Eric Wedge, the Seattle manager, didn't seem to argue much when home plate umpire CB Bucknor called a balk on Mariners closer Danny Farquhar to score Ian Kinsler from third in the top of the 10th inning. That set up Joe Nathan for his 38th save in the bottom half of the inning and securing a series victory for the Rangers in a place where they haven't been terribly successful.

But, it was Farquhar's ignoring of Kinsler on second base that set up the game-winning balk in the first place as he let Kinsler get a huge jump on a freelance steal attempt and swipe third base with one out in the 10th.

Kinsler noticed a high leg kick from Farquhar on the first pitch of an at-bat by A.J. Pierzynski. The second pitch was the same thing, and Kinsler made him pay.

“I anticipated it on the second pitch,” Kinsler told reporters after the game. “And he gave it. So I’m gone.”

Kinsler improved to a perfect 10-for-10 on stolen bases this season and improved the Rangers to a perfect 2-for-2 in the Seattle series.

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