Alexi Ogando waited five years to make the major leagues. This week has helped make up for lost time.
He pitched 2 1-3 scoreless innings in relief for his second big league win, and added his first hit in the majors to help the Texas Rangers beat the Florida Marlins 6-4 Thursday night.
"This is something incredible -- five days in the Major Leagues and two victories," Ogando said. "Wow, you can only thank God."
Ogando (2-0) also got the win in his major league debut on Tuesday. His career was held up for five years because the 26-year old right-hander couldn't get a United States visa.
All that's behind him now.
"I felt more confident because my first time in the major leagues I felt a bit emotional," Ogando said. "It's the same baseball -- only with people with more experience."
Ian Kinsler drove in three runs, Vladimir Guerrero hit his 15th homer and the Rangers rallied to complete a three-game sweep.
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"It's the toughest sweep in the big leagues," Kinsler said. "It takes some luck. It's nice to get on a roll on the road."
Neftali Feliz pitched the ninth for his third save of the series and 18th in 20 chances overall to lead the AL.
Florida got to Dustin Nippert for three runs in the second inning. Ronny Paulino hit a two-run double and scored on Chris Coghlan's infield out to make it 3-0.
But Texas took over from there. Guerrero connected in the fourth, extending his hitting streak to 13 games, and the Rangers added three more in the fifth.
Julio Borbon walked on four pitches against Ricky Nolasco (5-6) and Ogando followed with a single to left. Borbon scored on Nolasco's throwing error on Elvis Andrus' grounder before Kinsler hit a two-run double to center.
"Any time you make an error with that lineup you're asking to put a big number up," Marlins manager Fredi Gonzalez said. "I think that was the turning point of the whole game."
Texas added two more in the seventh. Michael Young hit an RBI single off Tim Wood and Kinsler had a sacrifice fly.
"We swung the bats in some situations. We executed," Rangers manager Ron Washington said.
Chris Ray pitched 1 2-3 scoreless innings after Ogando left. Frank Francisco allowed Cody Ross' RBI double in the eighth before Feliz finished.
"Our pitching's been excellent and it makes you more comfortable offensively, coming to the ballpark and expect good pitching," Kinsler said.
Ross had three hits for the Marlins. Nolasco allowed four runs, two earned, and seven hits in six innings.
"The last three games it doesn't seem like we're pitching, hitting, and playing defense," Coghlan said. "It's tough, we're better than this."
Notes: Following the game, the Marlins sent down OF Cameron Maybin to Triple-A New Orleans and placed RHP Clay Hensley on the 15-day DL. RHP Scott Strickland and INF Mike Lamb were called up. ... Rangers LF Josh Hamilton extended his career-longest hitting streak to 13 games with a single in the seventh inning. He is batting .449 (22 of 49) during the streak. ... Nippert's last start was September 16, 2009. ... Kinsler recorded the 600th hit of his career. ... The Marlins were swept at home for the second time this season. San Francisco swept the Marlins from May 4-6.
