ARLINGTON, Texas _ Giancarlo Stanton, stone-faced and still as a statue, didn't bother to turn and watch. Joey Gallo's shot was a no-doubter among no-doubters, landing in the upper deck in right field for an early Texas Rangers lead that turned into a permanent one in their 10-4 win over the Miami Marlins.
Long balls were a theme against Miami pitching Tuesday. The Rangers slugged four in all, including two from Joey Gallo, a powerful bat in the No. 9 hole, and one from Mike Napoli, a Pembroke Pines native and Flanagan High alumnus.
The game was close until right-hander Brian Ellington allowed four runs while recording one out in the fifth inning.
Right-hander Dan Straily was tagged for six runs in four innings. He allowed 10 hits, including three homers.
Christian Yelich put up perhaps his best game of the year, driving in all four Marlins runs with a homer and two doubles.
His first hit, a double bounced hard off the ground and over the head of Napoli at first base, scored Dee Gordon. His three-run home run to right field in the fifth inning got the Marlins to within a pair of runs.
That production from Yelich stood in stark contrast to his track record against Rangers starter Cole Hamels, who faced the Marlins for the first time since he was traded from the Phillies to Texas two years ago. Yelich owned a career .188 average (3 for 16, double) against Hamels entering the night.
Yelich's effort kept the Marlins in it through the halfway point, but Ellington _ in relief of Straily to begin the fifth _ allowed the Rangers to blow it open.
Left-hander Hunter Cervenka, in his season major league debut after being recalled from Triple-A New Orleans Monday, pitched 12/3 scoreless innings.
