Jun 24, 2010 By Herald Standard Staff 3 min read

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) – Michael Young had three hits and drove in four runs playing only half the game and the Texas Rangers extended the majors’ longest winning streak this season to 10 in a row with a 13-3 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday night. It’s only the second time Texas has won at least 10 consecutive games. The team record of 14 in a row came in 1991.

Young’s two-run homer in the first off Paul Maholm (4-6) was his 10th of the season and second in two nights. Young, the franchise’s career hits leader with 1,755, added a single and scored in a five-run second inning, then had a two-run double in a six-run fourth that put Texas ahead 13-2. That was still the score when he was lifted for a pinch-hitter in the bottom of the fifth.

Pittsburgh has lost 20 of its last 25 games overall, including 13 consecutive road losses.

Rookie reliever Alexi Ogando (3-0) pitched three scoreless innings and has won in all three of his major league appearances, allowing only one hit and no runs over 6 1-3 innings since making his debut at Florida last week.

Even with slugger Josh Hamilton getting a requested night off, and putting his career-best 17-game hitting streak on hold after appearing in 31 consecutive games, the AL West-leading Rangers matched their season high with 13 runs and had 17 hits. Catcher Matt Treanor was the only Texas starter without a hit.

Elvis Andrus and Nelson Cruz also had three hits for Texas. Cruz drove in three runs in his second game back from his second disabled list stint this season because of hamstring issues.

Young had the first of five consecutive singles for Texas – the last four all drove in runs – that chased Maholm without recording an out in the second. The inning had started with a walk and an error.

Matt Harrison, a former starter, pitched the last three innings for his first major league save.

Dustin Nippert, starting in injured Rich Harden’s rotation spot for the second consecutive time, struck out seven but needed 82 pitches to get through three innings. The right-hander gave up two runs.

Young had the first of five consecutive singles for Texas – the last four all drove in runs – that chased Pirates starter Paul Maholm (4-6) without recording an out in the second. The inning had started with a walk and an error.

Maholm allowed seven runs (five earned) and seven hits with four walks.

Andrus had an RBI single in the fourth before Young hit a two-run double and then scored on a double by Ian Kinsler. A two-run single by Cruz made it 13-2.

NOTES: Pirates 1B Garrett Jones was 0-for-3 with a walk, ending his NL-best 12-game hitting streak. .. Tom Grieve will be the 13th member inducted into the Texas Rangers Baseball Hall of Fame. … Maholm had allowed only one home run his last eight starts (48 1-3 innings) before Young’s blast.