Nelson Cruz, who had three hits, connected for his 20th home run of the season in support of Derek Holland (2-5), who won for the first time as a starter. The rookie left-hander allowed four runs and seven hits in six innings.
Jones’ three-run shot in the first and Young’s bases-loaded double gave the Rangers a 6-1 lead against an erratic Price (2-3), who gave up a career-high six runs in 1 1-3 innings.
The 2007 top overall pick walked five in the shortest of his nine career starts. Price has walked 30 in 38 innings this season.
Texas, which came into the day tied with the Los Angeles Angels for the American League West lead, is 5-3 on a homestand that ends today. The Rangers then visit the Angels for a three-game series starting Monday.
Tampa Bay’s Jason Bartlett hit a solo homer in the second and Dioner Navarro added a three-run shot in the fifth.
After Navarro’s homer, Holland retired six of the final seven batters he faced to pick up his first victory since winning in relief May 12.
The Rays have lost three in a row, all to rookie pitchers. Toronto’s Ricky Romero shut down Tampa Bay on Wednesday and Tommy Hunter earned his first career victory for the Rangers on Friday.
Price walked Young and Marlon Byrd with one out in the bottom of the first.
Jones drove an 0-1 pitch into the Tampa Bay bullpen in left for his 10th home run of the season. He also had and RBI double in the sixth.
The Rangers loaded the bases in the second on Taylor Teagarden’s double, and walks to Elvis Andrus and Ian Kinsler. Young doubled over B.J. Upton’s head in right-center to drive home three.
After walking Byrd, Tampa Bay took Price out of the game for reliever Lance Cormier.
Cruz homered in the fifth, and Teagarden added an RBI single to make it 9-4.
Lincecum dominates flat Astros as Giants post another blowout
SAN FRANCISCO - Tim Lincecum doesn’t keep track of such things as scoreless innings streaks. He does know he’s on a roll that might just earn him the starting nod for National League in the All-Star game.
“It would mean a lot - the hard work paid off,” said Lincecum, who missed last year’s Midsummer Classic because of an illness and was hospitalized. “If I do happen to start, it will make up for the fact I didn’t even make it to the field last year.”
Lincecum (9-2) extended his career-best scoreless innings stretch to 23 in winning his third straight start and also scored the first run in the San Francisco Giants’ 9-0 victory over the Houston Astros on Saturday.
“Obviously Timmy has the numbers to go out there and start,” center fielder Aaron Rowand said of the All-Star game. “Timmy’s got to be in the running.”
The reigning NL Cy Young Award winner struck out nine and allowed three hits with two walks in seven innings. Brandon Medders and Merkin Valdez each pitched an inning to finish the three-hit shutout, the Giants’ majors-best 11th and fourth in their last seven games.
San Francisco had 12 hits a day after producing a season high in runs and pounding 15 hits in a 13-0 victory late Friday night.
Pablo Sandoval singled home Lincecum in the fifth and Randy Winn added a two-run double and scored on a passed ball in the inning that got by Astros catcher Ivan Rodriguez. Aaron Rowand added a two-run single and Bengie Molina an RBI double.
“It was a good game there for a while and then it got away from us,” said Houston’s Lance Berkman, whose double was the team’s only extra-base hit.
Lincecum, expected to be named an All-Star today for the second straight year, outpitched former Giant Russ Ortiz (3-4). Lincecum struck out Michael Bourn looking on his third pitch of the game. After Lance Berkman doubled to start the fourth, Lincecum struck out the side.
He has gone 18 consecutive innings without allowing a baserunner past second.
“He’s throwing as well as I’ve seen him since he’s been here and that’s saying a lot,” manager Bruce Bochy said.
Lincecum - coming off back-to-back complete games - walked in the fourth and later scored, then drew another free pass in the fifth to load the bases before Rowand’s single. Winn doubled and Sandoval was intentionally walked before Ortiz’s day was done. He received a warm ovation as he walked off the mound.
Lincecum’s scoreless streak is the longest by a Giant since Robb Nen went 25 2/3 consecutive innings without allowing a run in 2000. Lincecum has won six of his last seven decisions.
“It’s kind of one of those rolls you don’t notice until it keeps going and going and going,” he said. “You keep feeding off the goose eggs, I guess.”
The Astros were shut out in consecutive games for the second time this year, also April 12-13 at St. Louis and Pittsburgh. The Giants shut out Houston in back-to-back games for the first time since Sept. 22-23, 1993.
“He’s got a good arm,” Astros manager Cecil Cooper said of Lincecum. “What else can you say? Good pitching can make you look bad, flat."
