Published: August 12, 2009 11:03 pm      

Hunter’s pitching helps Rangers defeat Indians 5-0

CLEVELAND (AP) — Rookie Tommy Hunter turned the shutout tables on the Cleveland Indians, pitching into the eighth inning to lead the Texas Rangers to a 5-0 victory Wednesday night.

Hunter (5-2) gave up six hits and struck out five without a walk over a career-high 7 2-3 innings as the Rangers bounced back from a 5-0 loss to Cleveland on Tuesday with their league-leading eighth shutout.

Josh Hamilton had three hits and drove in two runs for Texas, which entered 1 1/2 games behind Boston in the AL wild card.

Hunter shut down a Cleveland offense that hit .304 while averaging 6.4 runs in winning 12 of its previous 17 games, but was shut out for the fifth time this season. The right-hander has allowed three runs or fewer in eight of his nine starts. Since July 3, the 23-year-old is 5-1 with a 1.84 ERA in seven starts.

C.J. Wilson came on in the eighth after Grady Sizemore singled for his third hit and went to second as right fielder Hamilton bobbled the ball for an error. The left-hander struck out Asdrubal Cabrera to end the inning, then worked a perfect ninth, striking out two more.

Hamilton’s two-run double off Fausto Carmona (2-7) gave Texas a 2-0 lead in the third. Carmona hit one batter and walked another during the rally.

Hank Blalock lined a run-scoring single off Rafael Perez in the eighth. Omar Vizquel followed with an RBI on a sacrifice bunt against Jensen Lewis, and Elvis Andrus’ RBI single made it 5-0.

Carmona allowed two runs and five hits over six innings. He dropped to 0-4 in four home starts against Texas. The right-hander has a 2.65 ERA in three no-decisions since being recalled from the minors on July 31. A 19-game winner in 2007, he went 1-2 with an 11.57 ERA in five previous outings before being sent down June 5.

NOTES: Rangers OF Nelson Cruz missed his eighth consecutive game with a sprained left ankle. Manager Ron Washington said Cruz won’t be cleared by the training staff until he completes baserunning drills. ... Washington said 2B Ian Kinsler (strained left hamstring) is scheduled to play nine innings Thursday at Double-A Frisco and will come off the DL on Friday if he has no setbacks. ... Cleveland claimed LHP R.J. Swindle off waivers from Tampa Bay and optioned him to Triple-A Columbus. ... RHP Jose Veras, outrighted by the Indians on Tuesday, accepted his assignment to Columbus. ... Hamilton is 6 for 10 with three RBIs in his career against Carmona.