Pirate Galaxy » rger Stoffel Vandoorne waiting in the wings

ARLINGTON, Texas -- Joakim Soria pitched in the big leagues for the first time in nearly two years. Cory Burns started his day in the minors and ended it with his first win in the majors. The Texas right-handers were two of five bright spots for a bullpen that bailed out rookie starter Justin Grimm on Sunday. A.J. Pierzynski hit a three-run homer, and a quintet of relievers threw five shutout innings to make Nelson Cruzs go-ahead single stand up in the Rangers 5-4 win over the Houston Astros. "This bullpen deserves all the credit today," Pierzynski said. Each reliever pitched a scoreless inning apiece, starting with Burns when he escaped a jam with runners on first and third and no outs in the fifth. Soria came out for the sixth, followed by right-hander Jason Frasor and left-hander Neal Cotts, who got pinch-hitter Chris Carter on a called third strike with the tying run at third in the eighth. Closer Joe Nathan pitched a perfect ninth for his 29th save in 30 chances a day after making his sixth All-Star team and second in two seasons with Texas. It was Sorias first big league appearance since Sept. 11, 2011, when the two-time All-Star with 160 career saves was the closer for the Kansas City Royals before getting shut down by elbow reconstruction surgery. "Ive been working really hard so it was no time to doubt myself or get nervous," Soria said. "Everything Ive worked for is here now, and Im just going to enjoy it." He looked like he was, protecting a one-run lead by getting Carlos Corporan and Carlos Pena on grounders and rookie Marc Krauss on a flyout. "He looked like he hadnt missed a day," said Pierzynski, the Texas catcher who watched the steady parade of relievers. "Most guys that havent pitched in over a year are a little nervous, a little fidgety out there. He was like, Ho hum, another spring training game." Pierzynski gave the Rangers a 3-0 lead in the first inning with his 8th homer, a shot into the Texas bullpen in right field after consecutive walks to Elvis Andrus and Cruz by Erik Bedard (3-5). Krauss answered with his first career homer in the second, a two-run shot off Grimm. Cruzs single scored Ian Kinsler for a 5-4 lead after Houston had pulled even in a fifth inning that included three errors, two unearned runs and two unusual double plays. "I felt like we had some chances offensively," Houston manager Bo Porter said. "We just werent able to come up with the big hit." Grimm allowed singles to Brandon Barnes and Matt Dominguez to start the fifth, and both moved up when Grimms throw on a pickoff attempt at second went into centre field. The Rangers had Barnes picked off at third, but Jurickson Profar -- filling in for Gold Glove third baseman Adrian Beltre -- let Pierzynskis throw from behind the plate sail past his glove into left field. Profar got the error, and Barnes scored for a 4-all tie. Grimm was replaced after a walk to No. 9 hitter Jake Elmore, and Cory Burns retired Jose Altuve on a pop out. Burns escaped the inning when Brett Wallace struck out and Elmore was tagged out by shortstop Elvis Andrus on a steal attempt after sliding past the bag at second. Burns was called up from Triple-A Round Rock and made the 2 1/2-hour drive to the Dallas area Sunday morning. Then he found himself in a sticky situation. "But thats what the bullpen is for," said Burns, who had an 0-1 career record with 17 appearances in San Diego and three in an earlier Texas stint. "Thats what we trained for all through the minor leagues is to come into those type of situations." Altuve botched a routine grounder from Kinsler to start the Texas fifth. After Andrus walked, Kinsler scored for a 5-4 Texas lead on a single from Cruz, who was later thrown out trying to go to second on a deep flyout to centre field by Pierzynski. "Im just glad the two mistakes we made didnt cost us anything but a tie game, and we were able to put a run on the board and win it," Rangers manager Ron Washington said. J.D. Martinez had three singles for Houston but never made it to second base. He was picked off by Grimm to end the fourth after driving in Corporan to pull Houston to 4-3. NOTES: The Rangers put DH Lance Berkman (left hip inflammation) and RHP Nick Tepesch (right elbow inflammation) on the disabled list. Soria was reinstated from the 60-day DL, and RHP Cory Burns was called up from Triple-A Round Rock. ... The Astros are moving RHP Lucas Harrell to the bullpen. He is 5-9 with a 5.04 ERA after giving up nine runs (seven earned) in 3 2-3 innings in a 10-5 loss to the Rangers on Friday. A replacement hasnt been announced. ... The Texas-Arizona game that was postponed by rain on May 29 will be made up Aug. 1. It was a scheduled off-day for both teams. Los Angeles Rams Jerseys . -- Jacksonville wide receiver Cecil Shorts will likely be a game-time decision whether hell play Sunday in the Jaguars home game against the San Diego Chargers. David Long Womens Jersey . Only three players drafted by NHL clubs were included on the Czech selection camp roster on Wednesday. Those players were Dallas Stars 2012 first-rounder Radek Faksa, Winnipeg Jets 2013 fourth-rounder Jan Kostalek and Phoenix Coyotes 2012 seventh-rounder Marek Langhamer. http://www.footballramsshop.us/authentic-orlando-pace-rams-jersey/ .C. -- Rodney Hood connected from all over the court while freshman Jabari Parker was busy swatting shots and scoring in transition. Kurt Warner Rams Jersey . Jason Zucker and Matt Cooke also scored for Minnesota, which has won five of six. Kuemper made five saves in the first, nine in the second, and nine in the third. The rookies best save came with 2:17 left in the third period when he denied former Wild forward Matt Cullen from just outside of the crease on the right side. Orlando Pace Rams Jersey . That left plenty of energy for pitching books and swatting away free agency questions. Anthony had 24 points and nine rebounds, and the Knicks avenged an embarrassing home loss with a rout of their own, beating the Boston Celtics 114-88 on Wednesday night for their third straight victory.Jenson Button has confirmed he was in talks about an alternative career in TV before being convinced by fallen F1 superpowers McLaren to stay on for 2016. Speaking to Sky Sports F1 ahead of the season-opening Australian GP, Button, a reported target for the revamped Top Gear show, revealed that he was only persuaded to remain in F1 after McLaren and Honda proved they were serious about returning to the front of the sportI was obviously in talks about TV shows and that wasnt me telling Ron Dennis, You need to give me a drive, Button told Sky F1s Damon Hill during an exclusive interview in the Melbourne paddock.I needed to be shown by the team and by Ron that it was worth continuing - it was that way round. I had to make sure the team were focused.We had a direction and they needed to prove that to me. Ron will say the same - that they did prove that to me that they were hungry, they had the resources to achieve in the future. Honda were hungry and werent going to give up. And thats what kept me here for another year and possibly other years in the future.When is the Australian GP on Sky Sports? Button and Alonso form the most experienced driver pairing in the sport but, even with young charger Stoffel Vandoorne waiting in the wings for his opportunity, the former world champion is adamant that he may continue beyond 2016.ddddddddddddheres definitely more to come. I wouldnt be here if I thought I didnt have a place here in Formula 1.I must say, a Formula 1 car these days isnt as much fun as 10 years ago. But you put yourself in a race situation and its as good as ever. That buzz, that fight with other cars. The drivers, thats what you love - the competition.Damon Hills exclusive interview with Jenson Button can be seen in full during Sky F1s exclusively live coverage of this weekends Australian GP. Coverage of qualifying begins at 5am on Saturday morning with race-day build-up beginning at 3.30am on Sunday. Every race live in 2016 Sky Sports F1 brings you every race live in 2016. Fast and easy online upgrade - click here. Also See: P2 report: Hamilton on top again Sky F1s 2016 predictions ' ' '