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ARLINGTON, Texas -- Nelson Cruz took a slow trot around the bases after hitting a towering three-run homer in his return to Texas. The Baltimore Orioles slugger wasnt really savoring the moment. He was cramping so bad that he almost didnt even take that final at-bat in the eighth inning. Cruz hit the first pitch thrown by Shawn Tolleson, the fourth Rangers reliever, an estimated 404 feet deep into the left field seats to cap a tiebreaking six-run outburst as the Orioles won 8-3 on Tuesday night. "We were debating, he and I were," manager Buck Showalter said. "He go about halfway down the first, and that was a cramp trot." Likening his first game against the Rangers to one of his first days in the big leagues, when everything went so fast, Cruz said he just tried to stay in the moment and stay focused. "Kind of weird. Going from the other side of the plate is totally different than coming around like I used to," Cruz said. "It was overall a good day." Cruz was the 2011 AL championship series MVP on the way to the Rangers second consecutive World Series. When introduced before drawing a walk in the first, Texas fans responded with an extended ovation. While there were some boos, those seemed to be outnumbered by fans who called "Cruuuuuzz!" like they used to do when the left fielder was on their side the previous eight seasons. Heading into free agency last year, Cruz missed the final 50 regular-season games for the Rangers for violating baseballs drug agreement. Cruz turned down a $14.1 million qualifying offer in November from the Rangers, who likely would have used him primarily as a designated hitter if he had accepted. He went through the entire off-season before signing an $8 million, one-year deal with the Orioles early in spring training. "I havent seen him in a while and I got to see him and talk to him, playing around a little bit. It was a great feeling. I didnt like anytime he popped one," Rangers shortstop Elvis Andrus said. "Ive seen too many when he was on this side, but hes a talented guy. Whenever hes on, he can carry a team." Through 55 games with the Orioles, Cruz is hitting .313 and leads the majors with 21 homers and 55 RBIs. Adam Jones matched a career high with four hits, including a homer off the right-field pole leading off the Baltimore fourth. Rookie catcher Caleb Johnson had a tiebreaking RBI double in the eighth. Brian Matusz (2-1) went 1 2-3 innings in relief of Ubaldo Jimenez, who held Texas to one run and four hits while striking out five over 5 2-3 innings. Alexi Ogando (2-3), the second Texas reliever, got a popup to start the eighth before allowing three straight Orioles to reach. He was gone after the double by Joseph, whose two hits matched his total in his first 11 games. The Rangers, coming off a 7-4 record in their longest road trip this season, got two inning-starting homers: Adrian Beltre in the fourth, and Robinson Chrinos in the seventh. Joe Saunders, the winning pitcher for Baltimore in the 2012 AL wild card game at Texas, allowed two runs and 10 hits over six-plus innings in his first home start for the Rangers. The left-hander was signed during spring training and he made the season-opening rotation before missing more than seven weeks with a stress fracture in his left ankle after being struck by a liner in his first start. Notes: Three-time AL All-Star first baseman Jim Gentile, who played in the majors from 1957-66, attended the game on his 80th birthday. With Baltimore in 1961, he finished third in the AL MVP voting behind Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle. ... Orioles closer Tommy Hunter, on the DL since May 22 with a left groin strain, was encouraged with how he felt after a bullpen session before the game. He will do some fielding drills Wednesday, and could go out on a rehab assignment as early as Thursday. Marcus Allen Chiefs Jersey . He chirped to the caddie of Brandt Snedeker about their money game, a Mickelson tradition at the majors. Lefty was in good spirits Monday at the British Open, except for having to return the claret jug. Joe Montana Womens Jersey .DeMarco Murray got his 20th carry late in the fourth quarter with a 10-point lead, not long after Dez Bryant made his final catch of the day.Sure enough, a 44-17 win over Washington didnt change Dallas post-season position. http://www.thechiefsshoponline.com/Youth-mecole-hardman-chiefs-jersey/ . Three pitches later, he was hugging Mike Napoli at home plate after his teammates winning home run. Napoli and Ortiz hit consecutive homers with one out in the 10th inning and the Boston Red Sox rallied past Minnesota 2-1 Wednesday, sending the Twins to their fifth straight loss. Frank Clark Youth Jersey . Its the second time this season that Milan has been sanctioned by the league judge, after fans also subjected Napoli supporters to discriminatory chants. The ban will come into effect for Milans next match, against Udinese on Oct. Khalen Saunders Youth Jersey . A spokeswoman for the NLRB says its "a very incremental move" and does not necessarily indicate the board is close to a finding in the case. NFL owners filed an unfair labour charge against the players union in February, arguing that the union was not negotiating a new collective bargaining agreement in good faith.CAPE TOWN, South Africa -- Victor Matfield will attempt to win the Rugby World Cup again with South Africa next year at the age of 38 after his playing return was announced on Friday -- more than two years after he retired. The Bulls Super Rugby team said Matfield accepted a contract to play again for the 2014 and 2015 seasons and South Africa coach Heyneke Meyer immediately welcomed the move by the player he used to coach at the Pretoria-based Bulls. "Im glad that Victor has decided to put on his boots again and Im looking forward to seeing him in action," Meyer said in a statement from the South African Rugby Union that swiftly followed the Bulls announcement. "He was not given any guarantees about Springbok selection. If he can show he still has what it takes to be a Springbok, he will be considered along with every other player who is eligible." South Africa has struggled to fill the second-rowers place after he retired with 110 test appearances -- the second most for the Springboks -- following the loss to Australia in the quarterfinals at the 2011 World Cup. Meyer was open to a return by Matfield as early as 2012, the coachs first season in charge of the Springboks. "I have always maintained that we have a lack of depth at (No.) 5 lock and believed that Victor could still make a valuable contribution as a player," Meyer said, meaning its probable that Matfield will be called up by the Springboks this season if his return for the Bulls in Super Rugby is successful. The 36-year-old Matfields first top-level game in over two years will come straight away on Saturday, the Bulls said, when he will play off the bench in a Super 15 warm-up game against the Cape-Town based Stormerrs and show if hes capable of making the step up again.dddddddddddd "He has shown on the training field in the last couple of months that he is still hungry to succeed at the top levels of the game," Bulls coach Frans Ludeke said. Matfields return was widely expected, with his contact negotiations with the Bulls the only thing holding up confirmation. He had been working as part of the teams coaching staff and a deal to keep him with the Bulls as a coach in 2016 and 2017 after his playing stint was part of the agreement. Matfield was outstanding for South Africa when it won the World Cup in 2007. He captained the Bulls to all three of their Super Rugby titles and has played more games, including tour games, for South Africa than any player. Only former skipper John Smit with 111 caps has played more tests. The lock and lineout specialists return is almost certainly so he can make one more appearance at the World Cup in Britain next year and try and help the Springboks wrestle the trophy away from New Zealand. Meyer hinted as much when he talked about the recalls of veterans Os du Randt and Bob Skinstad by South Africa in the 2007 World Cup triumph. "Weve seen in the past that players can make a successful return to rugby after a lengthy period on the sidelines," Meyer said. "(Former South Africa coach) Jake White successfully brought back Os du Randt and Bob Skinstad, who both played a vital role when the Springboks won the Rugby World Cup in 2007. "Victor ... knows what it takes to succeed at the highest level. Im sure he would not have made this decision had he known he would not be able to compete or believed he could be the best in his position again." ' ' '