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Final Score: Texas 13 - Cleveland 9

Cleveland, OH (Sports Network) - Jarrod Saltalamacchia's first career grand slam spurred a seven-run third inning and sent Texas over Cleveland, 13-9, in the opener of a three-game set.

David Murphy collected three hits, drove in three and scored three times for the Rangers, who have won three in a row and matched their season-high for runs in a game. Texas also scored 13 in a 10-inning, 13-12 win over Seattle on May 12.

Ramon Vazquez and Chris Shelton each had a pair of RBI, while Ian Kinsler and Milton Bradley knocked in a run each for Texas.

Kameron Loe (1-0) earned the win, giving up four hits and one run over 2 2/3 relief innings. Starter Kason Gabbard was lifted after just 2 2/3 innings, allowing six runs with six walks.

Grady Sizemore hit a three-run blast among his pair of hits for the Indians, losers in seven consecutive games. Jamey Carroll and Ben Francisco each drove in two in the loss.

Tribe starter Fausto Carmona (4-2) was saddled with the loss, yanked after only two-plus innings with a strained left hip, charged with five hits and six runs, one strikeout and three walks.

"Obviously he wasn't able to stay in the game so it's fairly serious," Indians manager Eric Wedge said. "We're hopeful when the picture comes back it's nothing too serious."

Carmona is scheduled to undergo an MRI on his hip Saturday to determine any damage.

Travis Hafner's sacrifice fly in the second brought the Tribe within 4-3, but the Rangers struck back with seven runs to take a commanding lead.

After Carmona allowed a double to Bradley and left the game with the leg issue on Murphy's infield hit, Jorge Julio issued a walk to Brandon Boggs which loaded the bases. He issued another base on balls to Shelton to force in a run for a 5-3 Texas lead.

Saltalamacchia stepped in and launched a grand slam for a 9-3 game, then back- to-back doubles by Vazquez and Kinsler pushed the visitors into double digits. Michael Young singled to short to put runners on the corners, and two batters later Bradley brought in Texas' 11th run of the game on a sac fly to center.

Sizemore pulled the Indians within five on a three-run homer in the home half which signaled the end of Gabbard's outing.

Vazquez added a sac fly in the sixth for a 12-6 Texas edge. He then prevented a Cleveland run in the bottom half. Sizemore tripled to lead off the frame, and was thrown out trying to score on a Carroll grounder to third.

In that same inning, a potential two-run homer by Francisco off Loe was overturned and ruled a double, despite replays showing the ball struck a railing over the yellow home-run line in left-center before rebounding into play. Indians manager Eric Wedge was ejected by first base umpire Dale Scott for arguing the call. Carroll scored on the play, cutting the Tribe's deficit to five.

Carroll delivered a two-out, two-run double for a 12-9 score in the seventh, but Vazquez countered with an RBI double in the eighth which increased the Rangers' lead to four.

Jamey Wright struck out three over two scoreless frames for the Rangers to end the contest.

Texas made an impression immediately, striking for four runs in its first turn at bat.

Young walked, Josh Hamilton doubled and Bradley walked to fill the sacks, and Murphy cleared them with a three-run double. A Boggs groundout moved Murphy to third, and he scored when Shelton singled up the middle.

Cleveland countered with a pair in its turn at the plate, as Francisco knocked in a run with a double and Hafner scored on a wild pitch.