Rangers' Hamilton hits 4 homers vs. Orioles

Moments before he made history with his final swing in an incredible four-homer performance, Josh Hamilton stepped to the plate in the eighth inning with a surprising sense of calm.

The Texas Rangers slugger had never before hit more than two home runs in a game, and he already had three. So as he took his place in the batter's box against Baltimore righthander Darren O'Day, Hamilton already had a feeling of accomplishment.

"I just went up like it was any other at-bat because if I don't hit one," Hamilton reasoned, "I've still had a really good night."

Hamilton became the 16th player to hit four home runs in a game, launching a quartet of two-run drives against three different pitchers to carry the Rangers to a 10-3 victory Tuesday night.

Hamilton homered off Jake Arrieta in the first and third, added another off Zach Phillips in the seventh and O'Day. "It reminds you of when you're in Little League and a little kid, and just the excitement and why we play the game," Hamilton said. "Things like that. You never know what can happen. It was just an absolute blessing."

Hamilton also doubled in the fifth inning. His 18 total bases is a single-game American League record, and his eight RBIs are a career high.

Royals 6, Red Sox 4: Billy Butler's three-run shot in the eighth inning led host Kansas City.

Cardinals 6, Diamondbacks 1: Carlos Beltran homered in his first two at-bats, including a grand slam, matching a career high with six RBIs for visiting St. Louis. -- AP