ARLINGTON, Texas -- If Friday night was any indication, the Texas Rangers can't wait for the return of hitting coach Rudy Jaramillo.
Jaramillo, who is recovering from prostate cancer, visited the Texas clubhouse before the game.
The Rangers responded with a season-high in runs and hits to beat the Tampa Bay Devil Rays 13-7.
"You talk about therapy for him." Texas manager Buck Showalter said of Jarmaillo. "It's therapy for us to see someone who's a big part of the Rangers family in our clubhouse."
Michael Young and Kevin Mench sparked an 18-hit attack for Texas.
Young had five hits with a career-high five RBI and Mench hit a grand slam.
Mench capped a five-run first for the Rangers with his first home run of the season and second career grand slam. He also knocked in five runs to match a career high.
Young broke a 6-all tie with a three-run double in the third and added a two-run double in the fourth. He equaled a career-high by going 5-for-5 and was on deck as the final out was recorded in the eighth.
Jaramillo said before the game he could be back by May 12, and Young said he can't return soon enough.
"He's such a big part of our club," Young said. "He's our hitting coach but he's also a good friend to a lot of us."
Ty Wigginton hit his seventh home run and Russell Branyan also homered for Tampa Bay, who fell to 1-3 on its nine-game road trip.
C.J. Wilson (1-0) yielded one hit in three scoreless innings of relief. Wilson relieved Kameron Loe, who gave up six runs and seven hits in three innings.
Tampa Bay starter Seth McClung (1-3) gave up nine runs and eight hits in 2 1/3 innings. He was relieved by Scott Dunn.
"Seth didn't make his pitches at all," Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon said. "He couldn't put it where he wanted. He's got a lot to learn about pitching yet."
The Rangers loaded the bases in each of the first five innings and they capitalized in the first, third and fourth.
After Phil Nevin's RBI single, Mench cleared the bases with his homer off McClung.
Mench's other grand slam came June 11, 2005, against the Florida Marlins. He has driven in seven runs over the past two games.
Mench didn't have an RBI in Texas' first 15 games. He was quick to downplay Texas' outburst Friday.
"It's only one game," Mench said. "We have yet to put something consistent together. With an offense like this we know what we're capable of doing."
Young's third double of the game -- another career-high -- came in the fourth with the bases full to put Texas on top 13-6.
The Devil Rays scored four in the first on Jorge Cantu's double, Jonny Gomes' groundout, and solo homers by Wigginton and Branyan.
It was Wigginton's sixth homer in his last 10 games.
"I've got to be able to hold a lead like that." McClung said. "I feel bad for my teammates."
Nevin led off the fourth with his fifth homer of the season and Mench followed with an RBI double to put the Rangers ahead 11-6.
Notes
- Branyan's homer was his first of the season
- Texas 2B Drew Meyer made his first big league start and went 2-for-5.
- Young's other five-hit game came June 14, 2002 against the Houston Astros.
- Mench also drove in five runs June 30, 2005 against the Los Angeles Angels.
