(Image by Flickr.com user dorena-wm.)

The Starter And Game

Roy Oswalt made a spot start, with the team pushing Yu Darvish back until Tuesday because of a tight quad. He went 5 1/3 giving up four runs, but only three were earned. He walked one and struck out four. He botched a rundown in the third inning as a runner from third was allowed to score and tie the game at two. Body language is easy to read but hard to know what’s really going on, but  again it looked like Oswalt was not happy being lifted in the sixth inning.

The ‘Pen

Michael Kirkman was first out of the pen and promptly couldn’t hold the lead, as he gave up a hit and walked two. Alexi Ogando pitched 1 1/3, allowing two hits and striking out three. Mike Adams pitched the eighth, walking one and striking out two. Tanner Scheppers was brought in to close it out and couldn’t, giving up two hits and two runs (but they were unearned as Andrus threw low to first and it skipped away from Moreland). At that point, it became 10-6 with runners on and Washington went to Nathan to get the final out.

The Bats

Hamilton lead the way with five RBI [107 on the year] and Beltre had three hits, one was a home run. The team was 4-14 with RISP and drew five walks and struck out five times. The Rangers broke a 4-4 tie open in the eighth inning by scoring six runs with the help of two errors and two walks.

End of the Bench Notes

- Scott Diamond was ejected by HP umpire Wally Bell for throwing behind Josh Hamilton. Gardenhire was also tossed. It was the 62nd time he’s been tossed.

- Michael Young started at DH but was replaced by Moreland because Young’s wife went into labor.

- Rangers are 22 games over .500 for first time this year

- Rangers have an MLB leading 24 innings where they’ve scored at least five runs

On Deck

LH Matt Harrison [14-7, 3.19 ERA, 142 ERA+, 1.26 WHIP] v. RH Sam Deduno [4-1, 3.33 ERA, 124 ERA+, 1.58 WHIP]