I’m not going to lie…With the way the Rangers have been playing lately I was extremely worried about the series with the Yanks. So what did I do? I went and ate some bomb Italian food with the family tonight instead of watching the whole game.

Man I’m glad I did too. I apparently didn’t miss much. Harrison took the mound tonight against Kuroda to try and even out the series for the Rangers. Harrison didn’t pitch bad tonight either. He actually had a great outing.

He gave up 5 hits but the killer came in the bottom of the 7th when he gave up a single to Jeter and then Swisher homered after. Texiera tacked on another homer in the 7th to give us the only runs all game.

The Rangers put up 2 hits ALL game. Yep. That’s what I said too. TWO HITS?!?! Either Kuroda pitched a hell of a game or we just have lost the hitting feature in our lineup. I don’t want to take credit away from Kuroda, but seriously? Two hits?

We have to do better than that boys. I mean really. I feel like I have whiplash….and I don’t like it. All in all, we had two of the best offensive teams in baseball going at it, and neither one got a run across the plate until the 7th. So I guess that doesn’t make me feel too bad.

All in all though, the Rangers lost tonight, hopefully will come back with some venegence tomorrow and my Italian food was delicious.

FINAL: Rangers 0, Yankees 3

Oy here we go again. Was it too much to ask to beat the Yankees? I HATE the Yankees! Fresh off their series win against Detroit the Rangers headed to the Bronx to take on the other best team in the AL, the New York Yankees. Yuck.

Now don’t get me wrong. I think the Yankees have a great team. I mean, they have 40 million people on their DL and they are still beating up on people. Can you imagine what that team will look like when they get everyone healthy? It’s a little scary.

Ryan Dempster took the mound tonight trying to get his first win every against the Yankees. It wouldn’t happen tonight either. Ryan actually pitched a pretty good game tonight, there was just one inning he looked like he forgot how to pitch.

The Rangers actually started the game looking like they could take care of the Yanks easily when they scored in the first on Cruz single and again in the second when Murph homered to right. BUT, it’s the damn Yankees and they came back.

Dempster struggled in the third (like I said before, it looked like he forgot what he was doing out there), loaded the bases and gave up a grand slam to Nick Swisher. Oopsy. The Yanks tacked on another couple of runs before pushing Dempster out in the 7th inning. He ended up pitching 6 innings, gave up 9 hits, 8 runs, and struck out 4.

The Rangers struggled to get anything going after Murph hit his homerun in the 2nd inning. They just couldn’t get things done. Get runner on…get picked off…get a runner on…fly out…get the picture?

I’m not going to worry though…This is how we started the first series with the Yankees this year. We came back and took the series. Let’s do that. Sounds like a good plan to me.

FINAL: Rangers 2, Yankees 8

<photo courtesy of Mike Lachance>

Scott Feldman immediately took the mound out of the bullpen and started the game for the Rangers. I think they call that a “spot start”. Robbie Ross relieved the red beard after 3 innings and pitched a perfect 2.2 innings to pick up the win against the Yankees 7 – 3.

And the Rangers offensive was at it again – Beltre, Kinsler, Nap Nap, Elvis, Moreland and Young! 

Adrian Beltre started it off with a solo shot early and he ended up going 3 for 5 while knocking in 3. And Kinsler too, at it again. He ended up 3 for 5 with 2 runs scored.

Mike Napoli and Mitch Moreland both left the yard, and I’m not talking about leaving the yard to go home after the game, I’m talking about home runs! Mike Young and Elvis contributed with an RBI each. And the Rangers put away the Yanks for the 2nd straight night to take the series victory, their 6th straight series win.

Let’s hope the Rangers can keep up the good work against the Tampa Bay Rays on Friday. Big Matt Harrison will be taking the mound against James Shields. Game time is 7:05 pm central. 

T’s Game Notes / Observations:

• The Rangers rocked the blue tops, blue caps, and white pants. I’m more of an all white fan myself, but I’ll take it.
• Derek Jeter led off the game with a single, and then another. He’s on fire.
• Josh Hamilton made a heck of a play in center, sliding on his ass for the catch and then doubling Mark Teixiera off at first.
• The big boy in centerfield caught another home run. Who is this mysterious kid?
• Beltre’s home run was estimated at 441 feet.
• The Rangers have won 6 straight series. Boom!
• Robbie Ross leads the American League in wins.

I can easily say this:  Both pitchers tonight made a great case for signing more Japanese pitchers.  Tonight’s match-up featured Yu Darvish against Hiroki Kuroda, with both pitchers having to go against 2 of the toughest lineups in all of baseball.  And both pitchers were great…Darvish was just better.

The Rangers got things started early in support of Darvish with Ian Kinsler leading off the 1st with a home run.  Then in the 3rd with 2 outs, Elvis Andrus walked.  With Josh Hamilton batting, Andrus stole his 2nd base of the season.  Hamilton then delivered a single which would score Andrus.  2-0 Rangers

Now that we got the offense out of the way, let’s talk about Darvish.

» Continue reading “Darvish Dazzles As The Rangers Down Yankees 2-0″

After a killer road trip the Rangers headed back to the Ballpark to take on the dreaded New York Yankees. Yuck. I don’t know what it is about that team… I just do not like them.

Mini Rant: Early right? I’m in one of those moods apparently…Like I said above, I don’t like the Yankees. BUT, it bugs me when people talk about how the Yankees buy their team/talent. Well yeah, it is a pro sport after all. Plus they all have to go out and still play the game no matter how much they get paid. Anyone can come out and have a good game on any certain night (Philip Humber anyone?)… and that my friends, is what is great about the game of baseball.

The Yankees came out in the top of the first and knocked in 2 off Mr. Dutchstache when he loaded the bases and Granderson hit a bloop into right center. Not a good way to start guys. Yankees 2-0. (I told you I didn’t like them!)

The Rangers looked good in the bottom of the first when Kinsler and Andrus singled puting them on first and third with Hamilton at the plate and no outs. Hamilton grounded out to second but with some crafty baserunning by Andrus, Kinsler came around to score. 2-1 Yankees.

Both pitchers had a good couple of innings, both giving up a couple of hits but nothing that caused serious damage.

In the top of the 5th though, things got pretty ugly for Derek Holland. After Stewart scored on a sac fly from Swisher, Jeter and Cano were in scoring position when Alex Rodriguez stepped to the plate.

ARod bombed one to left center field. Score? 6-1 Yankees. Whoops. The shining light? Hamilton made a beautiful over the shoulder catch in left to save futher damage. Good job Hambone!

In the 6th Stewart got on again and Jeter (who was having a monster game going 3-3 at that point, and 4-5 for the game) got him home with a double to deep right. Yankees 7-1. What happened boys?

Hamilton decided he wasn’t going down without a fight and after chunking one of his bats halfway down the first base line Hambone got a new bat. He apparently liked that bat a lot better and spanked a ball over the center field wall. 7-2…Don’t call it a comeback. We just needed more cowbell.

» Continue reading “Rangers Recap: Can’t Win ‘em All…”