Angels 7, Rangers 4

Barely a couple of sips into my Farmhouse wit by local brewery Deep Ellum, the omen was set with the very first batter of the game as Mike Trout lead off with a home run. Once the Angels settled in with a 4-1 lead after four innings, it was time watch and rekindle my childhood love with the provocative detective Angela Lansbury and Murder she wrote [now streaming on Netflix.] The Angels have knocked Dempster around since being traded over from the N.L. He’s 0-2 with an 11.20 ERA against them. All other A.L. Teams 7-1, 2.92 ERA.

With the learning today Mike Adams is out indefinitely with a neck strain, it’s even more important that Uehara has been very good this month.

In the month of September. In 11 appearances, Uehara has 8.1 IP, one hit allowed, no walks, no runs, and 14 strikeouts. Uehara has faced 20 straight batters without allowing a baserunner, and has struck out 12 of them.

This recent uptick in performance by Uehara comes at a crucial time with October around the corner. The bullpen usage usually increases in the playoffs, and particularly in the last two years the bullpen plays a large role in the success of a postseason team. Were it not for the work of Uehara and Nathan, the Rangers bullpen would be in a minor state of turmoil. Alexi Ogando has had his struggles in a few September appearances, and beyond that it is a little hit or miss what kind of production is going to be seen from the rest of the bullpen.

» Continue reading “Rangers Lose, Trout Fished In America, I Watched Murder She Wrote”

Michael, you’re just trollin’ us now… (Image via Keith Allison.)

In a game that I’m sure very few in the Dallas metroplex even paid attention to (thanks, Cowboys), the Rangers were able to pad their lead in the AL West, going up 5 games on the A’s.

The big story (again) was Adrian Beltre.  With a 3-run home run and a triple to go along with a couple of nifty plays at 3rd, Beltre continued on his recent tear.  Oh, and that’s 10 home runs in his last 14 games. No big deal.

The game overall wasn’t overly exciting.  The Rangers went up 3-0 in the 1st and just sort of held on for the remainder of the game, just keeping it close enough that you reconsidered changing the channels (you know, for those of us who probably weren’t going to watch the Cowboys in the first place).

Aside from Beltre, Young also hit a home run of his own, his 6th of the year.  We can argue all day why the hell he’s playing 2nd when you have a perfectly good middle infielder sitting the bench, but that would be a waste of time because we all know how Wash feels about rookies taking veterans spots…

Ryan Dempster, tonight’s starter, was pretty solid, keeping the Royals to only 2 runs on 4 hits over 6 innings.  The bullpen?  Sigh. Let’s just say they have to get their sh*t together before October.  Ogando allowed 2 runs in 1 inning.  Adams allowed 1 run in 1 inning.  Nathan allowed 1 run in 1 inning.  Guys, that won’t cut it.

FINAL: Rangers 7, Royals 6

(Image via flickr.com user Mike LaChance.)

Rangers 1, Rays 0

The Starter And The Game

Yu Darvish had his second straight great outing, going seven innings, scattering six hits, walking only two and striking out ten. The only trouble he really got into was the top of the second when he walked Zobrist to start the inning and Luke Scott followed with a double, putting runners at second and third. Darvish then got Pena on a strikeout, Ryan Robert flew out to shallow center and Jose Lobaton grounded out. Darvish only allowed four base runners after that in the next five innings. Mike Adams threw back-to-back NASTY curve balls to strike out Evan Longoria, and then Mitch Moreland made a heck of a dive and glove save on the line for the last out of the eighth.

» Continue reading “Rangers Beat Luke Scott’s Facial Hair And The Rays”

(Image via Keith Allison)

FINAL: Rangers 10, Yankees 6

The starter and the game 

This game was normal and Derek Holland was fantastic until the bottom of the sixth inning. Staked to a 4-0 lead, Holland gave up 5 runs, 4 earned, on 4 hits and a game tying home run to Andruw Jones. Washington’s mad[dening] genius lineup included Mike Olt making only his fourth start in the outfield and for the first time in the majors.

The ‘pen

Tanner Scheppers relieved Holland, pitching 2/3 of an inning, giving up 2 hits and and a run. Micheal Kirkman pitched an inning, walking one and striking out one. Mike Adams pitched the eighth, walking one and striking out two. Joe Nathan pitched the ninth only allowing a hit.

The bats

Everyone had a hit except Moreland, who drew two intentional walks. The team had 16 hits overall and 6 walks. David Murphy led the way with 3 hits and Andrus, Young, Hamilton, Beltre and Soto all had two each. Beltre and Gentry had three RBI each.

End of the bench notes

- Elvis had two hits today, making it four years in a row where he’s had two hits on the death date of Elvis Presley

- Pitcher wins don’t matter, but Tanner Scheppers got his first

On deck

RH Yu Darvish [12-8, 4.54 ERA, 99 ERA+, 1.46 WHIP] v Blue Jays LH J.A. Happ [8-10, 5.04 ERA, 81 ERA+, 1.44 WHIP]

(Image via Keith Allison.)

Well, at least Josh showed up to play?

It’s hard to get too upset with Scott Feldman, Wednesday’s starter.  Sure he wasn’t spectacular, but sans the 2nd and 3rd innings, he looked pretty sharp.  Besides, if Scooter is only giving up 3 runs (only in the 3rd inning) to the Yankees, that’s not the problem.  His line for the night: 6 innings, 7 hits, 3 runs (all earned), 4 walks, 7 strike outs.  Robbie Ross, Alexi Ogando and Mike Adams combined to pitch 3 scoreless innings to finish out the game.

As for the offense, 4 hits.  Pathetic. Well, you know, except the 2 of those hits that were home runs by Josh Hamilton.  #33 and #34.

FINAL: Rangers 2, Yankees 3

• The game started after an hour and 45 minute rain delay where the Rangers apparently played hide and seek to pass the time (which evidently Michael Young is also bad at…)

• Still no Gentry sightings…
• Nick Swisher: Rangers killer.  8 RBI on the series.

(Image via Keith Allison.)

Rangers 6, Red Sox 3

The starter and the game

Ryan Dempster was much better in his second start for the Rangers. The veteran right-hander attacked hitters, got into a nice consistent rhythm and was efficient. He had one walk and six strikeouts. He gave up three runs in the sixth, but all of them were unearned. It was the exact opposite from his struggles in less than five innings against the Los Angeles Angels last week.

» Continue reading “Texas Rangers: Dempster Pitches Gem Despite Kinsler Error”

Well, the ending was not much fun and so I think I’ll have a beer. BUT…

Martin Perez flexed his bad ass muscle and was a bad ass. Ian Kinsler couldn’t keep dirty words to himself and was tossed. Adrian Beltre acted like a ballet dancer and danced his way to a double. He also had a beautiful put out on a barehanded catch and throw to 1st.

Josh Hamilton had a sacrifice RBI to score Elvis Andrus and then he went bat shit in the dugout. Alexi Ogando worked some magic in the 7th. Mike Adams was stupid solid in the 8th, and I don’t even know what that means.

The devil made a relief appearance for the Red Sox in the form of Vicente Padilla. The devil tried to be cute and threw the ball away on a double pick off move. Elvis thought it was funny as he went from 1st to 3rd. And then the devil tried to be even more cute and nailed Adrian Beltre in the back of the head with a 92 mph fast ball. WTF paddy?

Unfortunately, Michael Young was unable to capitalize with runners on 1st and 3rd.

Joe Nathan came into the 9th with the scored tied 1 to 1, but he gave up a RBI single to the number 9 hitter, and that would end up being the winning run. The Rangers were unable to provide any entertainment in the bottom of the 9th.

Final Score: Texas 1, Boston 2.

Tomorrow Action: The Rangers and Red Sox play tomorrow at 7:05 pm.

FINAL: Angels 7, Rangers 4

The game and starting pitcher 

Matt Harrison battled after giving up three runs early. He ended up pitching six innings, only giving up one more run, walking two and striking out two. His last pitch of the night was a home run to Bobby Wilson.  Yes, to answer your question, it was Wilson’s first of the year.

The pen

Ogando has not faired very well since coming off the DL about a week ago. He pitched 1/3 of an inning and gave up a 2-run home run to Pujols. Ross pitched 2/3 of an inning, and Adams closed it giving up a run on a Torii Hunter single in the 8th.

The bats

Nelson Cruz hit a 2-run home run in the 4th, his 12th of the season, to cut the Angels lead to 3-2. Young added an RBI in the 8th, and Andrus added one in the 9th.

» Continue reading “Breaking Bad: The Rangers Edition”

photo courtesy of Bart Hanlon

The game didn’t end well. It didn’t end well at all. The Oakland A’s finished off the Texas Rangers in the bottom of the 9th on a Brandon Hicks walk off homer. Final Score: Texas 3, Oakland 4…F.

The A’s, Ogando, and the rest of the Rangers bullpen ruined a nice return from Colby Lewis. I guess I shouldn’t say the “rest” of the bullpen because  neither Mike Adams or Joe Nathan partcipated in the action. I’m not really sure why Ronnie didn’t utilize two of the key cogs in the Rangers bullpen system, but he didn’t.

Colby Lewis, coming off the DL with forearm tendinitis, pitched 5 solid innings and gave up 3 hits, 1 run, and notched 3 strikeouts. Robbie Ross, relieving Lewis, gave up his first run in a long time. Ogando followed Ross and blew the save as he gave up a 2-run double to Josh Reddick. Michael Kirkman would finish things off and take the loss.

Michael Young, Nelson Cruz, and Craig Gentry led the offense with a RBI each.

T’s Game Notes / Observations:

• Josh Hamilton is not having a very good July. Is that an understatement? Surely no one else has noticed.
• The Rangers sported blue tops and grey bottoms.
• Adrian Beltre was a beast at 3B.
• Brandon Hicks homer was the 1st of his career. That’s defeating.

Upcoming Action: The Rangers are off tomorrow, but start a big time series on Friday against the Angels.

The Texas Rangers lost and the Chicago White Sox won. The final score was 5 to 4. Kevin Youkilis provided his own fireworks in the bottom of the 10th on a game ending RBI single. It’s the Rangers 3rd loss in a row, but the good news…the Angels lost.

Mike Adams took the loss for the Rangers. Scott Feldman probably should have. Michael Young and Nelson Cruz provided some offense and Josh Hamilton homered again.

The Rangers face off against the Sox again tomorrow. Let’s hope for a better ending this time.

Happy 4th of July!