No seriously, maybe I need to rant more about how the Rangers don’t hit enough with runners in scoring position?

OK, it’s not like they were raking or anything, but 10 hits with 2 home runs is better than no runs at all.  And Ryan Dempster was pretty great until the 7th when he gave up 2 home runs (in an attempt to give up that 3 run lead).  Thankfully, Robbie Ross came in to end the threat.  Matt Adams and Joe Nathan would close things out, reducing the Rangers magic number to 7.

FINAL: Rangers 3, Mariners 2

Sorry, Harry, no runs for you! (Image via Keith Allison.)

Guys, I thought we were past this?  You know, those days when we couldn’t get guys in from 2nd with no outs?

TWICE the boys had lead-off doubles (Cruz and Moreland).  TWICE.  And both times the Rangers failed to even move the runner AT ALL.  I wish I could just point to a couple of players, but unfortunately this was a team effort.

I’m just hoping they’re just getting it out of their system before the Playoffs.  Let’s just hope that “getting it out of their system” doesn’t mean letting the Athletics inch closer to overtaking the Rangers in the AL West. Thankfully, the A’s lost Saturday as well, lowering the Rangers magic number to 8.

It’s too bad the offense couldn’t get things together as Matt Harrison pitched 8 innings, giving up 8 hits and only 1 run…a solo shot in the 2nd inning to Michael Saunders.  Yeah, he started out a little shaky, but really started to cruise the late innings.  They just needed a little offense.  Just a little.

FINAL: Rangers 0, Mariners 1

(Image via flickr.com user mikelachance816)

Mariners 6, Rangers 3

The Starter

Martin Perez took Scott Feldman’s start this time through the rotation. Perez went only four innings, allowing six hits, giving up four runs [three earned], two walks and three strike outs. Funny that Scott Feldman relieved Perez going three innings and allowing only one hit, while striking out five. Alexi Ogando pitched the eighth inning, giving up a two out home run to of all people Miguel Olivio and striking out two. Rangers still have to wonder if that forearm stiffness is bothering him. Ogando has given up eight home runs in 60 innings. The staff as a whole combined for two walks and ten strikeouts.

» Continue reading “No Beltre, No Hamilton, Rangers Offense Dives Into Puget Sound”

Matt Harrison, that was lovely and I love you. Oh…and Happy freaking birthday!

After a mid-afternoon rain delay, the Rangers did what they needed to do (again) and Matty Harrison was dominant as they defeated the Mariners 2 to 1.

Harrison pitched into the 9th and earned his 17th victory on the year. He finished with 5 strike outs and 1 earned run on 6 hits. He also induced 3 double plays.

Koji Uehara snuck in to finish off Jesus and also picked up his 1st save on the year.

The Rangers offense was carried by Adrian Beltre and Mitch Moreland. Beltre hit a “no question” into the left field stands off former Rangers pitcher Blake Bleavan in the 4th to start the scoring off.

And with David Murphy sitting on the pond in the 5th, Moreland lined a triple down the first base line to score Murph and put the Rangers up by 2. It would be all the scoring the Rangers would need.

Rangers 2, Mariners 1

After their victory tonight and the A’s loss, the Rangers extend their lead in the west to 3 games. The mighty Rangers are off tomorrow, but head to LA to face the Los Angeles Anaheim Western United States North American Angels on Tuesday.

Oh boys…You have officially made me nervous. The A’s refuse to lose…and we can’t beat the Mariners? This is seriously going to be extremely interesting over the next couple of weeks.

The Rangers play the A’s in 7 of their last 17 games…We need to put some distance between us. Hey just couldn’t pull it out tonight. Feldman had a rough start and gave up a run in the top of the first and 5 runs in the third. Whoops.

The Rangers mounted a comeback however and tied it up but just couldn’t hang on. Justin Smoak smoked one in the 8th inning and then added another RBI in the 9th to stifle his old team.

The good news? Mike Napoli was back tonight in full uniform. Not only was he back…he smacked a three run homerun in the comeback. Welcome back Napoli! You’ve been missed!

What I can say… We better not lose the playoff spot to the A’s. I refuse to let that happen. Suck it up boys. Let’s get this done.

FINAL: Rangers 6, Mariners 8

The Rangers did what they needed to do by beating the mighty Mariners 9 to 3. Yu Darvish pitched 7 super strong innings while striking out 9 batters and he looked dynamite in a hello kitty sexual way the entire evening.

Ian Kinsler started the offense engine off with a lead off dinger – his 6th lead off shot of the year. And not to be outdone by Kins, Josh Hamilton decided to hit a monster shot in the 3rd inning, and he landed it somewhere in Oklahoma.

The offense engine hit full throttle in the 8th and decided to score an additional 7 runs, which basically tucked the Mariners in bed and wished them a good night.

Koji Uehara followed Darvish and had another strong outing striking out 2. Michael Kirkman thought it would be funny to tease the Mariners one last time in the 9th by giving up 2 earned runs, but he would quit fooling around and finished them off for good.

Go Rangers!

T’s Game Notes and Observations

• Darvish reached the 200K mark on the year during the game. He has 205 now.
• It was good to see Adrian Beltre and Hamilton playing tonight.
• I think I set a new personal record by changing 7 dirty diapers during the game.
• I had no idea that Ron Washington was the player who followed Cal Ripken, Jr at shortstop when Cal finally decided to take a seat on the bench. I hope I heard that correctly on the broadcast.

(Image via Keith Allison.)

What’s the best way to get over losing the All-Star game?  A complete game shut-out!  It’s clear that Matt Harrison has put his not-so-stellar All-Star Game appearance behind him and was ready to go today.

Harrison pitched 9 innings, giving up 5 hits, no runs, 4 walks (a season high), and striking out 3.  Harry was a little shaky to start the game, but really settled in in the 3rd.

The bats finally woke up a bit this afternoon as well.  The Rangers took the lead in the 1st and never looked back.    The game broke open in the 3rd when Beltre singled, scoring Gentry and Andrus.  Kinsler would add 1 more in the 5th on a solo home run.

All in all, today’s performance was a good thing to see from this team after 2 terrible outings to start the 2nd half of the season.

FINAL: Rangers 4, Mariners 0

(Image via flickr.com user mikelachance816)

So when are the Rangers going to wake up and realize the All Star Break is over?

Yu Darvish certainly didn’t have his best stuff, but the offense did little to support him, so does it matter?  Oh did I mention that King Felix pitched a complete game, 3 hit shut out…oh, and struck out 12?  Yeah…

On the night, Darvish gave up 8 hits (including a home run), 7 runs, walked 4 and struck out 4.  Michael Kirkman was brought in in the 7th with the bases loaded and got out of the inning with a nifty play to get Jaso out at home and ended the threat with a strike out.  Martin Perez came in in the 8th, walking the first batter he faced, but then got a double play and a ground out to end the inning.

Maybe the bats will show up tomorrow?

FINAL: Rangers 0, Mariners 7

PS…Michael Young is a terrible 1st baseman.

It’s been a great day after a long freaking week. Took the afternoon off to hang out with my infant son, I ran 7 miles, the Angels lost, the Rangers gained a game, and  I drank a bottle of red wine.

The Starter 

Derek Holland made his second start off the DL, throwing 106 pitches over 7 2/3 innings, allowing 4 hits, walking 2 and striking out 4. Yes it was against the Mariners and at Safeco, but if he can come close to duplicating last years 2nd half, watch out.

The Pen

Mike Adams pitched a 1/3 of an inning. Joe Nathan made it interesting in the 9th giving up 3 seeing eye singles, an error by Michael Young and a wild pitch. Nathan has now given up a run in 3 of his last 5 appearances. He also issued only his 5th walk. He has 45 strike outs this season.

The Bats

Kinsler had an RBI [42] single in the 5th. Beltre had a 2-run HR [16] in the 6th.

End of the Bench Notes

- This is the 8th game of the month and the team only has scored 20 runs

- The Rangers have the 3rd best ERA in the A.L.

- The Rangers starters have a 42-29 record

On deck

RH Yu Darvish [10-5, 3.59 ERA, 123 ERA+ , 1.43 WHIP] versus RH Felix Hernandez [6-5, 3.13 ERA,  119 ERA+, 1.22 WHIP]

<photo by Paukrus>

• Derek Hollands looks so cute with his new face do and hair do. And he looks 12. And he has a hot wife.
• Jesus is batting DH for the Mariners. How can you beat Jesus?
• Elvis Andrus receives a day off. Not good for my fantasy baseball team.
• Chone Figgins is still on a major league team? Wow. Nice contract for the rest of baseball. And nice 1st strikeout for Holland.
• Nice work from Holland…1-2-3, sit down and go pee.
• Former Ranger Blake Beavan is rolling the dice on the mound for the Mariners.
• The bottom of the 1st went by way to fast for the Rangers.

» Continue reading “Rangers Recap: One.Big.Turd!”