The starter
Roy Oswalt made his Rangers and season debut tonight, pitching 6.2 innings scattering nine hits walking one, striking out six. They only run he allowed was in the seventh as he gave up a two out triple to Dexter Fowler followed up by a double to Marco Scutaro. Oswalt’s fastball location to both sides of the plate at 90-92, touching 93 was excellent. His off speed stuff he threw as slow as 67 MPH. Oswalt threw 110 pitches and 81 for strikes.
The pen
Robbie Ross pitched one inning and gave up two hits. Mike Adams pitched to two batters and gave up a hit. Joe Nathan earned his 16th save while striking out two. Nathan’s last 16 innings he’s allowed only nine hits, but more impressive 0 runs, 0 walks and 21 strikeouts. Remarkable.
The bats
Adrian Beltre hit a 2-run HR in the bottom of the first. They added a two spot in the fourth on RBI by Cruz and a solo HR by Napoli. The bottom of the order did most of the damage as Cruz, Napoli, Torrealba and Gentry had five of the seven hits and the aforementioned two RBI. The team had only one walk and struck out eight times.
End of the bench notes
- This was the teams 21st sellout tonight matching the 1994 season. Saturday’s and Sunday’s games are close as well.
- It was announced today Mitch Moreland will miss 4-6 weeks with a grade 2 hamstring injury.
- Nathan’s strikeout-to-walk ratio this season is now 36-to-2
On deck
RH Colby Lewis [6-5, 3.00 ERA, 146 ERA +, 1.00 WHIP] v LH Josh Outman [0-3, 8.41 ERA, 56 ERA +, 1.62 WHIP] at 2:05 PM Saturday
