ST15: Laird powers Rangers to 5-4 win over Cubs

First off, I get done writing an entry for yesterday's game, and then I turn around to write one for today's game that just finished. So I see the score, which is good. Then I see this article. Can we stop this, please? DO NOT WANT! Too many of these small fiddly "don't matter" things. Sigh.

Eddie "Replace your divot, please" Guadardo was the only pitcher who really had what could be considered a bad line. Went 0.2 innings, giving up two hits and two runs. Then he discovered he had a hangnail, and had to come out of the game (OK, I'm exaggerating JUST a bit). Jason Jennings started, and went 3 innings, giving up three hits and one earned run (two runs total). More importantly, he had four strikeouts and one walk. Elizardo Ramirez, Robinson Tejeda, & Wes Littleton all threw scorless frames, and Sidney Ponson made his Rangers debut. He went two innings, and faced only six batters. Walked one (erased on a double play), and struck out one. I hold no real hope for Ponson and the Rangers long term, but you always want to see a better line than a bad one. I could take the stance that I want him to have an ERA of 54, so he'd be released, but then that would hurt my team in general.

Offensively though the story was Gerald Laird. Gerry had two home runs (both solo shots), and Michael Young also contributed with a solo home run in this game. Young went 2-3 and had a second RBI besides his home run - the fifth came from Edgar Alfonzo.

Former Ranger Alfonso Soriano had a home run in this game (off divot boy). I was busy at work again with a project that has been demanding almost all my afternoon time for the last month to 6 weeks, so I didn't get a chance to listen. Hopefully we finish the project before the season starts. :)