It’s four in a row now – but unfortunately, we can’t gain any ground, because division leader Seattle has won their last 5 in a row, and we’re still nine out. However, we’ve moved to within 4 games of 500 again. However, if history is a teacher, we’ll get to within one game, and then lose 7 of our next 9 or something like that.
Anyway, Joaquin Benoit continued to stretch of great pitching with a fourth game in a row that was won by a Ranger starter who pitched pretty good. Benoit went 7 innings, giving up just two (earned) runs on a total of 4 hits. He also had 8 strikeouts and two walks. Overall, some great pitching – no complaints here.
Offensively, we got out to a 5-0 lead after two (with HR’s by Hank Blalock & Arod), and that’s all we’d get and Benoit made it hold up. Actually, after the second inning, I felt like we were going to score like 20 runs and totally stomp on the Devil Rays. That didn’t happen, but I’ll certainly take a good pitching performance and a win any day over a “stomp ’em into the ground” win. :)