The Rangers played their final spring game in Arizona, and packed up and took off. They left a player behind, though – Matt Treanor was traded to the Kansas City Royals earlier in the day. More on that in my end of spring post coming up later, but I’ll be sad to see him go.
This game featured a pitching staff, which by several accounts was made up of guys who will be on the opening day 25 man roster.
- Matt Harrison – Lock. Went 4IP, 2ER, 2BB. Not bad.
- Mason Tobin – Rule 5 guy. Might be the final man added to the 8 man bullpen made possible by the trade of Treanor. He’s had a great spring. Threw a perfect inning this game, with two punchouts.
- Darren O’Day – In pen. He’s had a bad spring. His ERA is 8, although in this game he threw a scoreless inning.
- Neftali Feliz – Closer. Gave up one run this game, but overall has had a great spring despite the Rangers attempt to do with him what the Yankees have done with Joba Chamberlin. Fortunately, that will be confined to spring training.
- Pedro Strop – Probably in pen. He’s had a great spring, and while he gave up a run in his two innings of work, I hope they give him a solid look, and not the constant up/down he had last year between the big club and AAA
Combined the staff went nine innings, allowed nine hits and 4 earned runs. Walked four. Not dominating, but not really bad, either.
Offensively, there wasn’t a lot of power here. Three doubles (two by Moreland, one by German) and nine singles were our offense (with three walks thrown in).
The big deal here is that our offense came late. We tied the game 2-2 in the top of the 7th with a two run spot. Then going into the ninth, we were down 4-2. We came up big against Diamondback reliever Juan Guiterrez in the 9th, putting up a four spot to take the lead, and the win. One of the runs scored on a bases loaded hit by pitch (Doug Deeds). That’s not something you get a lot of.
On to Myrtle Beach to play the minor league club owned by Chuck Greenberg. I suspect that team won’t be our minor league property all that long based on Greenberg’s exit earlier this spring.