While we won the game, we lost another player. This time, Julio Borbon to what appeared to be a hamstring issue running down a ball in center field. This unfortunately sets a record for the 2011 Rangers. They’re now the team who has managed to get all of their opening day outfield to the disabled list faster than any other in history. Ugh. While Cruz & Hamilton are on the mend, with Cruz returning possibly in Philadelphia, it’s not a good thing to have this many people on the DL at once!
That issue aside, the game went quite well for the Rangers. Alexi Ogando did well again as a starter. 6.1 innings, five hits, five punchouts, just one walk, and one run. Came out with 99 pitches in the middle of an inning. Fortunately the bullpen didn’t blow it – both Eppley & Oliver held the game, and got it to Feliz, who closed it out. In fact, of the three relievers, only one walk was allowed. No hits. The walk came from Feliz.
The really cool thing about this is that we got to Jered Weaver for the win. Weaver’s been pretty darned hot this season, although we managed to get to him just enough. It was a pretty concentrated offense. We had seven hits. Three guys (Andrus, Kinsler, Young) all had two hits each. The other was Adrian Beltre. Just seven hits in all, and more than half were extra base (2 2B, 2 HR).
Elvis Andrus going yard was a surprise. That gives him two for the year, and one off of Weaver is a good one to get.
Ogando is now 4-0. I’d say he’s in the rotation to stay at this point. Not unless he tanks, but it doesn’t seem like he’ll do that.