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Vicente Padilla went a second straight game giving up just one hit. That kind of snuck out of nowhere. He started off the year weak, but has really come on strong the last couple of starts. Seven innings, just one hit and one run. Looked pretty good out there. Maybe, just maybe, with multiple starters pitching well? Let’s not get too ahead of ourselves.
Offensively, it was all about the power. We had nine hits. Five of them were for extra bases. Two doubles (Vizquel & Davis) and three home runs (2 by Blalock, & one by Chris Davis).
The game was tied through four at 1-1, but then Rangers popped it open with a four spot in the fifth, tacking on single runs in the seventh & eighth. The Sox didn’t really have a chance this game, we kept on top of ’em pretty good.
(This commentary is short, due to playing catch up on nine games of commentary at once).

Kevin Millwood wasn’t as dominating as he had been at times this season, but he certainly pitched well enough to win. He went seven innings (again), giving up just three runs. A good outing.
However, former Ranger prospect John Danks was better. Six innings, just one run. Fanned 10, something that always helps.
The Rangers didn’t have any power this game. Only one hit was for extra bases, a double by Nelson Cruz. Everything else (six of ’em) were singles.
The White Sox also had just seven hits in the game, but placed theirs better.
(This commentary is short, due to playing catch up on nine games of commentary at once).

MATT HARRISON WAS FREAKIN’ FANTASTIC!
Now THAT is the Matt Harrison I think people were expecting. Matt threw a complete game shutout. Nine innings pitched, 111 pitches, just four hits, and NO RUNS. Holy crap was that great! Man, if we can only get this kind of pitching regularly.. It’d be scary how good we could be with our offense.
MATT HARRISON WAS FREAKIN’ FANTASTIC!
Oh yeah, four doubles and seven singles, but who cares?
MATT HARRISON WAS FREAKIN’ FANTASTIC!
(This commentary is short, due to playing catch up on nine games of commentary at once).

Brandon McCarthy was the old Brandon McCarthy (4IP, 7ER).
Chris Davis hit a home run in the fifth.
The Rangers scored three in the ninth, in a “who cares now” kind of fashion.
Meh – this game sucked.
(This commentary is short, due to playing catch up on nine games of commentary at once).

In a game where all the offense was over by the end of the fourth inning, you find good bullpen numbers on both sides. Both teams’ pens gave up no runs. All the runs were by the starters, who also pitched fairly decently.
Scott Feldman, making a spot start went six, gave up four hits and two runs. Dan Giese went 5.2 innings, giving up eight hits and three runs. Decent pitching, if not dominant.
Elvis Andrus had a home run in the first inning, then all the other four runs in the game came in the fourth inning. Cruz doubled, but for the second game in a row, the offense was mostly singles.
(This commentary is short, due to playing catch up on nine games of commentary at once).

This game for the most part was one I thought was going to be one where you’d chalk it up to Padilla being a hard luck loser. He was being bested by Erik Bedard. Padilla went eight innings, gave up just a single hit, and one unearned run. That was it. Bedard went 7. Gave up just one run (his was earned), and the game went into extra innings tied 1-1. I’m no fan of extra innings (unless I’m in attendance, than give me 30!).
However, the Rangers unloaded in the top of the 10th, scoring six times to totally take the game away. It was capped by a grand slam by Jarrod Saltamacchia. The Rangers offense was surprisingly small. We did have two doubles, and two home runs, but we also had 12 singles.
Nice to see a big inning like that.
(This commentary is short, due to playing catch up on nine games of commentary at once).

I was planning on doing this when my son was born in three weeks, but…
I found out yesterday that my job I had for the last 16 and a half years is going away. Not just me, but the whole company I was working for. Done – for those of you that didn’t know, I worked for 3D Realms, the folks who make Duke Nukem videogames. I have until next Friday at work, then I’m out. I’m working on a few things, but right now, I have to say I have zero desire to write about the Texas Rangers.
I WILL be back, but for right now, my head is a in a place where I can’t begin to bring myself to write. Sorry about that, gang. Given I have a kid coming, and I’m going to be out of a job, I want to put out the tin cup. If you are in an ability to help out, I’d really appreciate it if you could send a few bucks my way – but please understand it will not affect anything , but when you’re desperate, you have to do what you have to do. Thank you for visiting.
The donate button is to your right on top of the menu. Thanks.