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Scores like 3-1 mean somebody pitched well. That’s what happened here. Anaheim’s starter was Ervin Santana, and he eight eight strong innings. He allowed just five hits and one walk. Just one run, too. It’s hard to top that.
Dustin Nippert made the start in place of Vicente Padilla, and was “OK”. Not bad, and not great. His overall line was 5.1 innings, with five hits and three earned runs. Thing is, most of that happend right at the end. He was great through five, keeping the Angels off the board totally. He just ran out of gas in the sixth, and the Angels got to him.
Still, 3-1 isn’t the worst score you could lose by. Yeah, a loss is a loss, but 3-1 is less disheartening as say 17-3 would be.

The Rangers got off to a great start, a 4-0 lead to open the first inning in support of Brandon McCarthy. Unfortunately, that was our best moment offensively. We did pick up a single run in the fourth, but that was it for our offense.
We held the lead for quite awhile. Brandon McCarthy looked good again, and one HOPES that he has figured it out. HOPES being the key word there. Brandon threw 6 innings in all, giving up just one earned run (one unearned, too). Just one walk, and six hits. Not too shabby.
Thing is, our bullpen (mostly Jamey Wright) gave up a big ol’ ugly five spot in the bottom of the 8th, which of course brought on Frankie Rodriguez. Bleh. We did look really good for most of the game, holding the Angels in check, and being powered by home runs from Milton Bradley & Crush Davis, but the bottom of the 8th kind of wiped out that good feeling.

HOLY CRAP! It’s a game played on August 27th, and it’s the first time all season I’ve been able to use that graphic. I’ve been using it on my site for years, but for the first time in 2008, it gets broken out. That’s kind of sad, actually.
This was the second straight game with a pitcher’s duel. Yesterday it was Millwood & Greinke. This game it was Matt Harrison & Brian Bannister. Harrison pitched into the 8th inning, and gave up two runs (just one earned). Bannister went into the 7th, and gave up three runs (two earned). Both pitched well. KC was done in again by an unearned run, which proved to be the difference maker.
This game was almost all Brandon Boggs (2-4, HR), Chris Davis (2-4, 2B), & Jarrod Saltamacchia (3-4, 2 2B). These guys had all our hits, except two.
The more amazing thing was a sweep – in Kansas City!

Even if I wasn’t writing short entries for this week, there wouldn’t be a ton to talk about with this one. It was the Kevin Millwood show. He dominated KC, giving up just one run in his 94 pitch complete game win. That makes two straight complete games for a Rangers pitcher – when the heck was the last time THAT happened?
Funny thing is that Zack Greinke pitched better than Millwood did because he allowed no earned runs. Neither did any other Royals’ pitcher. The two runs the Rangers got were both unearned.
You feel bad for a pitcher when they give up no earned runs, and still lose the game. But not enough to not feel glad about the performance Millwood gave. Was spectacular. There’s been some talk he might be traded to Boston before Sep 1, but I can’t see that happening. If he stays, one gets the feeling we wouldn’t see this Millwood in April, unfortunately. :(

Short commentary, I’m in catch up mode after a week of not doing updates..
The Rangers hit Kansas City, a town that despite how bad the Royals have been, it’s a town where the Rangers have issues winning. This time, however was different. Nelson Cruz finally made it to the majors this year, and continued his torrid pace in the minors this year. Cruz went 3-5 with three RBI’s, missing just the triple for the cycle. Was definitely his night.
Actually, given how many hits we had (19) you would have thought we would have scored more than nine runs. 19 hits usually means double digits in runs. Oh well, I’ll take the win, since we usually don’t get a ton of them in KC.
Scott Feldman got the win, going seven innings, giving up eight hits, but no walks. Two earned runs (three overall). Good win.