Rangerfans.com

Well, as I said a couple of days ago, I’ve been busy, and haven’t had time to update the site. My company released a new game demo (Prey, go check it out, although it is a “Mature” rated game). As such, my time was big time elsewhere. I missed a few games totally, as well as only half paid attention to the ones I did see. As such, I’m summarizing all the missed games in a quick update here. Just for completeness’ sake, I guess.
Jun 17 – Beat Diamondbacks, 8-4: Matthews, Young lead team, going 2-4 each. Team hits for the cycle. Koronka gets a win. Of the 5 Rangers pitchers, Ron Mahay is the one with the most experience, and he was in the minors for awhile this season.
Jun 18 – Beat Diamondbacks, 10-7 for the series sweep. Kameron Loe was not good at all, giving up 4ER in 2.1IP. He goes on the DL after this start. Cordero blows another save; gets win. Mike Young goes 5-5 in the DH slot. Team hits for the cycle again. First three batters (Matthews, Young, Tex) have a combined 9 hits (out of the team’s overall 15). Nice to break out the brooms.
Jun 19 – Off Day
Jun 20 – Lose to Padres, 6-5. Mark Teixeira had a spectacular defensive game. He had what looked like a game winning walk off home run, and was screwed by first base umpire Bill Welke. That’s pretty much what people remember about this one.
Jun 21 – Lose to Padres, 3-2. Bill Welke strikes again. This time he’s behind home plate, and blows a call on a play where Michael Young scored, but was called out. Given we lost by one run, that was huge. Former Ranger pitcher Chris Young returns and pitches well against the Rangers. Also had former Rangers Eric Young & Adrian Gonzalez in tow. And I know it’s childish, but I still giggle like an 8 year old when I hear the name Barfield.
Jun 22 – Win against Padres, 5-3. John Rheinecker survived this game. He did get the win, but gave up eleven hits in 5.1IP to go with two walks. He’s lucky he only gave up two runs with all that. Still more doubles for our insane doubles rate this season. Cordero doesn’t blow a save. Blalock, Matthews, Young all 2-4. Nice to salvage a win before going on the road.

This game was about Kevin Millwood.
I was supposed to go to this game tonight to get the giveaway (the Build a Bear Bear) for my daughter, but I couldn’t go – my wife got sick, and it was better if we didn’t go. If anyone has an extra one of those, and wants to take pity on me, please let me know. :)

Definitely not John Rheinecker’s best game. Actually, it was fairly bad. But given the way he’s pitched in his games before this, I think no one is too bent out of shape over this one. Rhein gave up 11 hits and 5ER in four innings. Raised his season ERA to 3.60.
That’s pretty much the story of this game. It was rematch of the game Rhein & Mark Buehrle, but this time the roles were reversed. Buehrle gave up 2ER over 8 IP.
Rhein & Buehrle’s lines were the story of this game.

This was Vicente Padilla’s game.
8 innings pitched
3 hits
0 runs
3 walks
7 strikeouts
2 beanings of AJ Pierzynski
109 pitches (70 for strikes)
The most telling moment for me was in the second inning when the Sox had 2 men on at second and third with nobody out, and nobody scored. That was the Sox best chance all night, and they couldn’t capitalize.
On our offensive side, we hit around Javier Vazquez. Blalock started it with a solo home run in the third. We then hit him up for a four spot in the fourth. What’s nice about that is that all four runs came with two outs. We extended our major league leading doubles lead with three more tonight (Blalock, Tex, Kinsler).
Gary Matthews continues to keep his grip on the CF job, and went 3-5 tonight with an rbi and a run scored. He continues to look great. Kinsler was 2-3, even Hairston was 2-4. Only Barajas & DeRosa were hitless. But DeRosa had the defensive gem of the night with a one handed grab of a ball hit into the ground. It was do or die, and he threw home, and kept the Sox off the scoreboard. Was a great play.
Was a great win over the World Series Champs. Keeps us in first place.