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First game I’ve gotten to watch completely in awhile, although I spent most of the time actually perusing my company’s public forums for contiuning reaction to our game release a few days ago. :)
This was a Coors Field game. Lots of offense. It’s not like the score was 19-14, but 8-6 is still a decent amount of offense. It didn’t start out that way. Through five innings, the score was a pretty non altitude assisted 4-1. Then the floodgates opened in the sixth inning. Check out what happened in the sixth for the Rangers:
– M. DeRosa struck out swinging
– M. Young grounded out to shortstop
– M. Teixeira doubled to deep left
– H. Blalock singled to right center, M. Teixeira scored, H. Blalock to second advancing on throw
– K. Mench singled to center, H. Blalock scored
– G. Laird doubled to deep left, K. Mench scored
– I. Kinsler intentionally walked
– J. Botts hit for J. Koronka
– S. Dohmann relieved J. Francis
– J. Botts singled to center, G. Laird scored, I. Kinsler to third
– G. Matthews Jr. grounded out to second
And that was just the sixth. It was a bit more flashy in the seventh.
– M. DeRosa popped out to shallow right center
– M. Young doubled to deep center
– M. Teixeira homered to deep right center, M. Young scored
– H. Blalock homered to deep right center
– K. Mench grounded out to second
– G. Laird struck out swinging
Blalock’s home run there was the 100th of his career. John Koronka got the win, but just barely. He was pulled for a pinch hitter (Botts, who got a single), and we took the lead before Scott Feldman came in to replace Koronka. The shine is off Koronka from the great start he had, but he’s definitely a servicable starter, so that trade worked out pretty well.
We added five more doubles this game (Young 2, Laird 2, & Tex). We have about 900 so far this season it seems. There were the aforementioned home runs by Tex & Blalock (going back to back). In all we had twelve hits, and while it wasn’t pretty, we got the win.
That’s all that matters.

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.