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What an ugly, ugly game. What a great, great game.
I was watching this and was utterly shocked that Darren Oliver was perfect through 5+ innings. I actually started to think that he might pitch something special, and then he lost perfect, no hit, & shutout all at once with a solo home run given up in the 6th. He also gave up another solo home run later on, but pitched an 8 inning complete game, losing 2-1. Darren gave up only three hits the whole game, but unfortunately, two were solo home runs.
And, the Rays shut us down even more, allowing only a single Ranger run. I felt really really bad for Darren Oliver. This kind of pitching may have increased his stock for a trade. I wouldn’t mind trading away that moeny, and giving some of it to Pudge, as the papers this morning are starting to sound ugly about the possibility of Pudge being out of here.
Again, a very annoying loss, but a great great baseball game.

BALTIMORE (TICKER) — The second game of the Baltimore Orioles’ day-night doubleheader with the Texas Rangers has been postponed due to a train derailment near the stadium that has forced the evacuation of the ballpark.
Citing the derailment and potential hydrochloric acid spill, the Orioles postponed Wednesday’s game just hours after the completion of a 6-4 loss in the opener.
Wednesday’s night game will be made up as part of a day-night doubleheader on Thursday. The first game is scheduled for 1:05 p.m. with the night game getting underway at 7:05 p.m.
Pitching matchups for both games have not been detailed.

We get back to baseball after some delays in Baltimore. It seemed like a week, but it was actually only one day off. Anyway, we get back to the game with a nice 4-1 win in Tampa Bay. Now, granted, when you’re playing the team with the worst record in all of ball, you’re expected to win, but I’ll take the win just the same.
There was a real nice game pitched by Doug Davis, who is looking really good lately, going 8 innings, and giving up just a single run. Jeff ZImmerman came in for the save, and was spectacular.
Don’t know what else to say about this one – a real nice game all around.

Thursday’s 12:05 p.m. game against Baltimore has been postponed because of a train derailment and water main breakage near Camden Yards that happened Wednesday. As of 8:30 a.m. Thursday, the 6:05 p.m. game still was scheduled to be played. The day game had been postponed from Wednesday because heavy, black smoke billowed above Oriole Park after three train cars derailed in a tunnel and began leaking hazardous materials. As of Thursday morning, the train cars were still leaking and on fire in the tunnel. Doug Davis (4-7, 4.95) is scheduled to pitch for the Rangers on Thursday. Aaron Myette was originally scheduled to pitch the second game of the Baltimore series. Texas defeated Baltimore, 6-4, on Wednesday afternoon in Game 1 of the series.

I didn’t get to listen very well to this game, as I was working at the time, but it seemed that Rick Helling had a decent, if not great day, our bullpen is still going strong, and Catalanotto & Pudge had excellent games. Some nice defense too from both sides – looking forward to the old uniforms in Game 2. :)

Another stinker. Kenny Rogers is really starting to pitch poorly in his last few starts. With his back problems of late, I wonder if he’s not hurt?

What else can you say about this one? Hello Rob Bell!
Rob comes within a single pitch of getting the first complete game shutout by a Rangers starter in a long long time. Jerry Narron pulled Bell after 8.2 innings for Zimmerman. I would have loved to have him stay in there (as would everyone else at the park by the booing), but ultimately, we got the win, the shutout, and Bell was masterful!
Allowing only 6 hits over 8.2 innings, Rob Bell was awesome! About the only negative thing you could say was that he walked five batters (three of which were Bonds), but it didn’t seem to hurt him at all. At the moment, Melvin looks like a genius again, trading away Ruben Mateo, and getting a good, decent young pitcher in return. He must have worn out his welcome with the Reds, because the way he looked last night, I can’t imagine why they’d trade him away.
Anyway, it was great! Really hope he can keep this up, now that he’s had two great starts in a row.

I, along with lots of others at the Ballpark were here hoping for a Barry Bonds home run. Didn’t get it. What we did get we didn’t like, either.
This 7-6 loss was particularly annoying because it was one of those where we’d get some runs, and then give them right back. That kept on going on and on until late, when we had a chance to finish off the game, but couldn’t come through for a win.
In fact, I wasn’t feeling very good, and in a rare display of “weakness”, I left the game early. I abhor when people leave, but I didn’t get any sleep the night before – just about one hour. Was starting to not feel good. However, I didn’t miss much – we still lost.

Of course – after having won 11-0, we then go and lose 11-2.
The only thing worth talking about for this one was the fact that we were almost shut out. However, we broke that up late to remain the only major league team that has not been shut out all year.