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No coverage from me due to my server downtime.

No coverage from me due to my server downtime.

No coverage from me due to my server downtime.

After performing so weakly against the Phillies, I was dreading facing our nemesis – especially with the recent depressing news about the state of our outfield depth.
Doug Davis continued to look good, going 5 innings against the 3 time defending champs, giving up squat. No hits, no runs, although he walked four and struck out six. Can’t complain about the results here. Pudge woke up too, smacking two jacks today. Jeff Zimmerman pitched a scoreless inning, too.
However, the back end didn’t pitch so well today. Mike Munoz, who’s been spectacular this spring, gave up two runs (although they were unearned), and Tim Crabtree gave up three earned runs in his 1.1 innings of work. Not that great, but we won – and against the Yankees, you’ll always take that – especially when it makes the Yankees 7-16, the worst record in all of the majors this spring. ;)

Well, we broke the streak at four. However, it was tempered by the news that Kapler got hurt at the end of game 1 of this doubleheader. Gabe Kapler felt a twinge as he lunged for first base on the final out of an 8-2 seven-inning loss to Philadelphia. It’s not yet known how much time he’ll miss. Could be a week, could be 5. :( That could make our starting outfield on opening day Mateo / Porter / Curtis. Doesn’t look like we’ll be moving any outfielders now.
On the better news side, Rick Helling looked pretty decent. He went 6 innings, giving up two runs on two hits. Not all that bad. Hopefully this is the kind of performance we get out of him, not the one last time out. Crabby came on and pitched the last inning, not giving up anything.
On the other side, Bo Porter continued his case to make the team, which could be strengthened with the injury to Kapler, along with Ledee not being ready for opening day. Porter had two home runs, three RBIs in four at bats. There were 6 other hits scattered amongst the Ranger lineup. Offensively, we woke up during this game, this looks like what the Rangers of 2001 are supposed to be like.

For the second straight game, we played the Phillies. For the second straight game, we gave up eight runs. For the FOURTH straight game, we lost. Sigh.
It would appear that our offense has gone into hibernation the last few games. There’s always the talk of the Spring Training “dead arm period” for pitchers; it would appear our batters have gone there, too.
Our pitching was weak to poor over the 7 innings of this game. Pat Mahomes, Jeff Brantley, & Mark Petkovsek all gave up a lot (see box score below). While I didn’t see or hear the game, the box score shows a mess. Not much good to say about this one pitching wise.
Offensively, we didn’t do a whole lot. Of the two runs, only one was an RBI according to the box score (although both were earned). Phillies pitching gave up only 5 hits (two by Gabe Kapler).
A pretty sad game.