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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.

No commentary from me available – I’ve been way too busy with moving my web sites, and other work related issues.

Not available.

Well, what can you say about a game like this?
We played chicken with the Orioles, and it was us who blinked in the bottom of the ninth. From the sounds of it we just gave it to them at the end. That’s too bad, as it wasted a totally awesome pitching performance by our staff. Once again, we pitched like a real baseball team, not that mess we had in 2000. Pat Mahomes (who is expected to make the staff, it would seem) took the loss in the ninth inning. Doug Davis was awesome, going 6 innings, and scattering 5 hits, and no walks, giving up donut.
Mahomes really wasn’t that bad – he went 2 1/3 innings, giving up just three hits and a run (which was actually unearned), but when you don’t get anything of your own, that 1 is pretty massive.
Not a whole lot to say about 1-0 losses, except that it wasn’t 10-0. :)

Eww.. A big stinker of a game.
Rick Helling sounded horrible – although the radio guys on Sunday said that he was experimenting with more breaking pitches than usual. I realize spring is a time to try things, and take your lumps, but you never want to see this happen anytime. :) On the positive side for Helling, he finished out his outing by retiring the last 8 batters he faced – so he eventually figured it out, but in a real season game, he would have been long removed before that happened.
We only had 7 hits – only two by one player (Ruben Mateo, who scored our only run). Pretty lackluster effort all around.

A pretty well pitched game on both sides of the coin.
We didn’t give up anything until the ninth inning, when Mike Munoz gave up a home run and the only two runs the Blue Jays got all day. Glynn went four, Chris Haney went two, Jeff Zimmerman went two – all giving up no runs. Munoz gave up two, and got a save (!).
On the other side of the coin, Ruben Mateo had a two run home run in the fourth for two of the three runs we got. Not a lot to write about on this one. :)