One complaint. The game was listed as being on Channel 21 last night. It’s a good thing I peeked at the start of the game when it actually started, as at the LAST SECOND, the game was moved to Fox Sports Southwest. That’s unacceptable – because people who regularly time shift like myself get screwed when things like this happen. :(
Anyway, there was a veritable gaggle of Elvis jokes last night. It was Elvis night at the ballpark, so we saw tons of Elvii around the place. Plus a bunch of jokes from Lewin, who loves his mass media references. The official MLB recap had this as a title, “Elvis sends Tigers to Heartbreak Hotel”. Heck, even generally unfunny FSS guy Jim Knox got into it, and I actually laughed at his Elvis impression.
Rich Harden continues to be a disappointment so far. He only went 4.1 innings, but threw 99 pitches. The man doesn’t know a thing about pitch efficiency, it seems. Six hits, two runs, and four walks. Way way way too much. It’s pretty bad so far.
The Rangers got out early in this one with a first inning two run home run by Vlad Guerrero. Oddly enough, given how hot he started it was just his second home run of the season so far. Guerrero also scored later on a really strange play. He scored on something I had never heard of before, that being a “catcher’s balk”. Alex Avila, the Tigers’ catcher moved the live ball on the ground with his catcher’s mask, which is an apparent no-no (I didn’t know that). So that was a freebie.
Michael Young grounded in another run a little later to put us up 4-2. However, the Rangers bullpen had more problems by giving up two runs to the Tigers in the top of the 9th to tie the game.
That’s when the walk off was set up. Justin Smoak walked, was sacrificed over to second. Ryan Garko was intentionally walked, and then Nelson Cruz was unintentionally walked after Joaquin Arias was sent in as a pinch runner for Smoak. That loaded the bases for Elvis Andrus. At first Elvis looked too nervous, and went down 0-2 quickly. However, on the third pitch, he lined a ball to right center for a single for the game winner.
And yeah. Josh Lewin did it. He said “Thank you very much” as Elvis hit the ball to right center. Elvis also got shaving creamed by CJ Wilson and a couple of other guys. CJ even posted a video of it on his twitter account here.
But the big deal for most Rangers fans was the major league debut of Justin Smoak. You always want the touted minor league guy to make a great impression in his first game. However, for this one, I think it was a case of less was more, as Smoak didn’t do anything offensively, but he didn’t embarrass himself. He did, however, show his propensity to take pitches, as he walked twice. His official line was 0-2 with 2BB. No offense to speak of, but it was nice to see him there.

Two things I need to get out of the way first.
1) Stupid TiVo. I really dont’ like it when ESPN simulcasts the same game the Rangers have on their local coverage. Because for some reason my TiVo always wants to record that channel. Then it’s blacked out, and I don’t get to see the game. Last night this happened again with the MLB Network. My TiVo decided to record the Rangers game there, and of course it was blacked out. Darnit – I would have wanted to see this game! Arrgh!
2) I owe CJ Wilson an apology. When he put forth the call to be in the rotation, I have to confess I thought he was being a whiny baseball player trying to overreach. Turns out he was right. He’s been freakin’ fantastic since becoming a starter, so CJ, if you read this, I’m sorry for doubting you. :)
As for the game…
It was mostly CJ Wilson. While I didn’t see the game, it’s hard to argue with his line. 6.2 innings pitched, just four hits, no runs, and two walks. Tossed 105 pitches, and with those numbers, it was a really great outing. Darren O’Day & Darren Oliver followed up, each with a 1 hit no run outing of their own. But CJ shutting down the Red Sox into the seventh inning in Fenway is no easy task. So props to him for that.
Offensively, we didn’t have much going on, either. Only seven hits total. Two were by Nelson Cruz, two by David Murphy. Elvis, Josh, & Andres Blanco had hits too. Three of ’em were doubles, so it was a mixed bag, but definitely not anything that can be classified as a “strong” outing.
All three runs came in the seventh for us, though. Nelson Cruz singled, scoring Josh Hamilton. David Murphy doubled, scoring Nelson Cruz. And finally Andres Blanco got an infield hit on a bunt, and the ball was thrown away, allowing David Murphy to score. To add insult to that, the throw back from the throwaway also got away, which allowed Blanco to go all the way to third.
We’re back home now, and before this road trip, I said this trip would tell us something about our club. It did. Our bullpen blew it. Needs some work.
And after the game, it was announced that Chris Davis is going down to the minor leagues, and Justin Smoak will take his place. That’s something I know a lot of Ranger fans were looking forward to. Chris Davis juist has had some major issues hitting with regularity up here. He can rake in AAA, but not up here. Kind of reminds me of Nelson Cruz a few years ago before he figured it out. But with Smoak here (assuming he does well), I wonder if Davis has a shot at returning? Either way, I’m sure a lot of attention will be paid to Justin tonight in Arlington.

Shit for a second game in a row.
Although Josh Hamilton had his first home run of the season.

Shit.

As has been my policy for the last few years, I do not write about losses to the Yankees.

As has been my policy for the last few years, I do not write about losses to the Yankees.

As has been my policy for the last few years, I do not write about losses to the Yankees.