Yeah, not the best pun for a sweep socks title, but its’ the best I could come up with right now. When this game started, I didn’t think we really had a chance of sweeping Chicago. I figured they were too good to lose all three against the Rangers. I guess that’s the kind of mentality one gets after watching their team be in the basement for almost 3 years in a row.
However, we got out to a 3-0 lead after two innings, and it felt good, because there were several doubles in there, not just a 3 run home run. However, Juan “What’s my name this start” Dominguez gave back the three plus one in the 3rd & 4th. So we’re behind. Then nothing much happens in the middle innings there until the bottom of the 6th when Arod jacks a ball onto Greene’s Hill to tie the game again. Actually, something did happen. Jay Powell came out of the bullpen and pitched like the guy we thought we were signing when we picked him up. Three innings, no runs, one hit. That was the longest outing of his career, too.
Arod came up again in the bottom of the 7th with two men on base, and tripled to right field, scoring both runners to take the lead back, and cap the scoring.
One nice moment in the 9th – Carl Everett got a hit, the 1,000th of his career. Too bad he wasn’t still a Ranger, or they would have announced that over the PA. Game notes are here.

This game was destined to be a blowout from the start. While the usual south winds weren’t going as much as normal, killing most of the jet stream (there were three other balls that could have been home runs, but died at the fence), the teams did manage to pile up twenty runs all told. We jumped out to a 5 run lead in the first inning, but coughed it up by giving the Sox a 6 spot in the 3rd. Fortunately, we took that right back, and never gave up the lead again, getting out to a 12-6 lead after the fourth. We never scored again, but did allow the Sox to get two more in the 7th.
Was definitely a night with something for everyone. Lots of offense early, and a bunch of pitching as well (after the fourth that is). I’m kind of surprised we’re beating up on the Sox like this – I expected them to win the series, not us.
Tonight we go for a sweep. Game notes are here.

Not much time to write, but I will say this. Boy, was this a surprise. Esteban Loaiza returned to the ballpark, and pitched pretty much like he did when this ballpark was his home. He had flashes of brilliance, but was more remembered for what he gave up than what he got.
Colby Lewis on the other hand was marvelous. He ran out of gas a bit in the 7th and gave up a few, but he was the first pitcher in several years to strike out 10 in a game, and he looked awesome – can’t say enough about him tonight.
Game notes are here.

I was at this game last night, and I went with a good friend of mine who I always end up talking with during the game, so while I was there, I even managed to score the game, for some reason it didn’t feel like I was there paying attention to the game.
John Thomson went 7 innings, giving up three runs. He wasn’t electric, but he certainly got the job done, and basically pitched us into the win. Fultz & Cordero came on and put up a couple of donuts to seal it out. Also on Thomson, there was a big thing on the Rangers post game show about resigning him afterwards. We got a home run by Shane Spencer, who I’m now thinking might be resigned next year to be the “Veteran outfielder” for this group, as it doesn’t look like Rusty Greer can make an appearance until 2005, if ever again.
One amusing thing, Texas governor Rick Perry threw out the first ball, and when he was doing that, he yelled out “You suck, Perry!” to which the usher in Section 16 (where I was sitting) came over to us and told him “Uh, that is inappropriate language, please do not talk that way, someone might be offended”. Boy, did she say that to the wrong person. While he was not a problem afterwards, it was a major rolling of the eyes after that. I tend to agree – the word “Suck” is offensive? Now if it was a profanity laced remark, I could understand that, but coming down on someone for the word “suck” is a bit of an overzealous usher, I think.
Oops, I said suck quite a few times, I think someone might now be offended. Sorry. Game notes are here.

Not available. Was at Iron Maiden concert, and didn’t see any of this game. Just the total. :)
Game notes are here.

Juan “Don’t call me Jose” Dominguez made his major league debut last night. And he seemed to breeze through the first four innings. In fact, so did Jeremy Bonderman for the Tigers. He did not look like a pitcher who was 5-15. There was some really great pitching on both sides for the first four innings. Then it fell apart in the top of the 5th. Dominguez lost it (right after Tom Grieve said “Buck just wants him to get through this inning and get a win” (or something like that)) and gave up four runs, and the lead. Shouse & Powell combined to give up three more in the sixth, and that was about all she wrote.
Sure the Tigers are a major league team, but I didn’t want to lose to them, especially since the Angels also lost last night, that would have gotten us closer to getting out of last place. Darnit.
Still, it was nice to see Dominguez out there. Nice to see a young pitcher out there instead of all these young position players this season. Great to see young players, but I’d rather see young pitching that does well more than young position players, especially since our young position players now seem to be entrenched (referring to our “Roaring 20’s” infield).
Oh, it was good to see our old buddy Danny Patterson out there again. He looked much better (skinnier) than he did with us, and the Vulcan was still there.
Game notes are here.

Well, my wife and I were at this game. We only actually got to see an inning and 2 outs. It started raining, which was the first rain delay I had to sit through in quite some time. It actually got to the point where I thought they might play. But then while they were tinkering with the tarp, it started raining again. During that Chuck Morgan came over the PA and said you could exchange tickets for this game for any other game whether the Rangers played or not. Given that my wife had to get up before 6AM to go to work, I decided to take ’em up on that offer, and head out early. They started playing almost before I got back home to Garland, so I checked it out on the TV.
We won the game, as we should against the Tigers, but it didn’t feel like the dominating performance it should have been, even given the score of 9-3. Perhaps it was just me, but I was expecting something like 15-1 or something like that. :) I feel bad for the Tigers, I know I’d be there all the time if I lived in Detroit, I always support my team, but yeesh, that’s a lot of losing. I also felt like we should have capitalized more on the bases loaded no one out in the first inning – we got just one.
I also noticed we had several former Rangers on the Tigers starting lineup (Warren Morris, Craig Monroe, & Carlos Pena). And if I’m not mistaken, there was one other in the bullpen (Danny Patterson), as well as one on the disabled list (Dean Palmer). Would have been nice to see Deano again, since I suspect he’ll retire after this season.
Game notes are here.