No time to write commentary. Too busy. Additional game commentary here.

No time to write commentary. Too busy.

No time to write commentary. Too busy.

Wow – I never expected this kind of pitching performance by Jose Lima against us. The Valdes curse continues, too.
There really isn’t much else to say about this one, except it was REAL nice hearing Ernie Harwell on the TV!

Joaquin Benoit went a long way to helping his own cause last night by pitching 7.1 innings, giving up 8 hits, but only two runs (with 2 BB & 6 K’s). He looked really good, but unfortunately, so did Mark Redmond of the Tigers. They both pitched well, and the scoring was deadlocked at 2-2 after the fourth, and it stayed that way for another 7 innings. Benoit had a bit of the Ismael Valdes curse of not getting any real run support, otherwise Benoit would get the win – he deserved it. Our bullpen kept it at 2 for Detroit, with Rodriguez, Cordero, & Kolb pitching a total of 3.2 innings of scoreless relief. Between the three of them, they only gave up one hit (Cordero).
We stayed tied into extra innings, which is usually a nightmare for us, but we put up 5 on the scoreboard in the top of the 11th – it started on a miscue by Robert Fick in right field, allowing two to score. Was nice to see some extra inning runs. Would have been even better to see them earlier, so Benoit could have gotten the win.
Anyway, the story of the night for me was Travis Hafner. Travis (who REALLY looks like Mike Morgan) made his major league first start (he came in late as a PH the previous night), and struck out early – but delivered after that. His first major league hit was an RBI triple – and then he almost got his first home run, too. He looked like a big kid, with almost McGwire-ish (or Kaplerish) muscles, but didn’t seem like the kind that would raise eyebrows over steroids or something like that. I know he comes very highly touted, and it’s nice to see him get going in his first start.
Was also nice to see us beat the Tigers in Detroit, something we haven’t done in quite awhile, unfortunately. Anybody else notice that the two games in Detroit had really quick game times?
Additional game commentary here.

I’m tired of the Rangers losing to teams that they have no business losing to. I got disgusted after the first couple of innings, and actually switched the game off. It’s rare that I do that.
Additional game commentary here.

Aaron Myette continues to stink up the joint, giving up 8 earned runs in 3.2 innings. It’s puzzling, as he does well in AAA, just not up here. Rob Bell came out of the pen and did well, giving up one run in 3.1 innings. Dennys Reyes went two and gave up two. So far Reyes hasn’t been anything special, although he’s left handed – I guess that’s something.
However, the story here was Pedro. He went 7 innings, giving up one walk, striking out 10, and just three hits – with no runs. Very much the pitcher advertised. In fact, I was annoyed that he was pulled from the game, I wanted to see him go nine and shut us out. :)
We got three late, but the game really wasn’t as close as 11-3 sounds (as if that’s close). It really should have been 11-0. :)
Additional game commentary here.

A big back and forth game, and a nice finish by Texas to win the game 8-6. We tried to give it away, but a surprising bunt by Carl Everett sparked the final push to win the game.
Some of the highlights were another home run by Arod, his 37th of the year, leading all of MLB. Kevin Mench’s 3 run home run late to give us a lead (and prompting some nice emotion from Kevin on the basepaths). Carl Everett’s aforementioned bunt.
Todd Hollandsworth joined the injury parade as he appeared to pull a hamstring running to first. He’s probably headed towards the DL. Sigh.
Anyway, it was a nice game to watch a comeback. I said I wished we had lost all four games to the Red Sox, as I wanted that to help them against the Yankees, but it’s always nice to see one’s team win. :)