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This game started off pretty much like one would want it to. The starting pitcher was great, we got off to a lead early, and it held up. Kenny Rogers went 4 strong innings, giving up just one hit, one walk, and had six strikeouts, for no runs. The guys who followed for the next 3 innings (Montero, Bukvich, & Feldman) all gave up a total of no runs and 2 hits (both by Feldman). It was looking like a walkway win, a great one with great pitching.
Then we hit the eighth inning. RA Dickey came on for the eighth, and after some glowing praise by Josh Lewin (might have been Tom Grieve, I can’t remember now), he proceeded to not only let the Brewers back in the game (at that point, we were winning 4-0), but let them tie and then TAKE the lead by giving up an ugly six spot. After the top of the 8th, we were losing 6-4. Dickey was totally ineffective in this game, and even gave up a balk.
That was pretty disheartening. But in an inning that had shades of last May against the Tigers, we managed to pull off our own six spot in the bottom of the frame to retake the lead, and the game. I believe we had 7 straight singles at one point – although at least one of them probably should have been an error. It was nice to see the team (although at this point, the regulars were all out of the game) come back. Laynce Nix was a later inning replacement, and went 2 for 2 with 2 RBI’s. In fact, two was the number of the day, as several of our guys had two hits.. Soriano, Mike Young, Adrian Gonzalez, Mark Teixeira, & Kevin Mench. A pretty nicely balanced attack.
The bonus for me was that this was the first Rangers game on TV with Josh & Tom. There were two games on ESPN earlier in the spring, but we didn’t have our guys in the booth. This time we did. It’s likely going to be the only spring TV game I get to see, as there are two this weekend, but my brother will be in visiting, so I doubt I’ll be watching much Ranger baseball.
You can view my full update for this game here.

One of the guys who has been a phenom this spring has been the White Sox pitcher Brandon McCarthy. His line has been fabulous. But not anymore. The Rangers torched him. McCarthy gave up 9 hits and 7 earned runs in 3.2 IP. The amusing thing is that none of the other White Sox pitchers gave up anything. We had scored all our runs in the second (5) and third (2) innings. After that, donut. Cotts, Hermanson, & Walker kept the Ranger bats under check for 5.1 innings. But the pasting we put on McCarthy was more than enough.
In the pasting was a home run by Hank Blalock (his first of the spring). In total, Blalock and 3 RBI’s. Gerald Laird had two, and Adrian Gonzalez had one. In fact Gonzalez went 3 for 4, and is looking more like a guy who is ready to come up to the majors in my eyes. I suspect if he doesn’t make it up this season, he might get moved, unless we’re holding on to him incase Teixeira/Boras wants insane money for Tex to stay. Richard Hidalgo also went 2 for 4, and is looking like an awesome acquisition so far this spring. Alfonso Soriano seems to have broken out of his slump, going 2 for 3 this game, although from what I’m reading, he still isn’t at 100%, and it might be mental.
Pitching wise, Ryan Drese pitched like he was in mid season form, going 6 innings, 5 hits, and just one earned run. The only downside is that he walked 4 and only struck out 3. But still, he got the job done, and has earned the opening game nod from Buck Showalter; Kenny Rogers gets the home opener. Our other pitchers (Nunez, Tejera, Wasdin, & Brocail) gave up just one run (it was Tejera) over their combined 3 IP.
Overall, a very well played game. Too bad we haven’t had more of these this spring.
You can view my full report for this game here.

I don’t know what you know about Christian Holy Week ceremonies, but I spent the night before at church in a vigil, and as such I got under two hours of sleep for the night. I crapped out early on Friday night, I was blowing z’s by 9PM, which means I heard little of the Rangers game.
Ricardo Rodriguez broke his streak of awesome pitching performances this spring with a real “Chan Ho” type of outing, going 4.1 innings, giving up 12 hits, and 6 earned runs. Ron Mahay who also has been spectacular all spring had a stinker of his own, giving up 3 hits and 3 earned runs in his one inning of work. Not a good night for our staff at all, save for Ryan Bukvich who gave up nothing in his 1.2 innings of work.
Offensively, I can’t really tell what happened with the Rangers, as all the online box scores are broken, giving zeroes across the board for every Ranger player, and it only lists the starters, too. Some highlights I can glean from repots are that Kevin Mench had a home run, as did Gerald Laird (his third), who seems to be trying to win back his job again, he’s playing as well as he did last spring too, I think.
You can view my full update for this game here.

The Rangers beat the Royals 6-4 behind a mostly good performance by Chan Ho Park (damn). Proper update on Friday.