Without Dirk, Mavs Pull It Out: Mavericks 103 Thunder 93

The Mavericks were shorthanded two times over Monday night at Oklahoma City.

First, they were without head coach Rick Carlisle, who had knee surgery over the Mavericks 5-day break, but the tem unexpectedly lost Dirk Nowitzki after a collision resulted in what is being termed a “sore knee” at the 9:10 mark of the second quarter. It looked like more than that to me because he could barely stand at the line long enough to make his free throw attempt. Carlisle is expected back with the team tomorrow, and at this point, Nowitzki’s status is pending the results of an MRI in the morning.

Despite his propensity for ankle injuries, Nowitzki is recognized on the list of NBA players who have missed the fewest games due to injury. He knows how to play through pain, so it remains possible that he could play Tuesday night.

Without Nowitzki, Caron Butler, Shawn Marion and Jason Kidd certainly made the task easier for assistant coach Dwane Casey, who filled in for Carlisle. Butler led the team with 21 points in 38:46 minutes. Marion had 20, all but two of which occurred after Nowitzki left the floor. Kidd finished with a double-double of 10 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds.

The Mavs fired 11 3-pointers through the net, including at least five in a 34-point first quarter. The Mavs were outscored in the second and third quarters, but doubled up the Thunder 24-12 in the fourth to cement a 103-93 victory. Jason Terry once again continued his recent fourth-quarter pattern, scoring 11 of this 13 points during that frame.

Note: The NBA’s leading scorer, Kevin Durant, scored his average of 28 points Monday.

Nowitzki Passes Bird in Well-Rounded Offensive Performance: Mavericks 105 Magic 99

Dirk Nowitzki entered the game chasing history.

Nowitzki needed just 11 points to pass Larry Bird for 25th on the NBA’s all-time scoring list. In his 948th career game, Nowitzki accumulated eight points in the first quarter, leaving everyone thinking the magic shot (no pun intended) could happen any minute. But Nowitzki struggled shooting on the night, going just 4 for 13. Nowitzki surprising went scoreless for the next two quarters, and with anxiety quietly building on the TV broadcast, he hit his only three of the night 42 seconds into the fourth quarter to move ahead of Bird on the all-time scoring list.

The Big German finished the game with 17 points and sits at a career total of 21,798 – only 15 points away from Gary Payton. All four of Nowitzki’s starting counterparts – Caron Butler. Tyson Chandler, DeShawn Stevenson and Jason Kidd – also completed the Mavs final contest before Christmas in double figures. Butler netted four 3’s and 20 points. Stevenson was 3 for 4 from long range with 11 points, while Jason Kidd made three 3’s on eight attempts as part of 13 points.

Chandler put on a mega offensive show with six dunks, including three in a span of 1:10 in the second quarter.

The Mavs made 12 3’s and the Magic had 11.

The Mavs, now 23-5 overall and 10-1 on the road, have a gift-wrapped five-day break for Christmas and do not play again until December 27. Another present would be to continue this quality of play after the break.

Note: Dwight Howard, the Magic center, finished the game with 26 points and 23 rebounds.

Happy Birthday, Taylor Teagarden

Backup catcher Taylor Teagarden played in 28 games and got 71 at-bats in 2010. Although his opportunities were few, he took full advantage of them, particularly against the Oakland Athletics. He hit three of his four home runs against the A’s during a period of a week and a half. The long balls came on July 29, August 6 and August 7. His final homer was on August 18 versus the Tampa Bay Rays, the team the Rangers would beat for their first playoff series victory in team history.

Teagarden appeared in seven games after a September call-up, helping the Rangers grasp their first American League West title since 1999.

Terry Helps Mavs End Another Streak: Mavs 98 Heat 96

For the second time in nine days, Jason Terry came out of nowhere to put together a mammoth fourth quarter and lead the Mavericks to victory against a team that like the Mavs, is competing for the best record in the NBA.

Terry scored all of his 19 points in the fourth quarter, accounting for more than half of the of the Mavs’ 33-point output in the 98-96 road win over Miami. Terry made three three-points, jumpers, layups and free throws from all over the court. The first two of his threes gave the Mavericks two-point leads at 72-70 and 74-72, while the third one, coming with 1:25 left on the clock, gave the Mavs a four-point advantage at 89-85.

The Mavs would not relinquish the lead, but the Heat refused to give in. Free throws from Terry, Shawn Marion and Dirk Nowitzki in the final 1:04 minutes, put the Mavs’ one blink ahead of a possible comeback by the Heat. Nowitzki’s shots situated the Mavs with a 98-93 lead that rendered Dwayne Wade’s 3-pointer with 0.8 seconds left meaningless. The win snapped the Heat’s 12-game winning streak. Their last loss came in Dallas on November 27. The Spurs’ 12-game streak also ended at the hands of the Mavs on November 20.

The Heat average 29 free throw attempts per game but saw the line for only four such shots in the first half. For the game, they had 25, only making 17. Perhaps an more notable abnormality lies in the fact that LeBron James, the NBA’s fifth-leading scorer, was held scoreless in the first half and was not a factor. James hit a 3-point shot with 7:50 left in the third quarter to get on the board. That started a second half that consisted on 19 points and 10 rebounds.

The game included a multitude of offensive runs:

• 14-2 for the Mavericks from the beginning of the game until 8:25 in the first quarter
• 17-0 Miami from the 3:14 mark of the first quarter until 58 seconds into the second quarter
• 12-2 Dallas
• 12-2 Miami
• 10-0 Dallas
• 13-0 Miami

Texas Rangers Holidays

I guess Eric Nadel could pass for Santa Claus.

No doubt he had the best call for the biggest moment in Rangers history!

http://texas.rangers.mlb.com/fan_forum/greeting_card.jsp?c_id=tex&partnerId=ed-4333699-175298868

The Day After Cliff Lee’s Decision

Within an hour of when the Mavericks 12-game winning streak was stopped, I had the air sucked out of me once again.

At around 11 p.m. Monday, I received notification via social media connections that Cliff Lee, the man who put the Dallas-Fort Worth area sports world on pins and needles for weeks, had signed with the Phillies.

My immediate reaction was “What, they traded him!” and “Thanks for leading us on.” The first report I head of the Phillies’ interest in Cliff Lee was about three hours before the shocking, slap-in-the-face announcement.

Why do I describe it as such? For two weeks this has been about the Rangers and the ever-hated Yankees courting the top free-agent hurler. The Phillies were never mentioned.

The Rangers pulled out all the stops, even numerous trips to Arkansas, but on Monday night Lee called to say it wasn’t good enough, that the Rangers still couldn’t land a top-of-the-line pitcher.

So now, I can’t help but wonder what he really meant when he said he enjoyed his time in Texas. He said the same thing about the Phillies. Was it all a ruse?

The Rangers offered him more years and more money than the Phillies. The Rangers were comfortable with a five-year contract, but Lee said he wanted more. Don’t tell me this is what’s best for his family because they will be more than 1,150 miles away.

I would like to know what the Phillies did at the last minute to get Lee to sign a reported 5-year $120 million deal. Did their knight in shining pitching rubber ride in and save the day?

What’s done is done. But I take it as a snub in the face, and I don’t like it at all.

Numbers Game: Mavericks 103 Jazz 97

Saturday night’s Maverick game with the Utah Jazz – the second in eight days – was definitely an edge-of-your-seat type of game. And who would have guessed that after the Mavericks took a 29-4 lead in the first quarter. Here are some of the amazing numbers from the Mavericks' performance on the annual Seats for Soldiers night at American Airlines Center.

• 12 points from Jason Terry in the final 12 minutes (including the dagger 3 with 7.9 seconds left). He had two points prior to the fourth quarter.
• 31 points, 15 rebounds and 4 assists from Dirk Nowitzki
• Seven 3’s in the first quarter (3 for Dirk, 2 for DeShawn Stevenson, 2 for Caron Butler) saw the Mavericks to their 25-point lead.
• Stevenson went 5 for 7 on 3’s for the game, giving him 53.6 percent of 3’s made, a mark that ties him for first in the NBA with Mike Bibby.
• Stevenson tied his season high with 17 points on the night
• The Mavs made half their 3’s for the game in the first quarter.
• Caron Butler also went 4 of 5 on 3’s with 16 points.

The Bucks are next up on Monday.

Avery's Return Sees Maverick Win Streak To 11: Mavericks 102 Nets 89

The Mavericks have a far different roster than they did in the summer of 2006 when fiery head coach Avery Johnson, now coaching the Nets, took his team to the NBA Finals.

Despite the fact that only Dirk Nowitzki and Jason Terry remain from the squad five seasons ago, everyone on the court seemed to play with an extra spark as the Mavericks looked to display their continuity and why they now carry an 11-game win streak.

Former Maverick and current Net Devin Harris played under Johnson in Dallas also. He left the game after the first quarter with a sprained shoulder.

The leading scorer in the 102-89 victory over the Nets at the American Airlines Center on Wednesday was Dirk Nowitzki with 21, but the buckets were well spread out. Shawn Marion found the hoop for 18 while Caron Butler and Jason Terry each had 15. It doesn’t end there. Brendan Haywood tallied nine points and Jason Kidd, DeShawn Stevenson and J.J. Barea each finished with six.

The Mavs shot 54.7 percent for the game compared to the Nets’ 41.6 percent. I guess they looked more human in the second half after making 65 percent of their shots in the first half and 71 percent in the first 12 minutes.

Notably, Nowitzki hit a jumper just before the first quarter buzzer to give the Mavs a double-digit lead at 30-19. They got even more heroics at the end of the half. With the Nets threatening to trim the advantage to single digits, Terry, the Mavs team leader in steals, stole the ball, passed to Butler who passed to Kidd, who connected from long range to increase the lead to 15 in the fleeting seconds of the half.

The score expanded to a 20-point lead at 60-40 in the first 1:30 minutes of the third. But TV analyst Bob Ortegal said that big leads can disappear quickly if a team doesn’t maintain its focus. With 3:43 on the clock, the lead suddenly shrunk to eight.

But the Mavs are a team full of excellent finishers and are among the leaders in fourth-quarter defense. That can get a team a lot of wins.

Note: Barea set a career high with 13 assists.

Depth Comes Through: Mavericks 105 Warriors 100

To sustain a 10-game winning streak, things must go your way every now and then.

Tuesday was one of those times for the Dallas Mavericks, going up against the Golden State Warriors, who are no longer coached by Don Nelson.

With Tyson Chandler sick and unable to play, the Mavericks were missing an average of 26.7 minutes and 9.3 rebounds in the middle of their lineup. After starter Brendan Haywood was tagged with two early fouls, the Mavericks put their depth on display at center.

Enter Ian Mahinmi and Alexis Ajinca. Not household names, I know.

Before Tuesday, Mahinmi had played in 12 games this season and averaged less than two points in just over four minutes per game. He threw those stats out the window. Tuesday he saw the court for an even 21 minutes and put together 12 points and 10 boards for the only Mavs’ double-double of the night.

Alexis Ajinca was only in his second game. He made an impression with six rebounds, two blocks and three points in just over nine minutes. Shawn Marion also tallied six boards. Dirk Nowitzki got four blocks and Haywood denied three balls.

Another former Mavericks’ head coach will be in town Thursday when Avery Johnson brings his 6-16 Nets to American Airlines Center.

Statistical Note: 24 lead changes and 11 ties tells you how close this game was for its entirety.

Rose Bowl!

The Horned Frogs will spend New Years' in Pasadena, Calif., playing the Wisconsin Badgers in the 2011 Rose Bowl.

Mavs Stifle Wolves: Mavericks 100 Timberwolves 86

Centers are big and tall and for the most part, play defense.

Well, that’s what Tyson Chandler and Brendan Haywood did Wednesday night against the now 4-14 Minnesota Timberwolves. The Wolves struggle in all parts of the game, except rebounding, where they lead the NBA as a team. Forward Kevin Love is the individual leader, averaging 14.9 boards per game.

Despite early foul trouble, Chandler led all players with 18 rebounds, including 14 in the third quarter, a new Mavs’ record. Haywood, while also at center, tallied 10 rebounds. The Mavs’ outrebounded the Timberwolves 50-46 for the game. Love finished with 12.

With double-digit leads for the entirety of the second half, the regulars played fewer minutes than normal, Dirk Nowitzki, who will soon move up on the list of the NBA’s all-time scorers, played just over 23 minutes with 10 points. Caron Butler also netted 10 points in just over 20 minutes.

Shawn Marion was the Mavs’ offensive leader with 16 points, while J.J. Barea tallied 14 ‘points.

The Mavs travel to the Utah Jazz on Friday, and both teams carry seven-game win streaks into the weekend.

Steve Novak and Ian Mahinmi saw action in the final 4:08 of the fourth quarter. Novak scored his first points as a Maverick.

No Looking Back After Late First-Half Run: Mavericks 101 Rockets 91

Know this: The 101-91 final score of the Mavericks-Rockets game Monday night is deceiving.

A 10-1 Mavericks run that started with 2:43 left in the second quarter turned a contest that featured 12 lead changes and no leads greater than four for either team up to that point into a 52-45 advantage that tilted the Mavs’ way.

The challenge was to keep the momentum going after halftime, and the Mavs definitely re-emerged with the firepower in their court. The Mavs’ first double-digit lead came at 60-49 at the 8:49 mark of the third quarter, and the lead later ballooned to 18 points on several occasions during the third quarter. Caron Butler scored 13 of his 19 in the frame.

The advantage topped out at 22 when it was 95-73 after midway through the fourth. But a driving layup shot by Brendan Haywood with 4:39 to go would be the last time the Mavs found the basket. The Rockets scored the final 11 points of the game. If the Mavs weren’t already ahead by 21, that might have been a bigger deal.

Dirk Nowitzki and Shawn Marion each had a double double of 20 and 14 points, respectively and 10 rebounds apiece.

Big Move to the Big East

The Horned Frog Nation will join the Big East after next season (July 1, 2012). The move will put the now BCS #3 Frogs in an automatic qualifying conference and provide better TV exposure on ESPN and CBS.

The Frogs will be the ninth football team in the now-16 team conference and will face teams such as West Virginia, Syracuse, Connecticut, Louisville, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Rutgers and USF.

The Dirk Show: Mavericks 88 Pistons 84

Dirk Nowitzki scored a season- high 42 of the Mavericks 88 points, including 14 of those in the fourth quarter on the way to an 88-84 victory over the Pistons. Yeah. I think he's the reason we won the game - plain and simple. In a 32-point fourth quarter from the Mavs, Nowitzki finally got some help from Jason Terry, who had nine of his 16 points in the final minutes. Caron Butler also had seven of his 11 points in the fourth quarter.

Mavs Fight To Come Away With Victory: Mavericks 98 Hawks 93

Keys to the win:

• Offensive Support For Dirk: After scoring 36 on Friday against the Chicago Bulls, Dirk Nowitzki had top numbers again with 21, but the Mavericks benefitted from, 13 apiece from Caron Butler and DeShawn Stevenson.
• Shawn Marion tallied his first double double of the season, providing solid power off the bench with 12 points and 10 rebounds.
• After being grossly outrebounded in Friday's loss, the Mavs edged the Hawks on the boards 40-37. Centers Tyson Chandler and Brendon Haywood each contributed five boards.
• Nowitzki's free throw shot has been anything but automatic recently. After going 3 0f 6 from the line Friday, he was just 5 of 7 in Saturday's win.
• The Mavs did not look tired in their first back-to-back of the season.

A Deflating Defeat: New Orleans 99 Mavericks 97

The Mavericks needed just one basket to finish a stunning victory a New Orleans. A Jason Kidd steal off a turnover gave them the chance. They threw the ball into their All-Star superstar. But in the fleeting seconds, Dirk Nowitzki lost his grip on the ball, and it was all over.

After trying valiantly to come back, the Mavericks lost 99-97 to the Hornets on Wednesday night in the second of back-to-back home and road contests between the Southwest Division rivals. The Mavericks won 98-95 on Monday in Dallas.

But things didn’t just unravel in the final seconds.

The third quarter by far was one of the Mavs’ worst efforts all season, both defensively and offensively. For the first seven minutes of the second half, the Hornets pummeled the Mavs, outscoring them 20-5. What was thought to be a fairly comfortable 52-42 halftime lead suddenly morphed into a 62-57 advantage for New Orleans, thanks to sparkling shooting and lackluster defending. Despite eventually scoring 17 points, the Hornets bucketed 33 and finished the quarter ahead by six, 75-69.

Of 58 quarters this quarter, the third quarter marked the first time that the Mavs allowed more than 30 points.

Nowitzki had 29 points and nine rebounds despite sitting at times due to two fouls in the first and third quarters.

The Mavs return home to meet the Chicago Bulls on Friday.

I am now on Twitter: www.twitter.com/InsideSports22.

Comeback Mastery: Mavericks 98 Hornets 95

The undefeated New Orleans Hornets are no more thanks to the sharp shooting and defense of the Dallas Mavericks in the final minutes of the fourth quarter on Monday.

From 5:46 in the fourth quarter until 3:20 remained on the clock, the Mavericks went on a 5-0 run to tie the game at 90 on a Dirk Nowitzki 3-pointer that re-energized the team. The much-needed three-pointer erased an 11-point deficit. Jason Kidd landed another shot from long range 39 seconds later. But 3’s served as a staple of the quarter: the Mavs had six and the Hornets five shots.

With 34.9 seconds to go, a Jason Terry turnaround jump shot put the Mavericks up 97-95. Nowitzki went to the free throw line with 2.8 seconds left and the chance to make it a two possession game. Uncharacteristically, Dirk missed the second of two, but Terry “flew” in to retain possession of the ball until the clock ran down to 0.7 seconds.

Terry topped the Mavs’ list of scorers with 26 points, including three 3’s. Nowitzski scored 25 points with 10 rebounds for double-double numbers. Chris Paul carried the Hornets through the first three quarters but did not score in the fourth.

The Mavs improve to 7-2, and the Hornets drop to 8-1. The next game is at New Orleans on Wednesday.

Barea Can Play Too: Mavericks 99 76ers 90

Despite his small size by NBA standards, J.J. Barea has been a large presence in the last three games for the Mavericks. After point totals of 11 and 10 in wins earlier this week versus Boston and Memphis, it already has been a good week.

But with 19 points in Friday’s 99-90 win over the now 2-7 76ers, he’s reached his highest point on the young season by leading the Mavericks in scoring. A dozen of Barea’s 19 came in the fourth quarter when the Mavs outscored Philadelphia 21-15 after allowing an eight-point halftime lead to dissipate.

Yes, Barea has seen more minutes recently because Caron Butler has missed the last two games due to back spasms. But he deserves them and has seized the opportunity. Shawn Marion went eight for 11 early to help the Mavs to their advantage.

Dirk Nowitzki and Jason Terry did not shoot well Friday, both going just five of 15 from the floor. Nowitzki and Terry tallied 16 and 13 points respectively.

Jason Kidd added eight more assists for the night. His first led to a Tyson Chandler dunk at 9:51 of the first quarter and marked the 11,000th assist of his career, officially placing him second all-time. Chandler put up double double numbers for the second straight game with 11 points and 12 rebounds. Seventeen of the Mavs’ 47 rebounds came courtesy of Brendan Haywood as the Mavs outrebounded the 76ers by five.

Nowitzki, Terry Huge When It Counts: Mavericks 89 Celtics 87

Dirk Nowitzki and Jason Terry rewrote their fourth quarter scripts Monday night against last season’s Eastern Conference champion Boston Celtics in a hard-fought 89-87 Mavericks victory.

Terry had four of his 17 points in the fourth, most of which on an all-important three-point shot with 1:13 to go to tie the game at 87. The pass came from Jason Kidd, who tallied 10 assists on the night. While Terry evened the score, Dirk Nowitzki, who had 10 of his game-high 25 in the final quarter, jammed the winning bucket in over two Celtic defenders with 17.9 seconds remaining.

Terry did not start for the first time in six games this season. Rick Carlisle was trying to get more power from the bench and reward DeShawn Stevenson, who played a total of two minutes before Monday for his work ethic.

It worked as Stevenson landed two three-pointers in the first half and two blocks for the game, and Terry, a former NBA Sixth Man of the Year, had no issues with the bench role.

New Maverick center Tyson Chandler put down his best game thus far with a double double of 12 points and 13 rebounds.

Low-Scoring 4th Quarter Dooms Mavs: Nuggets 103 Mavericks 92

Now that the Rangers’ World Series experience is complete, it’s time to cover the Mavericks again.

And it didn’t take long to watch a game that illustrated one of core principles of the NBA: the fourth quarter is everything, Well, at least most of the time.

Tied at 79 at the end of the third quarter with the Nuggets at home on Saturday night, the Mavericks were outscored 24-13 during the last 12 minutes, leading to the 11-point deficit in the final score. Jason Terry, with 26 points and Dirk Nowitzki, with 23 points, led the Mavericks’ offense. But the duo only tallied one point in the fourth (on a Terry free throw.) Nowitzki went 0 for 4 shooting in the fourth quarter.

Another problem is that the Mavericks allowed the Nuggets to go 13 for 21 on 3-point shots, while the Mavericks made just four of 15 attempts from long range.

Lack of Offense, Giants Pitching Spell End To Rangers’ Season: Giants 3 Rangers 1

With one pitch to Edgar Renteria with two runners on in the seventh inning, the Rangers only had nine outs to save their season.

The three-run homer surrendered by Rangers’ ace Cliff Lee, turned a scoreless tie in Game 5 of the World Series into a 3-0 lead for the Giants. Lee only gave up six hits but two of them were singles leading up to the home run. The struggling Rangers offense could not recover, despite a one-out long ball by Nelson Cruz in the bottom of the inning, as Tim Lincecum pitched an eight-inning three-hit gem.

Singles by Michael Young in the fourth and Mitch Moreland in the sixth accounted for the only other Rangers’ hits. Moreland, whose postseason batting average and World Series average of .462, may have cemented his long-term role at first base. Giants’ pitching found an answer to hold down the cornerstones of the Rangers lineup, Josh Hamilton and Vladimir Guerrero.

The First World Series Game And Victory At Rangers Ballpark

Mitch Moreland, Josh Hamilton and Colbu Lewis were the heroes!

Pitching, Fielding Lead To Game 1 Loss: Giants 11 Rangers 7

Well, it’s time to do away with predictions. Game 1 of the World Series was touted to be a low-scoring duel of respective staff aces. Cliff Lee and Tim Lincecum both sported ERAs under 2.00 for the postseason. Lee’s October ERA was sub 1.00.

From the beginning one could tell that neither guy had his best stuff. The Rangers had two hits and a walk in the first inning off Lincecum on a Vladimir Guerrero infield single and left the bases loaded. Scoring more in the first inning probably would have changed the tone of the game.

Following a Bengie Molina single and a Cliff Lee double (yes!), the Rangers scored their second run on an RBI sacrifice fly from Elvis Andrus. A 2-0 lead with Lee on the mound sounds great, but I still had more nerves than I expected considering who was on the mound and the reputation of AT&T Park.

In the third, things got a little messy. An error by Michael Young, the first of four by Rangers fielders, allowed Edgar Renteria to reach After getting the pitcher to pop up to Bengie Molina, Lee hit Andres Torres, which is as rare as a walk for him. The Giants took advantage and singled twice to tie the game. In the fifth, Lee surrendered two doubles, two singles and a walk. That could very well be considered a pretty average output against Lee for an entire game. With O’Day summoned to stop the bleeding, a three-run homer by Juan Uribe gave the Giants a six-run lead in the blink of an eye.

Vladimir Guerrero, normally the designated hitter, committed two of the Rangers four errors. I am not sure he should play Thursday; he just didn’t look comfortable or dependable. Difficult call.

Guerrero and the entire team need to regroup and come to the ballpark ready to even the series Thursday. The Rangers did manufacture three runs in the top of the ninth again closer Brian Wilson.

Not Just Yet: Yankees 7 Rangers 2

Thirteen balls rang off the Rangers’ bats today for hits, but in the big moments, most of the lineup failed to deliver Wednesday afternoon.

The exception was catcher Matt Treanor, who hadn’t played since Game 1 of the series. Treanor accounted for both of his team’s RBI’s with a solo home run in the fifth inning and a bases loaded groundout in the sixth. The groundout, which followed singles by David Murphy, Ian Kinsler and Jeff Francoeur, is just one example of the Rangers’ missed opportunities in the game. At one point, Josh Hamilton also grounded into a double play with two runners on base to kill a possible rally. The double play set up C.C. Sabathia’s only three-batter inning.

Rangers’ starter C.J. Wilson struggled with command from the second inning on. Two walks and an error led to three runs in the second and back-to-back homers to begin the third left the Rangers to dig out of a 5-0 deficit early.

After being passed over for the ALDS roster, Michael Kirkman made his playoff debut in relief of Wilson. Kirkman allowed a leadoff double to Curtis Granderson, walked two and struck out one in his two innings of scoreless ball. Alexi Ogando pitched the ninth and surrendered a home run to Granderson.

Hopefully, the Rangers can regroup and do what needs to be done Friday night.

Rangers Add Runs Late To Crush Yankees Again: Rangers 10 Yankees 3

See how the Rangers are now up 3-1 in their series.

Happy Birthday, Michael Young

Well, Michael, the Rangers are finally playing baseball on your birthday! You deserve it. Nice job with those three singles last night!

I think the best way to celebrate your birthday in New York is to win in style again tonight!

On a Whole Other Level: Rangers 8 Yankees 0

Cliff Lee struck out 13 batters in eight innings Monday, helping the Rangers dominate the Yankees and hand them their worst postseason home loss ever.

In three postseason starts this season, Lee has fanned 34 and walked just one. Monday’s matchup with all-time postseason win leader Andy Pettitte was billed to be a pitch-by-pitch battle. But the combination of Josh Hamilton’s first-inning two-run homer and Lee allowing just three baserunners pulled this game the Rangers way from the beginning.

Lee simply takes opposing teams out of the game early because he stymies offenses like no one else. While it became clear that two runs would be enough, the Rangers clicked in the ninth inning, giving the Yankees a taste of their own big inning medicine. Against relievers Boone Logan and David Roberston, the Rangers scored six runs on six hits. Sparked by a Hamilton leadoff double, Vladimir Guerrero, Nelson Cruz, Bengie Molina, Mitch Moreland and Elvis Andrus all got hits to officially bookend the victory.

Yankee fans were left streaming toward the exits. Now that’s fun to see!

Neftali Feliz pitched a 1-2-3 bottom of the ninth with two strikeouts.

ALCS Mega Fever!

A cake display from the grocery store today: Love it

The Third Time Is The Charm

The Rangers found the fire they didn't have last weekend!!!

Some evidence of the smoldering:

• Elvis Andrus' baserunning in the first inning to get an early lead.
• Bengie Molina stole a base for the first time since 2006.
• Nelson Cruz aggressively taking third base and scoring on an error.
• Ian Kinsler's two-run homer in the ninth to give the Rangers their four-run lead.
• Cliff Lee's complete game!

Bring on the Yankees on Friday!

Young’s Blast Caps Wilson’s Shutout: Rangers 6 Rays 0

C.J. Wilson proved he is in the right role Thursday. His two-hit shutout performance in Game 2 gives the Rangers a 2-0 lead in the best-of-5 series and places them one win away from the ALCS as the series moves to Arlington.

The Rangers are doing something that seems to be a mighty struggle for the Rays: scoring runs. The Rangers have held the Rays to one run through the first two games. The team’s quick-strike offense and top-notch pitching has completely left the Rays shaking their heads. Take it from Cal Ripken, Jr., who is serving as an analyst for TBS.

“But I still would give credit too where credit is due: The pitching staff has shut them down.”

- Cal Ripken, Jr.

While the Rangers have watched exceptional pitching the past two days, the hitting has also put the Rangers in situations where they can relax. On Thursday, the put-away hit came on a three-run homer from Michael Young on a 3-2 pitch from Chad Qualls in a four-run fifth. The Rangers sent their entire order batted in the fifth. Joe Maddon was ejected after arguing a check swing call on the previous pitch. Young also singled in the seventh.

Although Matt Treanor didn’t have a hit, he was on base three times with two HBP’s and a walk. The first HBP led to a run scoring. In the third, Treanor advanced to second on a groundout and to third on an infield hit by Elvis Andrus. The fear of Andrus’s speed drew numerous throws from Rays starter James Shields, one of which escaped the first baseman and allowed Treanor to score.

Vladimir Guerrero also crossed the plate in the fifth on a single by Kinsler after he hit it out in the third.

Game 3 on Saturday is Colby Lewis (12-13, 3.72) vs. Matt Garza (15-10, 3.91).

Combo of Pitching, Offense Wins Game 1 For Rangers: Rangers 5 Rays 1

This is it: The Rangers acquired Cliff Lee on July 9th to help them do something they haven’t done since 1996: win in the postseason.

On Wednesday, Lee, a postseason veteran, led the charge to the Rangers’ first playoff victory in 14 years. While he struck out 10, he also received a good amount of offensive cushion as the Rangers scored two in the second inning and one each in the three subsequent innings off Rays’ starter David Price.

After the Rangers left two runners on in the first and Lee escaped a bases loaded jam in the first inning, Ian Kinsler singled to begin the second frame. A double by Jeff Francoeur, who has served as a valuable member of the team since coming over from the Mets on August 31st, scored Kinsler from first. Bengie Molina, who hit .249 during the regular season, got the first of his three hits to bring home Francoeur.

The two runs of support must have helped Lee really get into a rhythm because following a leadoff double in the bottom of the second, Lee retired 12 straight batters prior to B.J. Upton reaching as the result of an error to start the sixth.

Nelson Cruz put a ball on top of the restaurant in the third and Molina added his own homer in the fourth. Josh Hamilton reached on an error in the fifth, aggressively stole second and scored to make it 5-0 after Vladimir Guerrero doubled on a 3-0 pitch from Price.

Ben Zobrist hit a ball over the wall in the seventh off Lee for the Rays’ only run of the game.

Relievers Darren O’Day, Darren Oliver, who turned 40 Wednesday, and Neftali Feliz recorded the last six outs, although Feliz did walk two. The Rangers successfully stifled the Rays’ running game as each team, allowed just one stolen base.

Game 2 puts C.J. Wilson (15-8, 3.35) up against James Shields (13-15, 5.18).

ALDS Foe Decided

The AL West Champion Rangers are headed to Tampa Bay for a first-round matchup with the Rays in the American League Division Series! Congratulations to Josh Hamilton, the 2010 MLB Batting Champion with a .359, the highest season average in Texas Rangers history.

Image courtesy of MLB

September 27: First Game As AL West Champions

Walkoff Strikeout Gets Rangers A Win: Rangers 6 Mariners 5

This is the only way to describe the Rangers’ victory Wednesday afternoon:

“I don’t believe what I just saw”
-the late Jack Buck and Josh Lewin
after the game

After a walk to Mitch Moreland with new outs in the ninth, the Rangers pinch hit Nelson Cruz. Mariners pitcher Dan Cortes threw a wild pitch on strike three. Cruz started running hard to first while catcher Guillermo Quiroz picked up the ball and threw it into right field. Moreland sped around the bases during this miscue and scored on an uncommonly late and off-the-mark throw from Ichiro Suzuki,

For me, this tops the walkoff hit by pitch by Jeff Francoeur against the Yankees.

With the Rangers down 5-2 in the eighth, Cortes found it extremely difficult to throw strikes, walking two batters that eventually led to the Rangers tying the game.

Rangers Claim AL West Title: Rangers 4 Athletics 3

The division race is complete as the Rangers officially grabbed the AL West crown Saturday afternoon – a championship the team captured for the first time in 11 years. The Rangers celebrated their 4-3 victory over the Athletics, the club they mathematically eliminated on the field and in the visiting clubhouse in Oakland.

Michael Young’s homer to tie the game in the third was not a surprise given a Ranger win would stamp his ticket to the postseason for the first time in his Big League career. Needless to say, he hasn’t been any closer. Elvis Andrus and Ian Kinsler scored runs with their speed. Expected as well.

But, I am not the only Rangers fan who would not has picked Jorge Cantu to come up with two critical hits to knock off the Athletics. The man was in the depths of nearly 80 at-bats, a new Ranger record, without an RBI. But his lack of offensive contributions that lasted two months ended in the sixth inning when he doubled home Kinsler from third with one out. That one out came after Jeff Francoeur fought through a long at-bat with starter Gio Gonzalez to foul out, but the vast expanses of foul territory a stadium that also hosts NFL football provides allowed Kinsler to advance and set up Cantu’s go-ahead opportunity. Andrus’s legs would get the Rangers another run courtesy of a stolen base and a wild pitch.

Shortstop Cliff Pennington staled any feelings that the game was decided with his two-out two-run homer in the seventh off Clay Rapada, who had not given up a hit or run in nine previous appearances after a September call-up.

Following a double play in the eighth, Cantu smashed a 3-2 pitch from Michael Wuertz over the wall in left center field to give the Rangers their division championship. He showed fans he can play in a big way that won’t be forgotten for a long time.

Credit Darren O’Day with the win. In the eighth, Neftali Feliz notched his 38th save, a new MLB rookie record after getting the last four outs.

CLUBHOUSE REACTION TO THE CLINCH (with beer and champagne going everywhere):
*Quotations courtesy of FSSW interviews

“It burns. It’s the best feeling of my career. We played hard all year long for it to come to this now. We’re one step down, three to go. I’m still feeling it. I’ve been watching the postseason on TV for years now, and I get my first crack
at it.” – Michael Young on his first division title and playoff appearance

“I love it when my eyes are burning. That means we’re doing something right at the end of the season.” – Darren Oliver, also a member of the 1996 playoff team

“They’ve got skills, talent and they’ve got heart. I love that; that’s why probably I fit in.” – Bengie Molina, catcher

Magic Number Down To 2

The Rangers are now one win from the American League West title!

Saturday could be it - Thanks to Chuck Greenberg's efforts in working with Fox Sports to get today's 3 p.m. game televised.

Hopefully, in about seven hours, Rangers fans will be able to party like it's 1999!

Gritting One Out: Rangers 2 Angels 1 (12)

Maybe we should expect the unexpected when Jeff Francoeur is involved in a play. For the second time in two weeks, he directly helped the Rangers win a tension-filled extra-inning affair.

First, he was plucked by a Mariano Rivera pitch with the bases loaded on September 11 to secure a series victory and eventual series sweep of the Yankees.

Wednesday night, he doubled against Matt Palmer, the sixth Angels pitcher in the 12th inning. It was the first hit for the Rangers since the sixth. After advancing to third, Julio Borbon came to the plate with two outs. Palmer threw a pitch that crossed up the catcher Jeff Mathis, and the ball went off his glove to his left, allowing Francoeur to score.

C.J. “The Stopper” Wilson also deserves accolades as well for pitching six scoreless innings of three-hit baseball – three of those with a 1-0 lead – before Mike Napoli tied the game on a solo homer to begin the seventh. Two expertly turned double plays kept the Angels from scoring any more. Matt Harrison, the fourth of five relief pitchers, got the win. This season, Wilson has been the man to end a five-game, four-game and three-game losing streak for the Rangers.

The huge win knocked the magic number down to four as the Rangers head to Oakland. With Cliff Lee pitching, anything less than a win Thursday is not good enough.

Rangers Don’t Take Advantage of Chances: Mariners 2 Rangers 1

Stranding 11 and going 0 for 7 with runners in scoring position led to the Rangers losing a close affair Sunday and the Mariners winning the type of game their lowly offense doesn’t usually pull out.

The game pitted Tommy Hunter against Doug Fister, and it remained scoreless until Nelson Cruz homered with one out in the top of the sixth. Cruz was the second batter of the inning after Vladimir Guerrero starting the inning with a single but was thrown out trying to stretch it to a double. After the long ball, Ian Kinsler and Mitch Moreland both singled. But the rally was squashed when Kinsler tried to come home from third on a ball fired directly at third baseman Jose Lopez.

Not going away, Seattle Chone Figgins hit a ball over Hunter’s head toward Elvis Andrus that bounced off the bag for a long single, especially for the speedy Figgins. That ricquote coupled with an RBI double allowed the Mariners to tie the game. The play at the plate wasn’t simple either, though. When first coming in, Figgins missed the plate, blocked well by Matt Treanor, but then the ball got away from the catcher, allowing Figgins to run back and touch the plate.

Round Rock product Ryan Langerhans led off the Mariners’ seventh with a triple into the right field corner. Although Hunter has done some fancy stepping at times this season, he allowed a single to shortstop Josh Wilson and was removed trailing 2-1.

Relievers Clay Rapada and Dustin Nippert did not surrender a hit while Darren Oliver only game a single to former Ranger first baseman Justin Smoak,

Ninth-inning pinch hitter Chris Davis walked to lead off the inning and made it to third, but was not able to score. The magic number stays at six.

Notes:

• Josh Hamilton is scheduled to try a new treatment Monday for his bruised ribs.
• Read more about the Cubs’ Tyler Colvin being hit with a splintered bat here: http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20100919&content_id=14847072&vkey=news_chc&c_id=chc

An Offensive Night for the Bottom of the Order: Rangers 6 Mariners 1

The magic numbe is at six after the Rangers' and Cliff Lee's 6-1 victory over the Mariners on Saturday.

The bottom of the order (Jeff Francoeur, Jorge Cantu and Bengie Molina) contributed six of the team's 12 hits.

Division Series Tickets Secured

Big sigh of relief!

I have my Division Series tickets in hand for two possible games in Arlington.

Great day so far!!! Tonight, hopefully Cliff Lee can chop the magic number down to seven.

Not the King for Nothing: Mariners 2 Rangers 1

The old adage is good pitching beats good hitting.

Well, I guess that was true Friday when the Rangers brought their seven-game winning streak to Seattle to match up with the Mariners’ seven-game losing streak.

Felix Hernandez, who leads the American League in ERA at 2.39 for the team with the worst record in baseball, pitched eight innings and did not allow a hit until Nelson Cruz lead off his final frame with a solo homer. It looked as if the Rangers might tie when Mitch Moreland and pinch hitter Chris Davis each slapped singles, but the runners were stranded. David Murphy's career-high 13-game hitting streak and Vladimir Guerrero's 10 gamer ended Friday.

Moreland was pinch hitting for Bengie Molina, who along with pitch C.J. Wilson allowed the Mariners to steal five bases in the second and third innings, indirectly leading to both Mariner runs.

Wilson threw 121 pitches in the complete game loss. He gave up six hits, struck out six and walked three and was helped by four double plays.

Cliff Lee will go up against his former team Saturday. The magic number remains at eight.

Big Hits From All Around: Rangers 11 Tigers 4

When everyone in the starting lineup gets a hit, the team has three big offensive innings and Dustin Nippert provides 4 1/3 innings of scoreless relief for the victory, it equals a six-game winning streak and a nine-game lead in the AL West.

With the Athletics losing, the magic number (any combination of Rangers' wins and A's losses) is at 10.

Rangers Sweep Yankees: Does It Get Any Better?

Scores:
Friday: 6-5 (13 innings)
Saturday: 7-6 (walkoff style in the bottom of the 9th inning)
Sunday: 4-1 (Cliff Lee back to the man we signed)

As an intense Rangers fan (and thus Yankee hater,) what more could I ask for three-game sweep of so-named invaders at the Ballpark in front of crowds of more than 40,000 each night? The only thing better is doing it in the playoffs, a destination the Rangers appear to be headed toward for the first time in 11 years.

These weren’t your garden variety wins, either. The first required a double dose of heroics from Nelson Cruz. Cruz hammered a home run to tie it in the eighth to the game at 5 and complete a comeback from 4-1 down. After getting out of numerous jams and using 19 pitchers combined in the contest, Cruz once again came to the plate to lead off the 13th, when he hit the first pitch from Chad Gaudin over the Rangers bullpen. Scott Feldman got the win.

On Saturday, a victory probably seemed even more unlikely. A 5-3 Rangers’ lead disappeared in a matter of seconds when the target of the boos, Alex Rodriguez, hit a bases-clearing double to give the Yankees a 6-5 lead with Mariano Rivera warming in the bullpen. What was different about this night He seemed hittable. Ian Kinsler smashed a ball down the line for two RBI’s to tie the score. The Yankees initially walked pinch hitter Chris Davis to load the bases with nobody out. Pinch hitter Andres Blanco popped up to first to bring up Jeff Francoeur, who absorbed a pitch with the bases loaded for the Rangers to tally another walkoff victory. It was the first time the Rangers have ever won a game on an HBP and the first time Rivera, known for his control, had ever lost a game that way. All the craziness led to a 7-6 victory.

The big news Sunday was the return of Cliff Lee. After losing his last five decisions and eventually missing time with back soreness, this was a key start for Lee to prove he could return to his top-of-the-line form and pitch to win every time out. Lee not only did that but only surrendered two hits, both in the sixth inning, to E. Nuñez and Derek Jeter.

The Rangers put the game away in the seventh, scoring three runs on four straight hits for Julio Borbon, Elvis Andrus, Michael Young and David Murphy, The speed of Borbon and Andrus was a big factor in their hits. After walking Jeter for the second time in the game (first time he walked the same batter twice all season,), Neftali Feliz recorded his 36th save.

Monday is a much-deserved off day.

Rangers Start Well, End Well: Rangers 8 Blue Jays 1

Ian Kinsler’s home run to lead off the game was big. But Derek Holland sidestepping two walks to strike out the side was the part of the inning to really note.

While Holland wasn’t as pinpoint as everyone may have liked, he got three outs and prevented the Blue Jays from scoring. That may have been the biggest key to breaking the five-game losing streak. As you can read in previous entries, the Rangers pitching staff has shown a propensity for allowing one inning that turns a close game into an easy victory for the opponent. Fortunately, there was no deja vu Wednesday.

After the first inning, Holland pitched four more solid ones, allowing just three hits, eight strikeouts and two walks during the five innings. Holland stuck out the 4-5-6 spots (V. Wells, A. Lind and A. Hill) consecutively in the fourth and did not walk anyone after the first inning,

Matt Harrison, Darren O’Day, Darren Oliver and Neftali Feliz each got three outs to lead to Holland’s third victory of the season. Jose Molina homered off O’Day to start the bottom of the eighth for the Blue Jays’ only run of the game. Strangely, all three home runs O’Day has given up this season have been in Toronto. Bengie Molina registered an RBI single and a walk in the game.

After plating single runs in the fifth, sixth and eighth, Nelson Cruz homered following a Michael Young single in the ninth to extend the lead to 7-1. A Vladimir Guerrero double, David Murphy double and a Jorge Cantu single scored yet another run.

Eight of nine starters recorded a hit. Cruz and Jeff Francoeur each had three, while Kinsler, Young, Guerrero and David Murphy put down two apiece.

Happy Birthday, Mitch Moreland

Rookie Mitch Moreland has produced well since being called up July 29. The first baseman/outfielder has five home runs and 13 RBI’s in 28 games with 12 walks and three intentional walks. He hit home runs in consecutive games for the first time last week.

The Big Innings Must End

I’ve mentioned this before, and it’s coming up again. The major issue in the Rangers’ four-game losing streak is the big inning.

On Monday, Tommy Hunter served up two home run balls to the Toronto Blue Jays in the third inning. The Blue Jays lead the Majors in home runs hit, and Hunter, despite all his positives, has definitely been watching them fly lately.

On Sunday, C.J, Wilson, the Rangers’ must reliable pitcher, saw the Twins score three in the sixth inning Sunday. Some of the damage occurred as the result of the bullpen allowing inherited runners to score. The Rangers put together their own three-run rally in the ninth, but it wasn’t enough.
Saturday’s 12-4 romping by the Twins featured a 5-run first against Colby Lewis, a three-run fourth and a three-run seventh. Enough said.

The Twins scored twice in the seventh on Friday to end up the Rangers’ 3-2 lead and what turned out to be their only chance to win at Minnesota this year.

The good news: Baseball games happen almost every day, so the past can quickly become the past.

Notes: Josh Hamilton will not play in the series with the Blue Jays as he tries to recover from a bruised ribcage he suffered running into the wall on Saturday. Elvis Andrus has missed a couple of games with a tight hamstring.

After Holland is Strong, It Gets Away: Twins 4 Rangers 3

I know this is a playoff race – a situation we haven’t been in for more than a decade.

But why take Derek Holland out with only 87 pitches with one out in seventh inning? He threw 62 strikes and 25 balls – one of the best ratios seen from a Rangers pitcher in a while. When Holland left, the Rangers were ahead 3-2, thanks to a Julio Borbon squeeze play in the top of the inning.

Alexi Ogando came on, charged with holding the lead. Facing only J.J. Hardy, he allowed the game-tying single, and now Holland could only hope for a no-decision. Matt Harrison entered to try to handle hard-hitting lefties Denard Span and Joe Mauer. He didn’t do his job either, surrendering the go-ahead RBI single to Span and walking Mauer, who is batting .325. The Rangers need to be able to count on their bullpen for a good September.

A pinch-hit single by Vladimir Guerrero in the ninth put the Rangers in position to score a fourth run, but an on-target throw from right fielder Jason Repko nabbed pinch runner Alex Cora at third and erased the threat.

Note: Josh Hamilton left the game in the eight with lower back/glute tightness. Hamilton has also had recent problems with his knee. Before leaving, he singled twice and is batting .362.

Holding On: Rangers 4 Royals 3

• Hitting in the 3-hole, David Murphy had three singles, a run scored and an excellent running catch. Josh Hamilton got the day off to rest his aching knee for the stretch.
• Mitch Moreland homered in the sixth for the second game in a row, and it turned out to be the winning run.
• Nelson Cruz delivered with a two-out, two-run single in the first inning.
• Andres Blanco and Julio Borbon, the eight and nine hitters, each had two hits. Blanco will return to a utility role Friday when Ian Kinsler returns from the disabled list.
• The Rangers won and the A's lost to increase the division lead to 9.5 games.

Happy Birthday, Andy Roddick

On this first day of the U.S. Open, a birthday wish goes out to Andy Roddick, who is off to a good start after a 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 victory over Frechman Stephane Robert on Monday.

Wilson Gets It Done: Rangers 3 Royals 0

C.J. Wilson is the Rangers’ most dependable pitcher right now. He played the stopper role again Monday, shutting out a team that – honestly, the Rangers should have no trouble leaving scoreless.

The Royals are a team that is 21 games below .500 and the lineup is without five of its Opening Day starters – either because they’ve been traded or have been bitten by the injury bug.

So, unlike much of the Rangers’ rotation lately, Wilson successfully executed what was expected. He needed only 44 pitches to get through the third through seventh innings after a second inning that featured two walks forced him to throw 45 pitches in the first two frames. Wilson also walked two in the sixth, but seemed angry at himself after it happened and was able to quickly snap back into gear.

The guy who had to fight to become a starter threw 110 pitches in 7 2/3 innings, struck out six and now has an ERA below 3.00 at 2.88. He was just solidly good.

Offensively, the Rangers weren’t at their best, leaving nine men on base, but the Royals never put up a fight. Royals starter Kyle Davies deserves some credit, going 8 1/3 innings, striking out six of his own and allowing one walk to Josh Hamilton, who blopped in two soft singles and increased his average to .359.

Although it was enough tonight, I still need to see the offense connect more before the playoff push. Nelson Cruz can help with that.

Happy birthday to Cliff Lee, who heads to the mound Tuesday.

Dallas Too Good For Texas: Athletics 5 Rangers 0

The above headline pretty much sums it up. Athletics starter Dallas Braden, who threw a perfect game May 9, brought some of his best stuff to the mound again. While he wasn’t perfect, he only allowed the Rangers four hits and walked no one in the 120-pitch complete-game shutout that muted a sellout crowd in Arlington.

The four Rangers hits each came in separate innings, which made it impossible to get anything going. For the record, Jorge Cantu doubled in the second, Josh Hamilton had an infield hit in the fourth, second baseman Alex Cora singled in his first game with the team in the eighth, and Elvis Andrus led off the ninth with a single.

Braden only stuck out one batter, but his strategy based on weak contact worked

Rangers’ starter Rich Harden continued to struggle with bouts of inconsistency. In his 4 1/3 innings, he gave up an RBI single in the first, had a 1-2-3 second, surrendered a 2-run shot in the third and delivered a 1-2-3 fourth before allowing three consecutive baserunners to reach with one out in the fifth. His final line reads like this: eight hits, four earned runs, two walks and two strikeouts.

Frank Francisco had to go on the disabled list with inflammation in his right ribcage muscle but no tear. Derek Holland, called up from AAA, took his spot in the bullpen and was immediately used as the long man Saturday. Holland came through in a big way, pitching 4 2/3 innings and allowing one run to complete the game after Harden left.

With the loss, the Rangers are 8 ½ games ahead of the Athletics in the AL West. On Sunday, Colby Lewis opposes Gio Gonzalez and tries to get his 10th win of the season for the eighth time. (Yes, you read that right!)

Vlad is Back: Rangers 4 Twins 3

After the Twins tied the game at 3-3 in the top of the sixth, Vladimir Guerrero stepped to the plate to lead off the bottom of the inning, and with one swing of the bat, gave the Rangers a 4-3 lead on a shot to left field.

Guerrero also had an RBI single in the third inning to score the third run, and his batting average is back up to .300 The first runs came on a Josh Hamilton homer in the first, his 30th of the season,

Now the mission was clear: Protect the one-run lead and get C.J. Wilson his 13th victory of the season. Managing much like a playoff game, Ron Washington used five guys out of the bullpen to get the final nine outs. Rookie Michael Kirkman was first in line, pitching the seventh. He achieved two groundouts and a popout and surrendered his first hit, a harmless single by Joe Mauer. Kirkman debuted in the big leagues Saturday, striking out the first three Orioles he faced. In the eighth, Darren O’Day and Darren Oliver each struck out the one batter they faced. Alexi Ogando fanned his two hitters, I can say the O’s were definitely getting K’s.

With Frank Francisco and Neftali Feliz unavailable, Matt Harrison notched just his second career save. The Rangers go for the seep Thursday night with Cliff Lee on the mound.

Happy 22nd birthday to Elvis Andrus today!

Harden Allows No Hits: Rangers 4 Twins 0

Rich Harden asked Ron Washington to start Matt Treanor at catcher Monday. The pair had a good outing at AAA earlier this week when both players were on rehab assignments.

As the battery for the Rangers on Monday, the two clicked and delivered a sparkling performance that gave the team an opportunity to achieve something that has only happened nine times in team history and hasn’t been witnessed in seven years in Major League Baseball: a combined no-hiter.

Harden went to too many full counts but always seemed to execute the shutdown pitch. The crowd booed as Washington came to the mound at the 6 2/3 inning mark, but Harden’s long at-bats, five walks and 111 pitches prevented him from going all the way in the game. Matt Harrison and Darren O’Day pitched hitless ball in relief of Harden, who still needs to prove he can deliver consistently.

The no-hitter disappeared when three-time batting champion Joe Mauer singled just beyond a diving Elvis Andrus with one out in the ninth off closer Neftali Feliz.

New owner and team president Nolan Ryan knows how that feels.

Wilson Gets Rangers A Needed Win: Rangers 2 Orioles 0

With the team in a four-game skid coming into this game, C.J. Wilson is one of those guys you want to see on the mound. He’s focused, unrelenting and tough on himself.

Well, I hope his performance Friday lived up to his standards. It was one of his best of the season in which Wilson has consistently been very good. Wearing gray uniforms in Baltimore instead of his usual pick of blue on the road, Wilson pitched 8 2/3 innings, struck out a career-high 12 batters and walked one on 118 pitches. If it wasn’t for a double in the ninth, he probably would have his second complete game of the year.

Most of the strikeouts came during a mid-to-late stretch in the game where the 29-year-old fanned seven of 11 hitters. The Orioles took exception to the strike zone of home plate umpire Jeff Nelson, leading to the eventual ejection of right fielder Nick Markakis in the sixth and new manager Buck Showalter in the eighth. Markakis was called out on strikes three times in three at-bats.

Despite the offensive struggles highlighted by getting swept in Tampa Bay and shut out for just the second time all season in the first game at Camden Yards, the Rangers got just enough offense Friday to complement the excellent pitching.

Moreland homered in the second for a 1-0 lead. While Josh Hamilton, recently in a 1-for-16 spin (for him), knocked in the second run in the seventh, while going 2 for 5. Hitting .354, Hamilton continues to lead the Majors in batting average by 14 points.

With the final out, Neftali Feliz recorded his 30th save of 2010, but his first for the month of August.

It was TCU product Jake Arrieta’s turn for the Orioles. Going 6 2/3 innings, he gave up two runs (1 earned), struck out three and walked three.

Giving Up Big Inning Hurts Rangers Again: Rays 6 Rangers 4

For the first four innings, Monday’s contest between the Rangers and Rays was definitely classified as a pitchers’ duel. Cliff Lee allowed one single through four while striking out six batters, half of them accounting for all the outs in the fourth inning, This year’s All-Star game starter, the Rays’ David Price, surrendered two hits and recorded five strikeouts through four innings.

But things began to get more complicated in the bottom of the fifth. Lee very, very, very uncharacteristically walked Carlos Pena – his first walk to a lefty all season and only his 10th overall. Did I mention it’s the middle of August! But walks hurt even the top guys. Pena would come around to score the first of two Rays’ runs in the frame, an inning in which the former Cy Young winner looked human. After the walk came a single, a sacrifice bunt and a two-RBI single,

While holding the Rays in check, the Rangers did their part to eventually take the lead with two runs in the seventh and another duce in the eighth. The Rangers take 4-2 lead into the bottom of the eighth.

Then Rangers’ team and fans were reminded that even ace pitchers leading statistical categories are hittable and second, that the Rays a team of division-leading talent. Through simply making contact and some miscommunication from Joaquin Arias and Andres Blanco, four runs crossed the plate. The Rangers; lead evaporated into a victory for the Rays.

To be a playoff team, the No. 1 aspect of the game the Rangers need to work on is not allowing the big inning.

Rangers Outlast Red Sox in Finale: Rangers 7 Red Sox 3

• C.J, Wilson went 7 2/3 innings in 100 degree heat, walking just one and striking out eight.
• With Josh Hamilton at DH, Julio Borbon displayed both his bunting and center field skills Sunday. Borbon had a beautiful two-out bunt single to second base for an RBI, another single in the eighth and a possible homerun-saving catch on Ryan Kalish up against the wall in the top of that inning.
• In his second consecutive start, Taylor Teagarden proved he can execute fundamentals with sacrifice bunts in the second and eighth that led to the Rangers scoring.·
• Michael Young gave the Rangers a 5-0 lead on what turned out to be a huge three-run homer in the seventh, considering Pedro Strop would surrender three runs in the top of the eighth.
• Chuck Greenberg partook in some hot chocolate thanks to Josh Lewin’s bet that he would give anyone who drank some a $1. The new ownership group lowered prices Friday on parking as well as some food and merchandise items.

Rangers' Sale Complete

The drama is finally over! The sale of the Texas Rangers to a group headed by sports attorney Chuck Greenberg and Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan was approved by Major League Baseball and the other owners Thursday morning.

The Greenberg-Ryan bid of $593 million beat out a group led by Mark Cuban and Jim Crane in an auction that began on August 4 and continued into the early morning hours. At the time the Greenberg-Ryan team was submitting its final bid, Michael Young connected on a very timely grand slam to put the Rangers ahead of the Mariners.

At least there is some good news after the Rangers' abysmal loss to the Yankees on Wednesday night.

Small Ball Enough for the A’s: Athletics 3 Rangers 2

The game ended with Ron Washington’s favorite score posted on the scoreboard. Unfortunately, the Rangers were on the wrong end of a 3-2 game Sunday.

On a combination of infield hits and sacrifice flys, the offensively-challenged A’s squeezed one out against the division-leading Rangers. After losing the last two contests, the Rangers’ lead in the American League West is now 7 ½ games.

Colby Lewis drew the A’s young ace, Trevor Cahill, for the fourth time this season. That only happens in intra-division games where in the AL West, the teams play each other 19 games per year. This game remained scoreless through five innings until the Rangers finally broke through in the sixth against Cahill, the owner of the lowest opponents’ batting average in the league. But of course, that doesn’t scare Josh Hamilton, who doubled to score Elvis Andrus, who reached first on an error by his A’s counterpart, Cliff Pennington. The heads-up Hamilton reached third on a separate miscue in left field by Rajai Davis. He scored on a sacrifice fly by Nelson Cruz, and the Rangers went ahead 2-0.

In the sixth, Lewis finally cracked after skirting around baserunners in every inning to that point. Kevin Kouzmanoff doubled to start the inning, but the next batter, Mark Ellis, advanced him to third with one out and Davis hit a sacrifice fly.

Darren Oliver came out of the bullpen for the seventh. From the bottom of the order, Pennington led off with a single and crossed home plate on Coco Crisp’s double. A sacrifice bunt put Crisp at third before bringing him home on yet another sacrifice fly by Kurt Suzuki, the leading hitter for the A’s.

Darren O’Day finished the game, and Oliver took the loss and Cahill the win.

Harden Reverts Back To Past: Athletics 6 Rangers 2

The million dollar question Saturday: Which Rich Harden will pitch today – the one who pitched seven innings on a more than manageable pitch count during his first start off the disabled list or the often erratic pitcher who is hurt by walks and struggles to close out hitters?

Unfortunately, the answer was the latter. Despite drawing the Athletics in Oakland – a place with which he is very familiar after spending the 2003 -2007 seasons with the A’s. On May 3, he had by far his best start of the season there. On Saturday, Harden threw 65 pitches in just 2 1/3 innings, allowing three runs and five walks, which accounted for most of the base runners. He walked three in the first inning alone.

In relief, Scott Feldman, who was recently demoted to the bullpen, allowed three runs on three hits in 4 2/3 innings. Alexi Ogando pitched a scoreless eighth in 6-2 loss. Taylor Teagarden homered in the eighth for his third homer against the A’s and second in two days in very limited big league action.

The Rangers still maintain an 8 ½-game lead in the American League West. Colby Lewis faces Trevor Cahill on Sunday.

A Weekend Wrap Up

• Rich Harden returned to the mound Saturday, giving up one run in seven innings and keeping his pitch count in the 70’s. – a welcome change from the high numbers that had hindered his success. To make room for Harden, the Rangers opted to put Scott Feldman in the bullpen.
• Cliff Lee deserves more run support – The Rangers only scored one run for Lee Sunday afternoon in a 4-1 complete game loss. This time. The Angels took two out of three. The Rangers have not scored more than three runs for Lee in his first five starts with the team.
• The Rangers acquired infielders Jorge Cantu and Cristian Guzman to fill an infield that now features no Ian Kinsler (DL) or Chris Davis (sent to AAA).
• Jarrod Saltalamacchia was traded Saturday – three years to the day after he was the centerpiece of the Mark Teixeira trade to the Braves. In the deal, the Rangers got Elvis Andrus, Neftali Feliz and Matt Harrison. Need I say more?

A Team Effort: Rangers 7 Athletics 4

When I saw the bottom of the Rangers lineup for Thursday night’s game against the Oakland A’s, I have to admit I got a little worried. On paper, Joaquin Arias, Mitch Moreland and Taylor Teagarden don’t carry the necessary punch needed for an intra-division rivalry.

Moreland, a first baseman, was called up for his Major League debut, the resulting roster move after Ian Kinsler went on the disabled list with a groin strain – an injury I don’t remember occurring. Joaquin Arias, who started the game at second, has only played in a handful of games during the past two months, although one was a three-hit bonanza for him. Teagarden had been in the minors since May but became the backup to Bengie Molina when Matt Treanor strained his knee last week.

So it looked like the bottom of the order might be simple, easy outs. Not the case. Moreland lined a 3-1 pitch for a single to right like it was no big deal for his first Major League when he came up in the second inning. The hit came off Ben Mazzaro, who is even younger Moreland. Moreland added a second single in the eighth.

Looking to put his season mark of 1-for-27 in the big leagues behind him, Teagarden put an exclamation point on a 5-3 game in the sixth with a long two-run blast to make it 7-3 and get officially off the snide. The home was the second of the inning after David Murphy parked one in the seats to begin the inning. Moreland hit a long fly ball to center that was caught at the wall.

Michael Young went 4-for-4 with three runs scored. Josh Hamilton had three hits and run scored, while Vladimir Guerrero tallied a pair of RBIs.

Homer All the Rangers Need: Rangers 1 Angels 0

Michael Young understands the gravity of these four games with the Angels.

For the second day in a row, Young hit the ball over the fence in his first at-bat, giving the Rangers an early 1-0 lead Friday at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington. It’s all the Rangers would need to get their first 1-0 win at home in 13 months.

Young doubled in his second at-bat, and Nelson Cruz hit an infield single and a bloop shot into very shallow right field in the second and fourth innings, respectively. For the game, the Rangers manufactured seven hits and left five men on base against Joe Saunders. A product of Ron Washington’s aggressive approach, both Josh Hamilton and Ian Kinsler were caught on the bases.

Starter C.J. Wilson only allowed four singles, and a runner never advanced to second base. Much like Cliff Lee, Wilson also improved to 9-5 and walked nobody while striking out three in eight innings. Walks have been a struggle for Wilson most of this season, his first full season as a starter.

Neftali Feliz came in and got a flyout, groundout and strikeout, all in just nine pitches for his 27th save.

Rangers, Lee Continue To Stride: Rangers 3 Angels 2

With a 3-2 win over the Angels in front of a very good Thursday night crowd of 39,876, the Rangers now have a six game in the AL West, their largest lead since 1999.

Cliff Lee got his first win in a Rangers uniform in the process and improved to 9-4 on the season. In 8 1/3 innings, he threw 99 pitches, struck out four and walked no one. Lee outdueled Jared Weaver in a marquee matchup of the aces for the respective teams.

Ian Kinsler continued his hitting streak. Michael Young homered in the first inning.

Ogando Can't Pick Up Lee: Red Sox 3 Rangers 2 (11)

On Saturday, Cliff Lee continued with the workhorse mentality that has gotten him six complete games this season.

Another nine-inning performance by Lee, which included 75 strikes, was spoiled when Red Sox first baseman Kevin Youklis doubled on a 2-2 pitch with two outs in the bottom of the ninth to score Marco Scutaro, who singled to start the inning, and tie the game at 2-2.

In the no-decision, Lee pitched nine innings, giving up two runs and one intentional walk to Adrian Beltre in the ninth. Lee has just seven walks on the season against 91 strikeouts.

But reliever Alexi Ogando, who pitched a scoreless tenth, thanks to an excellent game-saving running catch by Nelson Cruz, wasn’t so lucky in the eleventh. He pitched to three batters, did not record an out and committed a two-base throwing error that put the Rangers in an even bigger jam. The miscue, on a ball that should have been a simple play, put runners at second and third. Youklis, who tied the game in the ninth, now facing Darren O’Day, hit a sacrifice fly to bring in Scutaro.

Lee located his pitches better and was more efficient than John Lackey, who threw 115 pitches in seven innings.

Tomorrow’s final game of the series pits C.J. Wilson against Jon Lester.

An Unlikely Sweep: Orioles 4 Rangers 1

It appears the Rangers really do need a break after hitting the low point of their season so far: a four-game sweep by the Orioles at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington.

After an Ian Kinsler homer game the Rangers the lead in the first, Orioles starter Jake Arrieta, a TCU product, and three relievers kept the Rangers scoreless for the remaining eight innings.

Rangers’ starter C.J. Wilson racked up a pitch count of 111 in 4 2/3 innings. Wilson’s early exit came down to the three earned runs he allowed, all in the second inning, and five bases on balls. Two of the walks were to Miguel Tejada, who received three free passes despite a low season total. Tejada also homered in the ninth off Frank Francisco for the Orioles final run.

Arrieta surrendered one run in 6 1/3 innings in his return to the metroplex. The win completed the first four-game home sweep by an opposing team in Arlington in five seasons.

Watch the Rangers six All-Stars (including Cliff Lee) Tuesday night from Anaheim..

At the Top of the Cliff

The Rangers made a big move Friday afternoon by acquiring 2008 Cy Young Award winner to lead their rotation. In the deal, rookie first baseman Justin Smoak heads north to Seattle as the centerpiece of the trade. The Rangers also sent three minor leaguers in Blake Beavan, Josh Lueke and Matt Lawson, none of them top prospects to the Mariners. The move is the biggest sign in years that the Rangers recognize the importance of winning now.

Lee has pitched four consecutive complete games and had an 8-3 record and 2.34 ERA in 13 starts totaling 103.2 innings. He will take the mound tonight in the third of four games against Baltimore.

If not for slow Internet, this message would have been posted last night.

Young Helps Key Victory: Rangers 4 Indians 3

• When it looked like the Indians were grabbing momentum, Michael Young, in All-Star fashion, hit a 2-run homer to tie the game at 3-3 in the fifth inning, Vote for Young to be the final AL All-Star until 3 p.m. Thursday: http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/events/all_star/y2010/fv/ballot.html
• Julio Borbon’s infield hit set up Young’s home run in the fifth. He also doubled in the sixth inning to score Matt Treanor and put the Rangers ahead to stay at 4-3.
• Named AL Player of the Month for June, Josh Hamilton continues to be in the grooves of all grooves. He tallied an RBI single Wednesday and a home run Tuesday,
• Tyler Morris, the fan who fell from Rangers Ballpark’s second deck Tuesday, suffered a fractured skull and a broken ankle and foot. Morris is expected to recover.

Happy Birthday, Tommy Hunter: Rangers 3 White Sox 1

Don’t mess with Tommy Hunter ­– especially on his birthday. The former two-time Junior Olympic Judo champion turned 24 today.

Last year on his birthday, Hunter got his first Major League win. This year, he improved to 5-0 with a 1.98 ERA in six starts. With a bulldog mentality, Hunter threw 94 pitches and 68 strikes in seven innings. He was operating at peak efficiency in the sixth inning when he needed just three pitches to retire the side, a rare feat. Despite allowing a single to Paul Konerko, former Ranger Andruw Jones hit into a 5-4-3 double play and Mark Kotsay grounded to first. The only run charged to Hunter’s ledger scored after Frank Francisco took over.

The Rangers scored in the second, the fifth and the seventh. The first two runs came off White Sox starter John Danks, a former top prospect in the Rangers organization.

In the second, the Rangers grabbed the early lead on an RBI groundout by Joaquin Arias, who started at first base for Justin Smoak. The groundout followed an infield single by Josh Hamilton, a single by Nelson Cruz and a walk by Bengie Molina. Molina was acquired earlier this week from the San Francisco Giants for Chris Ray and prospect Michael Main. The trade means that Matt Treanor will now serve as the backup backstop and Max Ramirez was sent down to Oklahoma City.

The Rangers played small ball in the fifth. Arias singled to lead off the fifth and Julio Borbon bunted him over to second before Elvis Andrus dropped a shallow single into the outfield for an RBI.

Nelson Cruz came in from third after Smoak pinch hit for Arias in the seventh and grounded into the Rangers’ third twin killing of the game. Josh Hamilton hit into a double play in the sixth inning for the first time this season. He was the only remaining everyday player to have not grouded into a double play.

Happy Birthday, Nelson Cruz

Nelson Cruz turns 30 today. He’s an offensive powerhouse and a defense stalwart. Just remember his throw to cut down an Angel at home plate Tuesday. The lineup’s #6 hitter has been limited to just 40 games this season due to hamstring injuries, so his 10 home runs and 39 RBI’s aren’t representative of his true power. Hopefully, he will stay healthy and help the Rangers increase their 4.5 game lead over the Angels.

Note: On Wednesday, Vlad Guerrero hit two home runs, a double and a single against his former team. His grand slam turned a 3-0 deficit into a 4-3 lead. Josh Hamilton extended his hitting streak to 23 games in the eighth inning of the 6-4 victory.

Notables…

• TCU’s Matt Purke, Bryan Holaday and Taylor Featherston were named to the College World Series All-Tournament today. With three wins, the Horned Frogs had an excellent showing in their first trip to Omaha.
• Dirk Nowitzki is flying to Dallas on Thursday to negotiate with the Mavericks. Nowitzki opted out of his contract earlier this week and is eligible to be a free agent. Originally, Donnie Nelson was scheduled to go to Germany, so the fact that Dirk is making an effort to come to Dallas is a good sign.
• The Stars declined to re-sign Mike Modano. The 40-year-old will entertain the idea of playing for another team. Weird!

Eighth Inning Turns Fortunes Around: TCU 11 Florida State 7

With their biggest comeback of an already record-setting season coming Wednesday night, there is no question the Horned Frogs are “in it to win it.”

Down 7-3 in the eighth and facing elimination at the hands of Florida State, the Horned Frogs stunned the Seminoles by scoring eight runs in an unforgettable eighth inning that will be etched in the storied history of Rosenblatt Stadium.

The eighth inning culminated with a two-out full-count grand slam off the bat of senior first baseman Matt Curry to give the Frogs a 9-7 lead. Two runs scored before the mammoth homer to center, and two runs scored after it on a second Frog homer by Jantzen Witte off FSU closer and outfielder Mike McGee took his first blown save of the season.

Head coach Jim Schlossnagle wanted to bring his team to Rosenblatt Stadium before it closed. Well, he and his team have reached Omaha, the pinnacle of college baseball and they a living a dream – a dream the coach the players thought the program could achieve.

The Frogs next play at 3:30 p.m. Friday once again against UCLA.

Check back for more details.

A Superman Sighting in Houston: Rangers 5 Astros 4 (10)

That’s right! Josh Hamilton’s stats from Sunday:

• 5 hits
• The game-tying single in the ninth and the game-winning single in the 10th inning (Vladimir Guerrero, who was hitless for the day was intentionally walked to get to Hamilton!
• A career-best 16-game hitting streak
• 37 hits and 25 RBI’s so far in June

Other Notable Stats:

• 4 hits for Julio Borbon
• First time in team history to win eight in a row on a single road trip!
  

Early Offense Leads To Win in CWS Debut: TCU 8 Florida State 1

The Horned Frogs channeled any nerves they may have had coming into their first-ever appearance at Rosenblatt Stadium into five runs and never looked back.

The entire batting order came to the plate in the bottom of the first inning – all simply doing what they know how to do: swing the bat. Florida State starter Sean Gilmartin surrendered four singles, two doubles and a sacrifice fly as TCU put together an inning it will never forget on college baseball’s biggest stage.

That was all that freshman All-American Matt Purke needed to help the Frogs cruise to victory. Purke, who tied Lance Broadway with his 15th win of the season Saturday, gave up his only run in the top of the first. In the seven-inning outing, he allowed four hits, walked seven and uncharacteristically walked four, although Florida State does have a penchant for the base on balls, according to the telecast.

The third inning started with two consecutive walks to Jantzen Witte and Taylor Featherston by reliever Hunter Scantling. Aaron Schultz sacrificed the runners over to second and third for Brance Rivera, who executed a squeeze ply to get Witte in from third but only found himself in the middle of a 1-3-2 non-traditional double play. Sacrifices are a huge part of the Frogs’ fundamentally-focused game plan.

After an error by catcher and clubhouse leader Bryan Holaday in the top of the fourth allowed a runner to reach base on a strikeout, he atoned for that mistake by hitting the ball over the wall in left field for TCU’s first CWS home run. That made it 7-1

After three scoreless innings, Jason Coats brought home Brance Rivera in the eighth for his third RBI of the game and the Frogs’ eighth and final run.

The Frogs are now in good position in the winner’s bracket and will play UCLA at 8 p.m. Monday on ESPN2. Go Frogs!

Lewis Unhittable in Complete-Game Victory: Rangers 5 Astros 1

It’s simple: This game was all about Colby Lewis.

Lewis delivered a two-hit 101-pitch complete game performance that clearly boggled the entire Astros lineup. Everything clicked for Lewis as he threw whatever he wanted whenever he wanted. He struck out nine and walked zero in the first complete game of his career.

Lewis retired the first 13 batters before Hunter Pence, a quick runner, blasted a hot shot to Michael Young, who bobbled the ball very briefly before throwing to first and Pence beat it. The play was quickly ruled a hit. But Pence was promptly back in the dugout when the next batter, Pedro Feliz, grounded into 6-4-3 twin killing. The only other hit came on a double by the speedy Michael Bourn. The Astros only run came in that inning after Bourn advanced to third on a groundout and scored on what was ruled a wild pitch that Max Ramirez should have blocked. In my opinion, it was a past ball.

In support of Lewis, Justin Smoak knocked in the first three runs of the game for the Rangers with a second-inning second-deck bomb off Astros starter Brian Moehler and a long single in the eighth. Prior to the home run, Houston native David Murphy forced 12 pitches out of Moehler on the way to a walk, his first of three on the night.

Vladimir Guerrero pinch hit for Max Ramirez in the eighth and added one to his RBI total, which ranks second-highest in the Majors. Young ran the lead to four with a home run in the ninth.

Moehler, who went six, did not pitch poorly; he was just outdone by Lewis. Anyone would have been.

Note: Josh Hamilton singled in the eighth to extend his hitting streak to 15 games.

An All-Around Good Start: Rangers 9 Astros 3

I’ve been saying Scott Feldman needs to pitch better. In seven innings, he accomplished that plus more in a 9-3 win for the Rangers over the Astros on Friday night at Minute Maid Park.

Leading off the third, Feldman doubled to right field to kick start an offensive explosion. Following Feldman’s two-bagger, three out of the next four batters walked. No surprise as far as Elvis Andrus goes but not nearly as common for Ian Kinsler and Vladimir Guerrero. Kinsler, who missed all but one game in April due to injury, has recently rediscovered his patience at the plate and earned three free passes Friday. Guerrero’s walk came on four pitches with the bases loaded. You can judge for yourself whether it was intentional. The walks helped Scott Feldman trot home and preserve his energy for the pitching mound.

With Feldman resting in the dugout, the Rangers kept going. Josh Hamilton (14-game hitting streak, 23 RBIs in June) walloped a two-RBI single and continues to blaze the path toward Player of the Month, Justin Smoak also on fire, delivered a two-RBI single. Unfortunately, Julio Borbon accounted for two of the outs in the inning, but when it was all over, six Rangers crossed the plate.

Don’t think that the Hamilton and Smoak’s firepower simply ended though. With two outs in the fifth, Hamilton tripled and Smoak deposited in the ball in the Crawford Boxes down the left field line for an 8-0 lead at the time. During a stretch of seven batters, the Rangers had two triples, a home run and a double.

The Astros rallied against Feldman for three runs in the sixth inning ­­for the only blemish of the night, Darren O’Day and Darren Oliver were spotless.

Excellent way to begin the annual Silver Boot Series!

Michael Young’s Night: Rangers 6 Marlins 3

C.J Wilson wouldn’t have directed it any better.

With the bases loaded and two outs in the top of the eighth inning, Michael Young stroked a 2-2 pitch through the middle for career hit #1,748. The bases-loaded, two-run single off Jay Buente put Young at the top of the hit list for Rangers franchise history, one ahead of future Hall of Famer Ivan “Pudge” Rodriguez.

The hit couldn’t have come at a more opportune time for the Rangers. It transformed a then 3-2 lead into a more comfortable 5-2 advantage.

But what more could we expect. Young sets his standards higher than most and has become one of the premier two-strike clutch hitters in baseball, but he remains humble.

Young tied Pudge’s record one inning earlier with a double.

Winkler Helps Horned Frogs Get To Omaha For First Time: TCU 4 Texas 1

Sophomore right-handed pitcher Kyle Winkler shut down the potent Texas Longhorn lineup Sunday afternoon in the third and deciding game of the NCAA Baseball Super Regionals in Austin.

In 7 2/3 innings, Winkle allowed no runs on five hits and three walks. That’s even more impressive considering the Longhorns scored 14 runs Saturday.

Two of Winkler’s three walks came in first inning. But the Longhorns failed to score, setting a tone for the game.

The game, with a College World Series berth riding on its result, remained a scoreless tie through four innings.

TCU served as the tome team. In the bottom of the fifth, Horned Frog shortstop Taylor Featherston led off with a hustling double, advancing to third on an error in right field. Left fielder Jason Coats singled Featherston home in a game where runs seemed to be at a premium.

In the seventh and the eighth, the Horned Frogs expanded their lead with homers. With one out in the seventh, Featherston again got the offense started, this time with a walk. Two batters later, center fielder Aaron Schultz hit the ball over the wall for a 3-1 lead for his first hit of the series. Catcher Bryan Holaday added a solo shot in the eighth. Both long balls game off Chance Ruffin, who pitched three innings in relief of Brandon Workman

Tyler Lockwood picked up Winkler with a four-out save to complete the victory.

The Horned Frogs play Florida State in Omaha next weekend. Congratulations!

Too Little, Too Late: Mariners 4 Rangers 2

I hate to be a broken record, but Scott Feldman, who signed a big contract right before the season started, needs to pitch better.

There was a great example on the mound for the Mariners on Monday: Cliff Lee.

Lee stood atop the mound for all nine innings, although things got dicey in the ninth when the Rangers wiped away the shutout by scoring two runs. Michael Young began the rally with hit #1, 736 in his career and is now just 11 shy of Pudge Rodriguez. Kinsler also singled. The duo of Josh Hamilton and pinch hitter Justin Smoak, knocked Young and Kinsler in, respectively.

Hamilton played center field as Julio Borbon recuperated from playing Sunday’s entire 4 hour and 6 minute contest. Smoak pinch hit for Joaquin Arias, who manned first base for a similar reason.

I know they deserve it. I was there for the whole thing, too.

But with the exception of a blip (to the Rangers’ advantage), in the final inning, Lee kept his pitch count down, only using more than 20 pitches once, according to the TV broadcast. Feldman, on the other hand, required more than 20 pitches in all but one of his 5 2/3 innings.

All the earned runs off Feldman came on a Michael Saunders 3-rn homer in the second inning, set up by two singles.

While Feldman does not overpower hitters and succeeds more with groundouts, these numbers still say something.

Feldman: 4 K’s, 2 walks
Lee: 7 K’s, 0 walks

Hunter Halts Rays: Rangers 6 Rays 1

On Saturday, the Rangers turned the tables by scoring four of the own after two innings against the Rays. No comeback needed.

But this game really was about the pitching of Tommy Hunter. Hunter, called up earlier this week to replace the injured Derek Holland, pitched a complete game in near 100-degree heat as the Rangers won 6-1. The Rays have the top road record in the American League.

The key to Hunter’s day was an economical pitch count, no walks and just five hits in his first start of the year. In a postgame interview with Chris Rose, he took a shaving cream pie in the face.

The Rangers got three runs in the first off Rays starter James Shields, two of the courtesy of a Josh Hamilton long ball. It’s his second in as many days. Life at the plate without the toe tap seems to be going great!

Despite committing one of three errors in the game, Elvis Andrus had a double and a triple and two RBIs in the game.

Hamilton, 4th Inning Carry Rangers In Comeback: Rangers 9 Rays 6

When Josh Hamilton has a homer and a double in one inning, you know things are going well.

Hamilton, who bashed three extra base hits on the night, led off the fourth inning with a solo home run to put the Rangers within 4-3. It was the first hit and first run scored in an inning that would feature seven hits and seven run. The Rangers sent 11 men to the plate, meaning Hamilton and David Murphy each batted twice. Unfortunately, Murphy was tagged with the indignity of accounting for two outs in the inning on a flyout and a groundout.

The inning also included singles by Justin Smoak, Julio Borbon, Elvis Andrus and Michael Young (what’s new). Andrus’s and Young’s bases-loaded hits brought home one and two runs, respectively. But once again the biggest hit of the inning came from Vladimir Guerrero, who returned to the lineup in his personal palace after missing two games when a ball ricocheted and hit him in the eye during Wednesday’s batting practice. Guerrero’s double cleared the bags and resulted in the last three runs of the inning before Guerrero was thrown out at third with a smile on his face.

Smoak’s 2-run homer in the second set up the barrage in the fourth after the team sat in a 4-0 hole early. He also hit singles in the fourth and the fifth to complete his first 3-hit game as a Major Leaguer.

C.J. Wilson struggled, but made it through five innings for the victory. Darren O’Day, Matt Harrison, Darren Oliver, Frank Francisco and Neftali Feli all pitched in relief. Feliz hit two batters after striking out two in route to 15th save.

The Rays, who entered the game with the best record in the league, also hit two batters.

Former Ranger Hank Blalock received a warm reception when he pinch hit for Gabe Kapler, another former Ranger in the sixth. He was 0-for-2 with a groundout and a strikeout.

Rangers Can’t Pull Off Sweep: White Sox 4 Rangers 3

• Michael Young continues to be on a torrid base to break Pudge’s all-time Rangers hit record. With two more hits Thursday, he is now 14 hits away.
• Julio Borbon also registered too hits. Maybe that talk with Juan Pierre earlier in the series helped. Borbon stole second with Young up in an attempt to tie the game in the ninth inning.
• The Rangers scored single runs in each of the fourth, fifth and sixth innings. The only 2-run inning of the game came in the bottom of the seventh when White Sox right fielder Carlos Quentin went deep to end starter Colby Lewis’ night. The homer followed a careless ball drop by Quentin in right field on a David Murphy ball in the sixth that allowed the Rangers to eventually score.
• Lewis struck out seven batters in 6 1/3 innings compared to four strikeouts in seven innings for Freddy Garcia.
• Both bullpens were unscored upon.

Bullpen Smashed in 7th Inning of Loss: Twins 8 Rangers 3

C.J. Wilson had given up to one measly single to J.J. Hardy through 5 2/3 innings.

But unfortunately no one will remember that because, in the sixth inning, Denard Span led off with a single, promptly followed by an Orlando Hudson homer to tie the game. The Rangers lead disappeared faster than object in a magician’s magic trick.

But it would get a lot worse in the seventh.

Justin Morneau started the inning with a walk, then Michael Cuddyer doubled and Jason Kubel drew another walk to load the bases with nobody out. At that point, Wilson was pulled in favor of Chris Ray, whose ERA had steadily dropped over his last four appearances to 2.45.

On Saturday, unable to work through what turned out to be a disaster, Ray pitched 2/3 of an inning and surrendered three earned runs on four hits and a walk. He also let all three of his inherited runners score as Wilson watched helplessly from the dugout. Ray left the mound with an 3.57 ERA. Wilson’s ERA went below 3.0 during his outing Saturday, but by the end of the day, it stood at 3.48

Needless to say, it was tough to watch Ray and the Rangers implode in a game that was televised nationally and began so well. It was even tougher knowing that a loss would put their first-place standing in the AL West in jeopardy. Oakland now leads the division by a ½ game.

Dustin Nippert recorded the last four outs of the game without much problem.

Other Notes From Around Baseball:

• The Phillies’ Roy Halladay through a perfect game against the Marlins. It is the second perfect game in three weeks after Oakland’s Dallas Braden on May 9.
• Kendry Morales broke his leg during a celebration at home plate after hitting an extra-inning walkoff grand slam to beat the Mariners.
  
• The Indians' David Huff is OK after being struck by an Alex Rodriguez line drive. He left the field on a stretcher but gave fans a thumbs up as he left.

Rangers Lose A Close One: Twins 2 Rangers 1

To win a close baseball game, a team must take advantage of all its opportunities,

The Rangers didn’t do that Friday in a 2-1 loss in their first game at Target Field, the new outdoor home of the Minnesota Twins. The field is located very near Target Center, where the NBA’s Minnesota Timberwolves play.

With Vladimir Guerrero and Josh Hamilton abroad thanks to a single and walk respectively to start the seventh, the Rangers seemed to have a glorious change to tie the game at 2-2 or take the lead. But Twins starter Kevin Slowey, who had lasted beyond the fifth inning in only one prior start this season, coaxed David Murphy fly out to right field and Justin Smoak to strike out, one of three strikeouts for Smoak on the night.

With the outs slipping away, Ron Washington decided to pinch hit Nelson Cruz. Cruz is bothered by a left hamstring strain he suffered in Wednesday’s 5-2 defeat at the hands of the Royals, but he is not expected to go on the disabled list. He missed a couple of weeks earlier this season with a right hamstring strain. The Twins brought on Jose Mijares, and Cruz grounded out to second base to end the inning.

Down 1-0 in the fourth, Ian Kinsler lined a ball close to the foul pole. It was initially ruled a home run but was reversed upon further review by the umpires. At least they got the call right, and Kinsler simply hit a double in its place. Vladimir Guerrero knocked him in, giving him 43 RBI’s for the season. For most of May, Guerrero has led the Majors in RBI’s, but Miguel Cabrera hit three home runs Friday to overtake the top spot by just one.

The Twins scored on a single to center by Joe Mauer in the third, and the second run game across when Rangers starter Colby Lewis induced a double play from Mauer with the bases loaded in the fifth. A leadoff walk to the #9 hitter, a bunt single and 0-2 single led to the jam.