Mood:
Just when it looked like the rangers' season couldn't get any worse, sitting at 2-7 and some injuries to key players, it now seems like things couldn't get any better after winning 8 out of their last 10 games and 4 in a row. The rangers now have a 10-9 record and are tied for first in the A.L West with the L.A. Angels of Anaheim. On Sunday afternoon it was John Koronka making his 4th start of the season against Casey Fossum and the D-Rays. Things didn't start out to good as the rangers were retired in order in the bottom of the first and in the top of the second the D-Rays took the lead on a Damon Hollins opposite field homer. The rangers would tie the game though in the bottom of the inning when Hank Blalock took a Fossum curve over the right field wall it was Hank's 4th on the season. In the top of the third the D-Rays took the lead back when Jorge Cantu double in the right center gap that brung home Carl Crawfor and the D-Rays were up 2 to 1. But the rangers would put an end to the Tampa Bay's day in the bottom of the inning. The rangers had runners on 2nd and 3rd after Gerald Laird singled and Gary Matthews doubled, Mark Teixeira hit a 3-run shot to left his 3rd of the year (remember last season when it took him until the all-star game to hit one right handed). The very next batter was Phil Nevin who blasted his 6th homer onto the hill in center. After a Blalock single, Kevin Mench hit his 3rd of the season and 3rd in as many days he now has 12 rbi's in the last 4 games and it was 7-2 rangers. The rangers scored their final run in the bottom of the 4th when Teixeira singled and scored on a Nevin double. Koronka would not give up another run until the 6th when he hung a pitch and Jonny Gomes drilled it into the D-Rays bullpen. Koronka went on to throw 2 more scoreless innings and finished with 8 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 1 BB and 8 K's. He has won his last 3 games and is 3-1 on the season. Joaquin came in to pitch the 9th and retired the side on strikes. Teixeira finished the day 2-5 HR, 2R, 3RBI. Nevin was 2-4 HR, 1R, 2RBI. Blalock finished 3-4 HR, 2R, 1RBI and that brings his average to .347 for the season. D'Angelo Jiminez and Laird each finished with 2 hits and Adam Hyzdu, starting for Brad Wilkerson, got a single in the 7th off the third base bag. The rangers hope to keep the streak going tomorrow when they take on the Oakland A's.
notes: The rangers have called up Ron Mahay and sent John Rheinecker to AAA Oklahoma. To make room the rangers designated pitcher R.A Dickey for assignment.
minors: The Oklahoma Redhawks ended their losing streak by beating Nashville 6 to 5. Joaquin Arias was 2-4 with 2 runs and 2 stolen bases. Jason Botts was 2-4 with a run and an rbi, Jaimie Burke had another good day going 3-4 with 2 rbi. Laynce Nix started in center and had a big hit in the 7th when he singled to left scoring Joaquin Arias and Jason Botts scored on an error in left and Nix advanced to 3rd, he finished 1-4 with a run and an rbi. Edinson Volquez started for Oklahoma and threw 120 pitches to get through 6 innings and finished giving up 4 runs with 4BB's and 4K's.
It was a rough day for Frisco as they lost 12-2 to Corpus Christi. John Danks started and lasted 4 and a third innings allowing 6 hits, 4 ER's, 2BB's, and 5 K's. Travis Metcalf finished 2 for 3 and Nate Gold was 2-4 with a run and rbi.
It was a good day for Bakersfield as they beat Inland Empire 15-4. Starting pitcher Eric Hurley went 5 innings allowing only 2 hits, 1ER, 2BB, and 4K's. Emerson Frostad was 4-5 and hit 2HR's and had 5 RBI, he now has 3 homers on the year. Ben Harrison was 2-4 and also hit a HR his 4th of the season.
Junior Mayberry hit his 2nd home run for Clinton, but they lost to West Michigan 4-6.
On Monday the rangers will have Kevin Millwood on the mound he'll be facing Joe Blanton for the A's, game time is at 7:05 CT.
Posted by blog/rangersbaseball
at 7:22 PM CDT
Updated: Sunday, 23 April 2006 9:58 PM CDT
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Updated: Sunday, 23 April 2006 9:58 PM CDT
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