I was concerned I was missing something when I had to work through the Texas Rangers home opener in Arlington yesterday. As it turns out… not so much. An 8-1 loss isn’t much of a way to kick off the season at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington. After the grandeur of the pregame cerimonies, lineup introduction, and the first pitch from 30-year Ranger broadcasting veteran Eric Nadel got the 48,808 fans in attendance revved up, what followed can only be termed as a cruel gutpunch of dissapointement.
Offseason free-agent signing Jason Jennings, making his second start of the season, didn’t look very sharp at all, giving up two home runs for the second straight game, and lasting just 4.2 innings.
Home plate ump Brian Gorman wasn’t helping matters, as the Jennings had to deal with a miniaturized strike zone from the start of the game – he walked the bases loaded in the first inning before escaping by getting Ramon Hernandez to ground out. But that didn’t change the fact that Jennings didn’t have his best stuff, or his best velocity, as 2 of the 7 Oriole hits off of him where doubles to go along with the homers surrendured to Scott Moore and Luke Scott. Jennings wound up charged with 4 of the 8 Baltimore runs, while walking four, and striking out just one.
Things didn’t exactly improve on the mound for Texas after Jennings exited in the 5th, as Jamey Wright gave up 2 unearned runs in an 1.1 of work (thanks to an Ian Kinsler error in the 6th) and Josh Rupe gave up 2 runs in 2 innings of work, while walking a batter. Frankyln German did pitch a scoreless frame in his first outing since being pulled from his last appearance with back soreness, however.
Meanwhile, the Rangers offense continued to showcase their all-or-nothing tendencies to hit with runners in scoring position, going 1-9 in RBI chances on the day, leaving 9 men on base overall. They are now hitting .214 overall with RISP.
Ian Kinsler may have had the only RBI of the game for Texas in the 7th, but he also grounded into two double plays on the day, perhaps a big factor as to why the Rangers failed to peice anything together against Oriole 5th starter Brian Burres. It’s also worth noting that even David Murphy was just 1-4 with 5 LOB in the game, and Marlon Byrd was 0-2 before being pinch hit for, and is still looking for his first hit of the season. On the bright side, however, Milton Bradley had 2 hits, and now has a 4-game hitting streak.
To sum it up though, it was just a pretty miserable game for the entire team yesterday, in one of the biggest games of the year for the Rangers – heck, even Tom Hicks managed to pry himself away from his precious Liverpool soccer team to come take in the game. But it’s only a single contest, one that will hopefully be swiftly forgotten as the season rolls on. After all, there’s certainly no reason to remember this one.
In other, more encouraging news, 5th starter Luis Mendoza dazzled in a rehab start for AAA Oklahoma on Monday night, pitching 7.1 innings, giving up 7 hits, and one run, but walking no one and striking out two. Currently on the DL for a blister problem, Mendoza is scheduled to be activated Saturday to take on Blue Jays ace Roy Halladay, so it’s certainly good to see him looking sharp.
The Redhawks also won last night, 7-5 against Nashville, with Eric Hurley getting roughed up for 7 hits and 4 runs in just 4.1 IP, but some guys that could wind up in the Texas bullpen later this year, Elizardo Ramirez and Frank Francisco, had good nights – Ramirez tossed 2.2 scorelesss innings in releif, and Francisco notched the save. Jarrod Saltalamacchia wasn’t in the lineup for the second time in three days in OKC, held out tonight after going 0-3 with a walk on Monday night – hopefully all is well with him.
Tonight, the Rangers have Kason Gabbard on the mound vs. Steve Trachsel – Gabbard turned 26 yesterday, so another outing like he had against the Angels last week would sure make a nice belated birthday present. Hopefully he can at least slow down the O’s, who have now won 6 straight – and hopefully, he can get a little offensive support, something which has been far too sporadic so far this April for the Rangers.
