Rangers rally, but Feliz blows save
The Rangers needed not one, but two comebacks tonight. It wasn't quite as dramatic as last night's rally, but it was not the easy win I ordered. In fact, it was not a win at all.
For one thing, C.J. Wilson didn't dig them quite as big of a hole. C.J. struck out nine and allowed one run during his 6.2 innings on the mound. Two of the three runs charged to him actually scored after Darren Oliver took over. Grrrr! Sure, C.J. put those runners on, but I'm still directing my ire at Oliver for that. Especially since the third run scored on a ridiculous balk (Oliver dropped the ball).
The Rangers offense bailed the pitchers out though in the bottom of the 7th. After squandering many scoring opportunities earlier in the game, they finally got on the board. Mitch Moreland and Yorvit Torrealba singled, and then Mitch came home when Asdrubal Cabrera misplayed a ball hit by David Murphy. That was only the beginning of the Rangers' scoring barrage. Ian Kinsler singled to bring Yorvit and Murph around, and Josh Hamilton sacrificed Kinsler home. Whew. We needed those runs.
Koji Uehara showed why the Rangers picked him up. He gave up a lead-off walk, then picked off that runner on first base. After that, he retired the next two batters with apparent ease. And he was quite pumped up as he went into the dugout. High fives all around!
The celebrating was short-lived though. Neftali Feliz blew the save in the 9th, giving up three runs while only recording two outs. It was his third night in a row, and he should not have been out there. I think he showed us that. Yoshinori Tateyama relieved him and gave up a two-run home run that seemed to put a nail in the Rangers' coffin. I was not feeling a miracle walk-off.
The Rangers like to tease though. With two outs, Kinsler walked, Andrus singled him home and Hamilton singled. Young stepped up, and after the runners advanced to second and third on a wild pitch, a base hit would tie the game. But ... he grounded out to the short stop. Sigh.
No walk-off celebration in Arlington tonight. Ah well.
KISS: Yorvit Torrealba. He's swinging a really hot bat lately --- 3 for 4 tonight.
MISS: Feliz. I know Wash shouldn't have sent him out there, but still...ugh.
FINAL SCORE
Indians :: 7 R, 10 H, 2 E, 6 TLOB
Rangers :: 5 R, 8 H, 1 E, 8 TLOB
Sunday's match-up
vs. CLE, 7:05 p.m. CST
Colby Lewis (10-8, 4.14 ERA) vs. Josh Tomlin (11-5, 4.16 ERA)
Young hit watch
Michael Young is two hits away from 2,000. I'm sure he'll get it tomorrow ... during a game I can't watch (stupid Sunday night blackout restrictions).
Beltre's return delayed
Adding injury to insult, Adrian Beltre re-injured his hamstring this afternoon when he was running the bases. He'll be out at least another three weeks. I has a sad. I was really hoping to see him next weekend. But more than that, this team really needs him back.
