A couple of big wins, a big loss, and yet another late-inning collapse (this time by Neftali Feliz, pictured above) has Texas stuck at three games below .500. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)Four games in four days and the Texas Rangers (8-11) seem to be stuck in neutral.
The four-game series against the Detroit Tigers (11-9) started promisingly enough, with the Rangers winning two of the first three. However, with a shot at winning it's first series in nearly two weeks, the bullpen folded again and allowed the Tigers to even the series.
Recaps:
Rangers 5 Tigers 4
Friday night's game saw both teams manufacture rallies in the ninth inning. The Rangers held a 4-2 lead going into the top of the ninth inning before Feliz gave up two runs on a Magglio Ordonez single that tied the game at four-all. Texas then loaded the bases in the bottom of the ninth and Elvis Andrus knocked in the game-winning run.
"What a finish to a nice game," Manager Ron Washington said. "Elvis Weekend [at the Ballpark in Arlington], and he's the one that gets the hit for us."
It was Andrus' only hit of the game, but it was the biggest and gave Texas the win.
Tigers 8 Rangers 4
On Saturday night, Texas got out to a big lead early at 4-0, but Detroit came back with eight runs in the following two innings. Rangers' starter Scott Feldman gave up eight hits and all eight (four earned) and was pulled after only 3 2-3 innings. Johnny Damon and Ordonez knocked in two runs each, while a wild-pitch by Feldman in the fourth inning allowed two more runs to come in.
"Just a horrible job by me," Feldman said. "The guys came out and put up four real quick and I let them right back into the game. Nobody to blame but myself."
Feldman also walked four batters while striking out only one and he's seen his ERA jump from 2.57 to 5.40 after two straight short, horrendous outings.
Rangers 8 Tigers 4
Sunday afternoon saw both teams jump out to quick starts. The Rangers and the Tigers combined to score 10 runs in the first two innings and Texas had a 6-4 lead. Michael Young hit a bases-clearing double in the second inning and Colby Lewis rebounded after a tough start to lead Texas to a win. Lewis settled after the second inning and retired the next 13 batters he faced as he didn't allow another hit in 6 1-3 innings pitched while striking out 10 batters for his third win of the season (3-0).
"Colby was outstanding," Washington said. "He got off to a rough start, but he righted the ship."
Young tacked on two more RBI in the 5th on a bases-loaded single. He finished the game 3-5 with a season-high five RBI.
"We needed one of our guy's in the middle of that lineup to come through, and Michael did it," Washington said. "I can't say enough about what he can do in crucial situations."
Tigers 8 Rangers 6
In Monday night's game, Texas allowed another early-inning slug-fest by Detroit. The Tigers scored four runs in the 1st inning. This time, the offending party was starter Matt Harrison who had a rough night at the mound for the second consecutive start. Harrison allowed a lead-off single and then two straight walks, loading the bases for Miguel Cabrera who knocked in a run on a single. Then, after striking out Brandon Inge, Harrison allowed Ryan Rayburn to rock a double to left, clearing the bases. When it was all-said-and-done, Harrison pitched six innings and allowed six runs on eight hits. Harrison has seen his ERA for the season jump from 1.39 to 5.48 over his last two outings.
"I was maybe trying to overthrow," Harrison said. "Before the game, I felt good."
The Rangers did make a comeback in this game, scoring at least one run in the 4th-7th innings. A Vladimir Guerrero single drove in two runs to tie it up at six in the seventh inning. Unfortunately for the Rangers, another late-inning relief pitcher had some struggles and this time it was newcomer to the closer role, Neftali Feliz. In the top of the ninth inning, Feliz allowed back-to-back home runs to Cabrera and Inge. A three-up, three-down inning in the bottom of the inning by Jose Valverde sealed the victory for the Tigers.
"It wasn't the result I expected," Feliz said. "It wasn't the pitches. It was the location of the pitches, it wasn't where I wanted to locate."
Whats Next
The Chicago White Sox come to down for a three-game series starting Tuesday night at the Ballpark in Arlington. The White Sox are 8-11 on the season, 2-5 on the road, but are coming off of a three-game sweep of the Seattle Mariners.
Mark Buehrle (2-2, 4.56 ERA) will take on C.J. Wilson (1-1, 1.37 ERA) in the first game of the series, with the first pitch scheduled at 7:05 p.m. Tuesday night.
News and Notes:
- Vladimir Guerrero is wielding a hot-bat right now for the Texas Rangers. For the series against Detroit, Guerrero batted .533 (8-15), hit one home-run, and knocked in seven RBI.
- Despite their recent struggles, the Rangers' total ERA is 3.73 which is 6th in the American League. However, Texas' overall ERA was in the top-three in baseball for the first couple weeks of the season.
- Texas is 13th among 14 teams in the American League in saves (3).
(Portions of this article were taken from
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