Texas Takes Series From Seattle

The Rangers' offense, starting pitching carries team to 2-1 series victory over the Marines while the bullpen blows series sweep. (AP Photo/Tim Sharp)

The Texas Rangers (3-3) could be looking at a whole-lot better record right now had their bullpen been able to close out some would-be victories in the first week of the regular season. The ninth inning has been the worst as Frank Francisco has two blown saves in three appearances and an ERA at 27.00. As a result of Francisco's ineffectiveness at the closer position, second-year player Neftali Feliz was moved into the role. Luckily for Texas, both the Rangers' bats and starting pitching have been excellent.
Friday night against the Mariners, the Rangers received seven innings of one run ball from Colby Lewis as he got his first major league victory in more than six years. Nelson Cruz went 3-4, with a HR and two RBI, leading the offensive charge by Texas. The Rangers broke the game open, with the game tied 1-1 in the bottom of the sixth inning, scoring four runs thanks to RBI from Vladimir Guerrero, Cruz, Joaquin Arias and Elvis Andrus. Josh Hamilton had both his first hit and RBI of the season in the 7th inning, pushing the Rangers' lead to 6-1.

Final Score - Rangers 6 Mariners 2

Saturday afternoon was another heart-breaker for Texas as they let a big late-inning lead slip away. Matt Harrison pitched six strong innings, allowing only one earned run, and the Rangers had a 3-1 lead going into the top of the ninth inning. Harrison retired the final eight batters he faced. Nelson Cruz had a solo home run and Taylor Teagarden and Joaquin Arias both scored on a Julio Borbon fielder's choice/error on Chone Figgins, accounting for the three Rangers run. The lead appeared safe, but nothing is as it seems so far this season in the ninth inning for the Texas Rangers. Francisco allowed a single, a walk, a sacrifice moving both runners to second and third and then three straight singles, scoring three runs for the Mariners.

"I'm missing a lot in the middle [of the plate]," Francisco said. "I wish it would be the opposite, but I have to deal with it."

Elvis Andrus nailed a 2-2 pitch off Seattle closer David Aardsma to deep center in the bottom of the ninth, but an amazing catch by Franklin Gutierrez at the wall robbed Andrus of the game-tying home-run. Andrus deep-drive was sandwiched by two strikeouts by Julio Borbon and David Murphy. Francisco was relieved of his closer duties the next morning.

Mariners 4 Rangers 3

Sunday afternoon showcased what the Rangers' offense is capable of doing to teams this season. Texas scored nine runs on 16 hits, their most of each category in a game this season. Every Rangers starter had at least one hit, aside from leadoff hitter David Murphy, and seven batters (including Murphy) knocked in at least one run. Matt Treanor started his first game as Texas Ranger, at catcher, and went 2-4 with two RBI.

Scott Feldman pitched seven innings and allowed only one earned run (noticing a trend amongst Rangers starters?), striking out four batters for his first win of the season. Feldman scattered seven hits and seemed to get the much-needed out every time he needed it.

"He used all his pitches," Texas Rangers Manager Ron Washington said. "They tried to work him. He bent, but he didn't break. He's establishing himself."

The one constant for the Rangers, at least early-on, in the 2010 season has been the starting pitching. That, Rangers fans, has not been written around these parts in a very, very long time.

Rangers 9 Mariners 2

What's Next

Texas takes to the road for the first time this season after a six-game home-stand. The Rangers travel to Cleveland to take on the Indians in a three-game series starting tomorrow afternoon.

Cleveland is 2-4 this season and are coming of a three-game sweep at the hands of the Detroit Tigers. The projected starters are Rich Harden and Francisco Carmona for the Indians.

Game-time is 2:05 p.m. and can be seen locally on Fox Sports Southwest.

News and Notes:

• Texas features two of the top five American League leaders in batting average through the first six games of the season. Vladimir Guerrero (2nd at ) and Nelson Cruz (4th at ) are both having red-hot starts to begin the season.
• Cruz is also first in the A.L. in RBI (9) and in a four-way tie for first in home runs in the Majors (4) with Vernon Wells, Alex Gonzalez, and Albert Pujols.
  
• Over the first six games of the season, Rangers' starters have allowed seven earned runs combined. The only Texas starter to allow more than one earned run in a start this season is ace Scott Feldman, who allowed three earned in 7 innings on opening day. The combined ERA for Texas' starting pitchers is 1.56. Let that sink in for a while.

(Portions of this article were taken from The Associated Press)