Rangers @ Blue Jays (July 17th-19th)

[Molina00]

Projected Matchups
Game 1: John Koronka vs. Ted Lilly
Game 2: Vicente Padilla vs. Shaun Marcum
Game 3: Kevin Millwood vs. Casey Janssen

Game 1 Matchup Notes
Koronka: John is 2-1 with a 3.38 ERA in his last 5 starts and is a solid 3-1 with a 4.23 ERA on the road. He pitched well against the Twins in his last start allowing 2 runs and striking out 4 in 5 innings in a no-decision. Koronka gave up 3 runs on 6 hits in 8 innings in his only other start against the Jays on July 4th.

Lilly: He is 3-4 but has a solid 3.64 ERA in his career against the Rangers. He was roughed up by the Royals for 5 runs in 5 innings of work in his last start, but in his previous start (against Texas) Lilly allowed just 2 runs on 5 hits over 6 innings in a losing effort.

Game 2 Matchup Notes
Padilla: Vicente has a major hot streak going. He is 4-1 with a stellar 2.81 ERA over his last 7 starts, but he has struggled on the road going 3-3 with a 4.88 ERA this year. He pitched well against the Jays on July 5th allowing 3 runs and striking out 10 in 6.2 innings while walking only 1 to get the win.

Marcum: Shaun will be making his first big league start against the Rangers on Tuesday. He currently holds a 7.45 ERA in 7 appearances out of the pen for the Jays. In a relief outing against the Rangers on July 3rd Marcum gave up a run on 2 hits but struck out the side in 1 inning of work.

Game 3 Matchup Notes
Millwood: Kevin has pitched well in his last 11 starts going 6-2 with a respectable 4.33 ERA. He has also been dominant on the road going 6-1 with a stellar 2.85 ERA in 9 road starts this season. This will be Millwood's first start of the year against the Blue Jays but he is 0-3 with a 6.86 ERA against them in his career.

Janssen: This guy has been absolutely bombed over his last 6 starts posting a 1-5 record with an 8.42 ERA. In his first start against the Rangers, on July 5th, Casey allowed 5 runs on 7 hits over 3.1 innings in a losing effort.

[Raphictor]

Koronka is pitching like crap. 8 runs allowed this inning and it isn't even over. Crappy crap craps. Time for the Benoit show. It better be a good one.

[Molina00]

Looks like this is going to a looooooong series. I'll be glad when this debacle of a road trip is over and they are back in Arlington. They just made it 9 in the inning now included a grand slam by Wells and 2-run shot by Overbay.

John Koronka Stat Line: 3.2 IP - 11 H - 9 R - 9 ER - 1 K - 3 HRA

The only bit of good news so far is that the A's are currently losing to the Orioles.

[Molina00]

The game is over and there isn't anything else worth reporting except a great performance from the Ranger pen. Benoit, Bauer, Cordero, and Littleton combined for 4.1 scoreless innings. The Blue Jays got nothing else after their 9 run 4th and the final score was 10-1.

[Molina00]

It's looking like game 1 carried over into game 2 so far. Rangers drew 2 walks but were sat down in the first then the Jays score 2 runs on 4 hits in the bottom of the first.

[Molina00]

This game has gone better than I expected after a bad first inning. Texas still trails 2-0 in the 8th inning now with Padilla having pitched 7 strong innings. I just hope the Rangers can get an 8th inning rally going so Padilla good outing won't be spoiled by a loss. So far the only offense Texas has had is doubles by Mench and Young and 2 walks to Teixeira.

[Raphictor]

This game has gone better than I expected after a bad first inning. Texas still trails 2-0 in the 8th inning now with Padilla having pitched 7 strong innings. I just hope the Rangers can get an 8th inning rally going so Padilla good outing won't be spoiled by a loss. So far the only offense Texas has had is doubles by Mench and Young and 2 walks to Teixeira.

Edit that. 2 out rally in the eighth revives the Rangers offense. 3-2 lead so far. Hopefully more on the way.

[Raphictor]

To add to that, Wilkerson's 2 out single up the middle makes it 5-2. According to FSNSW, that's his first two out hit in 25 opportunities this season.

[Molina00]

The Rangers bats are waking up in the 8th. Here is the AB by AB breakdown of the inning:

1) Rod Barajas strikes out.
2) Matthews singles to short. Runner on 1st with 1 out.
3) Kinsler strikes out.
4) Young singles. Runners on 1st and 2nd with 2 outs.
5) Teixeira singles to score Matthews.
6) Blue Jays pitcher Schoenweis throws a wild pitch. Runners move up to 2nd and 3rd.
7) Blalock singles to score Young and Teixeira. Rangers up 3-2.
8) DeRosa singles off new pitcher Vinnie Chulk, runners on 1st and 2nd with 2 outs.
9) Mench walks to load the bases.
10) Wilkerson singles to center to score Blalock and DeRosa. Rangers up 5-2.
11) Rod Barajas grounds out to end the inning.

The Rangers finished putting 5 across and batting around in the 8th taking a 5-2 lead. Rod Barajas started the inning by striking out and then ended the inning by grounding out.

[Molina00]

To add to that, Wilkerson's 2 out single up the middle makes it 5-2. According to FSNSW, that's his first two out hit in 25 opportunities this season.

Couldn't have asked for a much better time for his first one. Now if the Ranger pen can pitch like they did last night we will be in good shape to snap this losing streak.

[Molina00]

Bottom of the 8th
1) Reed Johnson singles to leadoff against Coco Cordero.
2) Frank Catalanotto flies out to center. Runner on 1st with 1 out.
3) Wild pitch by Cordero advances Johnson to 2nd. Runner on 2nd with 1 out.
4) Vernon Wells strikes out. Runner on 2nd with 2 outs.
5) Lyle Overbay strikes out. Runner stranded on 2nd. Inning over.

Rangers lead 5-2 going into the top of the 9th.

With the wild pitch set aside, Cordero was sharp punching out 2 batters in the inning.

[Molina00]

Top of the 9th
Vinnie Chulk pitching for the Blue Jays

1) Gary Matthews strikes out. Bases empty, 1 out.
2) Ian Kinsler ground out to second base. Bases empty, 2 out.
3) Michael Young singles to right field. Runner on 1st, 2 out.
4) Mark Teixeira ground out to second base. Runner stranded on 1st.

Michael Young picked up his team high 3rd hit of the game. Now 3 for 5 today raising his season average to .312.

[Molina00]

Bottom of the 9th
Aki Otsuka pitching for the Rangers.

1) Greg Zaun grounds out to second base. Bases empty, 1 out.
2) Benjie Molina ground to shortstop. Bases empty, 2 out.
3) Eric Hinske grounds out to first base. Game over.

With this 5-2 win, the Rangers have finally snapped their 3 game losing streak and are now 3-3 since the all-star break.

Offensive Highlights
Gary Matthews Jr.: 2 for 5, 1 run score
Michael Young: 3 for 5, 1 run scored, 1 double (31)
Mark Teixeira: 1 for 3, 1 Run, 1 RBI, 2 Walks
Hank Blalock: 1 for 4, 1 Run, 2 RBI
Kevin Mench: 2 for 3, 1 BB
Brad Wilkerson: 1 for 4, 2 RBI

Pitching Highlights
Vicenta Padilla: Win (10-5), 7 IP, 7 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 3 K
Francisco Cordero: 1 IP, 1 H, 2 K
Aki Otsuka: Save (19), 1 IP

[mattyfatty4]

Yay for DeRosa and his 2-run jack and Matthews 2-run double. And yay for the Angels losing!

[Molina00]

A 2-run homerun by DeRo then a 2-run hit by Mathews and the Rangers go on to win 5-4 and take the series 3 games to 2. DeRosa's homerun was the Rangers first homerun since the 15 run outburst against the Orioles 5 games ago.