Rangers @ Athletics (September 4th-6th)

[Molina00]

Game 2 Recap
The Rangers unexpectedly jumped out to an early lead over Oakland, and even more unexpectedly, they held the lead and never trailed at any point in the game.

After being shutdown the first 2 innings, Texas broke out against Saarloos for 4 runs in the 3rd inning to take a 4-0 lead. That inning included a 3-run homerun by Mark DeRosa, his 13th of the year. Ranger starter Adam Eaton held the A's scoreless for 4 innings before allowing a run in the 5th and then 3 more in the 6th to make it a 5-4 game. That would be the final score as the Ranger pen shutdown the A's bats for the final 3 2/3rds innings. Aki struck out 2 in a perfect 9th for his 31st save of the year lowering his ERA to 2.06.

Other offensive highlights were Michael Young, who went 4 for 5 with 2 runs scored, and Gerald Laird who went 2 for 2 with 2 walks.

[Molina00]

The Rangers are off to a hot start in today's game currently leading 6-3 after 4 innings. Texas scored 1 in the 2nd, 3 in the 3rd off a Mark Teixeira 3-run homerun, then Teixeira hit a 2-out, 2-run homerun in the 4th to give Texas a 6-2 lead at the time. Matthews has gone 3 for 3 with 2 runs scored raising his average to .305 on the season. Vicente Padilla has allowed 3 runs on 4 hits over 4 innings and gave up a homerun to Frank Thomas in the 4th, Thomas's 32nd of the season.

[Molina00]

Top of the 5th
Joe Blanton
vs.
Hank Blalock

Blalock singles to rightfield.
Runner on 1st, no out.

[Molina00]

Top of the 5th
Joe Blanton
vs.
Mark DeRosa

DeRosa grounds into a double play.
Bases empty, 2 out.

[Molina00]

Top of the 5th
Joe Blanton
vs.
Ian Kinsler

Kinsler grounds out to shortstop to end the inning.

Rangers lead 6-3.

[Molina00]

Bottom of the 5th
Pitching for Texas: Vicente Padilla

Mark Ellis strikes out on a full count. One down.
Marco Scutaro grounds out to secondbase. Kinsler to Teixeira for the out. Two down.
Jason Kendall singles to leftfield. Runner on 1st, 2 out.
Mark Kotsay singles to leftfield. Runners on 1st and 2nd, 2 out.
Milton Bradley grounds into a force out. DeRosa to Kinsler for the out.

Inning over.
Rangers lead 6-3 after 5 innings.

[Molina00]

Top of the 6th
Joe Blanton
vs.
Gerald Laird

Laird grounds out to thirdbase. One down.

[Molina00]

Top of the 6th
Joe Blanton
vs.
Nelson Cruz

Cruz pops out to firstbase.

[Molina00]

Top of the 6th
Joe Blanton
vs.
Gary Matthews Jr.

Matthews grounds out back to the mound.

Inning over.
Rangers lead 6-3.

[Molina00]

Bottom of the 6th
Pitching for Texas: Vicente Padilla

Frank Thomas singles to shortstop. Runner on 1st, no out.
Eric Chavez singles to centerfield. Runners on 1st and 2nd, no out.
Jay Payton grounds out. Padilla to Teixeira for the out. Runners advance. Runners on 2nd and 3rd with 1 out.
Nick Swisher grounds out to firstbase. Thomas scores, Chavez to 3rd. Runner on 3rd with 2 outs.
Mark Ellis singles to rightfield. Chavez scores. Runner on 1st, 2 out.

Pitching Change: Josh Rupe replaces Vicente Padilla
Line on Padilla: 5.2 IP - 9 H - 5 R - 5 ER - 1 BB - 4 K
Runner on 1st is property of Padilla.

Marco Scutaro singles to rightfield, Ellis to 3rd. Runners on the corners, 2 out.
Jason Kendall walks to load the bases.
Mark Kotsay with a bases clearing double to rightfield. Oakland takes an 8-6 lead. Runner on 1st, 2 out.
Milton Bradley singles to rightfield, Kotsay scores, Bradley goes to 2nd. Runner on 2nd, 2 out.

Pitching Change: Scott Feldman replaces Josh Rupe
Line on Rupe: 0 IP - 3 H - 3 R - 3 ER - 1 BB
Runner on 2nd is the property of Rupe.

Frank Thomas grounds out to secondbase. Kinsler to Teixeira for the out.

The inning of slaughter is finally over.
A's score 6.
A's lead 9-6 after 6 innings.

[Molina00]

Top of the 7th
Jay Witasick
vs.
Michael Young

Young singles to leftfield.
Runner on 1st, no out.

[Molina00]

Top of the 7th
Jay Witasick
vs.
Mark Teixeira

Teixeira flies out to rightfield.
Runner on 1st, 1 out.

[Molina00]

Top of the 7th
Jay Witasick
vs.

Carlos Lee

Lee walks on 4 pitches, Young to 2nd.
Runners on 1st and 2nd, 1 out.

[Molina00]

Top of the 7th
Scott Sauerbeck
vs.
Hank Blalock

Blalock lines out to centerfield.
Runners on 1st and 2nd, 2 out.

[Molina00]

Top of the 7th
Chad Guadin
vs.
Mark DeRosa

DeRosa grounds out to shortstop.

Inning over.
A's lead 9-6.