2007 Spring Training Game Thread

[Molina00]

Spring Training Game #14: Diamonbacks-15, Rangers-12
I lost game 13 somewhere along the line, which was a Ranger win btw, so we'll go on to game 14.

The Diamondbacks struck first scoring 5 combined runs in the 2nd and 3rd innings, all off Ranger starter Robinson Tejeda who lasted just 2.2 innings. Texas was trailing 5-0 going into the 4th inning when the offensive floodgates opened. The Rangers bombed Arizona starter Edgar Gonzalez and reliever Casey Daigle for 9 runs in the inning including homeruns by Sammy Sosa and Gerald Laird. Laird's blast was with 2 outs and of the 3-run variety. The Rangers took a 9-5 lead. Both teams were scoreless in the 5th, but in the 6th the Diamondbacks brought out the bats hammering the Rangers for 10 runs in the inning. Josh Rupe allowed 8 runs on 5 hits and 4 walks in the game and Rick Bauer allowed the other 2 runs of the inning, which also including a 2-out grand slam by Tony Clark. The D-Backs took a 15-9 lead at that point. The scoring wasn't over yet though as the Rangers tacked on 3 more runs in the 7th including Kevin Mahar's first homerun of the spring. The Rangers pulled to within 3 runs at 15-12 but Arizona reliever Tony Pena shut down Texas for the final 2 innings sealing the win for the D-Backs.

Offensive Highlights:
Former D-Back, Matt Kata went 3 for 5 with 3 runs batted in.
Jerry Hairston went 2 for 3 with a triple and drove in 2 runs.
Sammy Sosa hit his 3rd homerun of the spring.
Gerald Laird went 2 for 3 with his 2nd homerun, 2 runs scored, and 3 RBI.
Drew Meyer went 2 for 3 with 2 walks and 2 runs scored.

Spring Training Record: 8-6

[Molina00]

Spring Training Game #15: Rangers-4, Padres-3
The Rangers got back to their winning ways, this time using pitching and defense after allowing 15 runs to the Diamondbacks. The Rangers and Padres matched each other with zeros over the first 3 innings until some runs were finally scored in the 4th. After Jamey Wright pitched 3 scoreless innings he gave up 2 runs, including a Josh Bard homerun, in the 4th to give San Diego a 2-0 lead. The Rangers came right back in the bottom of the inning scoring 2 runs former Ranger Doug Brocail to tie the game at 2. The Padres re-took the lead with a 3rd run in the 5th inning off of Frankie Francisco, but Clay Meredith couldn't hold the lead giving up 2 Ranger runs in the 6th to put Texas on top 4-3. The rest of the Ranger pen (Otsuka, Benoit, Feldman, Mahay) combined for 4 scoreless innings as the Rangers went on to win 4-3.

Offensive Highlights:
Marlon Byrd drove in 2 runs.
Chris Stewart went 2 for 2 with a run scored.
Jason Botts stole his first base of the spring.

Spring Training Record: 9-6

[Molina00]

Spring Training Game #16: Rangers-4, Mariners-1
Kevin Millwood started for Texas and posted 4 solid innings for his first win of the spring. Kevin went 4 innings allowing just 1 unearned run on 2 hits. The run was driven in by Jose Guillen in the first inning, and was the Mariners only run of the day. Kameron Loe came on in relief of Millwood and allowed just 1 hit over 5 scoreless innings and notched the save. Horacio Ramirez started for Seattle. He also pitched a solid game allowing just 2 runs on 4 hits over 5 innings, but thanks to the top notch Ranger pitching, failed to get the win. The Rangers scored 2 in the 5th off of Ramirez, and then added 2 more in the 6th, thanks to a 2-run Brad Wilkerson homerun, off of Eric O'Flahery. The Rangers went on to win 4-1.

Offensive Highlights:
Jerry Hairston went 2 for 4 with an RBI.
Brad Wilkerson went 2 for 4 with his first homerun of the spring, 2 runs scored, and 2 RBI.

Game Note: The tandem of Kevin Millwood and Kameron Loe combined allowed just 1 run on 3 hit for the entire game.

Spring Training Record: 10-6

[Molina00]

Spring Training Game #17: Rangers-12, Rockies-8
The Rangers jumped out to an early lead against Rockies starter Jeff Francis scoring runs in the 2nd and 3rd to take a 2-0 lead. One of the runs coming courtesy of Matt Kata's first homerun of the spring. Ranger starter Bruce Chen went 3 innings allowing 5 hits but did not give up a run. Reliever Wes Littleton was much less successful. The Rockies hit Littleton for 3 runs on 1 hit and 3 walks in the 4th to take a 3-2 lead. The Rangers bounced back in the 5th with a single run to tie the game at 3, but that lead would be short lived as well. In the 6th inning, Rick Bauer gave up 5 runs on 5 hits, although not entirely his fault as only 1 of the runs was earned. The Rockies went up 8-3 over the Rangers. The Rangers still trailed 8-4 going into the bottom of the 7th when the offensive floodgates opened. The Texas offense hammered Rockie reliever Matt Herges and Ramon Ramirez for 8 runs in the inning. Included in those 8 runs was a 2-run homerun by Nate Gold and a grand slam by Matt Kata, his 2nd homerun of the game. The Rangers took a 12-8 lead and went on to win by that score.

Offensive Highlights:
Matt Kata went 4 for 5 with 2 homeruns, 3 runs scored, and 5 RBI.
Nate Gold went 1 for 3 with a homer and 2 RBI.
Jerry Hairston went 3 for 4 with a double and 3 runs scored.
Nelson Cruz hit 2 doubles and drove in 2 runs.

Spring Training Record: 11-6

[Molina00]

Spring Training Game #18: Rangers-4, Giants-3
In today's game against the Giants pitching was the big story, on two different fronts. Not only did both teams match each other for 4 scoreless innings to start the game, but Eric Gagne also made his spring debut giving up a solo homerun and striking out 1 in the 5th inning. The solo blast by Giants 2B Kevin Frandsen was also the first run of the game giving the Giants a 1-0 lead. The Rangers quicly retaliated in the bottom of the 5th thanks to a solo shot from Nelson Cruz to tie the game. Each team scored 1 more run in the 6th (homeruns by Bonds for the Giants and Kinsler for the Rangers), but the Rangers continued the scoring with runs in the 7th and 8th innings to take a 4-2 lead. Frankie Francisco held the Giants scoreless in the 7th and 8th to pick up his 2nd win of the spring. Francisco Cruceta came on to pitch the 9th. He did give up 1 run on 2 hits to bring the Giants within 1, but also struck out the side to notch his 2nd save. The 4-3 win made it a 4 game winning streak for the Rangers.

Offensive Highlights:
Ian Kinsler went 2 for 3 with a double and a homerun and is now batting .400 this spring.
Nelson Cruz went 2 for 3 with 2 solo homeruns.

Spring Training Record: 12-6

[Molina00]

Spring Training Game #19: Cubs-11, Rangers-7
The Rangers winning streak is over. Despite out-homering the Cubs 3-2, the Rangers bullpen couldn't get the job done as Texas fell 11-7.

Jamey Wright started for Texas and was less then steller giving up 4 runs on 8 hits over 3.1 innings. Trailing 1-0 going into the 2nd inning, Gerald Laird hit a 2-run homerun and Ramon Vazquez followed with a solo shot giving the Rangers a 3-1 lead. The Cubs hit Wright for 3 runs in the bottom of the inning however to retake the lead 4-3. There would be no more scoring until the 5th inning when Laird hit his 2nd homerun of the game, a 2-run shot with 2 outs in the inning to give the Rangers a 5-4 lead. Texas lead 6-4 going into the bottom of the 7th. Reliever Rick Bauer was unable to hold the lead giving up 3 runs in the inning and allowing 6 hits in 1.2 innings overall, and the Cubs jumped ahead 7-6. The Rangers managed to tie the game in the 9th with a run off Michael Wuertz, but with 1 out and the bases loaded in the bottom of the inning, Ranger reliever Ingram gave up a grand slam to Daryle Ward to give the Cubs the victory.

Offensive Highlights:
Matt Kata went 2 for 5 with 2 runs scored.
Ian Kinsler went 3 for 5 with 2 RBI and his 2nd stolen base of the spring.
Hank Blalock went 1 for 2 with a double and 2 runs scored.
Gerald Laird homered twice and drove in 4 runs.
Ramon Vazquez hit his 2nd homerun of the spring and walked twice.

Spring Training Record: 12-7

[Molina00]

Spring Training Game #20: Rangers-8, Brewers-6
Rangers got off to a big start in yesterday's game. With Zach Jackson on the mound for Milwaukee, 1-out and the bases juiced, Sammy Sosa slammed his 4th homerun of the spring to give the Rangers a 4-0 lead. The Rangers would never trail. Eric Gagne started for Texas and pitched 1 scoreless inning before being replace by Bruce Chen. Chen saw much less success allowing 5 runs on 6 hits over 3.2 innings. Frankie Francisco took over for Chen in the 5th with the game tied at 5. The Rangers retook the lead with a run in the 6th, added 2 more in the 8th and went to win 8-6 and improve to 13-7 this spring.

Offensive Highlights:
Kenny Lofton went 2 for 4 with 2 runs scored.
Ian Kinsler hit his 5th double of the spring and drove in a run.
Sammy Sosa went 2 for 3 with his 4th homer of the spring and 5 RBI.
Brad Wilkerson went 2 for 4 with 2 RBI.

Spring Training Record: 13-7

[awefullspellare]

What will Sosa's role for the team be after playing so well in the Spring?

[Molina00]

What will Sosa's role for the team be after playing so well in the Spring?

I think the popular opinion is primarily a DH and sometime outfielder, probably if one of the regulars needs a rest. I think the original plan was a part-time DH but I wonder if he'll be full-time now that he has hit so well this spring.

[awefullspellare]

I forgot about the DH in the AL. That's perfect for him, to get to hit and rest his body not playing OF.

[Molina00]

Spring Training Game #24: Padres-24, Rangers-7
Not a whole lot to say about this game. The offense was mediocre and, as the 24 Padre runs can attest, pitching was awful. Kevin Millwood started and gave up 10 runs on 12 hits over 4.2 innings. Ron Mahay gave up 7 runs on 4 hits and 3 walks in just a 1/3rd of an inning. Gagne, Littleton, and Astacio finished the game combining to give up 7 runs on 8 hits and 4 walks over 3 innings. The only highlights were Marlon Byrd going 2 for 3 with a homer and 3 RBI and Jason Botts going 2 for 3 with a run scored.

Spring Training Record: 15-9

[Molina00]

Spring Training Game #25: Mariners-11, Rangers-8
The Rangers kept their losing ways going in Wednesday's pitching debacle against the Mariners. Texas starter Vicente Padilla went 4.1 innings and got hammered for 10 runs on 11 hits, including 2 homeruns allowed to Adrian Beltre and Richie Sexson. The Rangers didn't get on the board until 2 in the 5th off Seattle starter Felix Hernandez. At that point the Rangers were trailing 9-2. The Rangers got some late inning rallies going scoring 2 in the 8th and 3 in the 9th but still fell short as the Mariners went on to win 11-8. The three 9th inning runs were courtesy of a Miguel Ojeda 3-run jack off Mariner reliever Rivera. Mike Wood was the one bright pitching spot for Texas striking out 3 and only allowing 1 hit over 3.1 scoreless innings to finish the game.

Offensive Highlights:
Frank Catalanotto went 3 for 4 with a run scored and an RBI.
Miguel Ojeda went 1 for 1 with a homer, 2 runs scored, 3 RBI, and a walk.
Ramon Vazquez went 2 for 3 with a run scored and a walk.

Spring Training Record: 15-10

[Molina00]

Spring Training Game #26: Royals-7, Rangers-5
The Rangers finally got some solid starting pitching in yesterday's game against the Royals, but it wasn't enough as they dropped thier 3rd straight game. Brandon McCarthy started for Texas pitching 5.2 innings allowing 3 runs on 5 hits while striking out 4.

With the game tied at 1 going into the 6th, the Royals got 2 runs off of McCarthy to take a 3-1 lead. That would be short lived as the Rangers scored 3 runs in the bottom of the inning, thanks to a pair of 2-out homeruns from secondbaseman Benjamin and Sammy Sosa. The homeruns came off of Octavio Dotel and gave the Rangers a 4-3 lead. The Rangers still led 4-3 going into the 8th when Ezequiel Astacio took the mound for Texas. The Royals tatooed him for 4 runs on 3 hits in the inning, including a 3-run shot by Mark Teahen. The Royals took a 7-4 lead which the Rangers could not overcome. Texas scored 1 more in the bottom of the 8th but failed to score again as the Royals went on to win 7-5.

Offensive Highlights:
Matt Kata went 2 for 4 with a double, a triple, and a run scored.
Sammy Sosa hit his 5th homerun of the spring.

Spring Training Record: 15-11

[Molina00]

Today's game against the Brewers in Frisco Texas was rained out leaving only 1 game remaining on the Rangers Spring Training schedule, tonight battle with the Brewers in the newly re-named Ballpark in Arlington.

[Molina00]

Spring Training Game #27: Rangers-4, Brewers-3
The Rangers finished out the spring in fine fashion with good pitching and a good offensive performance from Ian Kinsler. Robinson Tejeda made the start and pitched 5 scoreless innings allowing just a hit and a walk. Ian Kinsler went 3 for 3 with 2 RBI and finished an excellent spring batting .429 with 3 homeruns and 19 RBI. Michael Young and Nelson Cruz each homered in the game as well, with Nellie's blast being the game winning shot in the 9th inning.

Rangers final Spring Training Record: 16-11