Blue Jays @ Rangers (May 4th-6th)

[Molina00]

Game 1 Recap
It's a miracle! The Rangers actually won a game! And almost as much of a miracle, Brandon McCarthy pitched a good game. His first good performance since April 9th.

McCarthy had some control issues walking 4 batters in 6 innings but he only allowed 2 hits and just 1 run in picking up his long overdue 2nd win of the year.

The Rangers broke through first scoring 2 runs in the 2nd to take a 2-0 lead. The Blue Jays countered in the 3rd with their only run of the game to make it a 2-1 game, the only run they could manage off McCarthy who went 6 innings for the win. Willie Eyre pitched the final 3 innings holding the Jays scoreless and picking up his first save as a Ranger.

The Rangers big inning was in the 3rd when they scored 3 runs, thanks in part to a 2-run homerun from Hank Blalock, his 2nd homerun of the year. Kenny Lofton also pitched in his 2nd homerun of the year in the 5th and the Rangers went on to win 7-1 and snap the 5 game losing streak.

[Molina00]

Game 2 Recap
The Rangers got their first winning streak since April going, and who would have thought they would get it going up against someone who was 4-0 with a 2.28 ERA on the season. That's what happened though as the Rangers hammered Blue Jays former Cy Young winner Roy Halladay for 6 runs on 9 hits over 5.1 innings to improve to 4-2 against the Blue Jays this year.

Vicente Padilla made his best start of the year allowing just 1 earned run on 6 hits over 7 innings for his first win of the year. The big run support came in the 3rd inning when Texas put 6 runs on the board. The Rangers lead 9-2 going into the bottom of the 8th when Michael Young hit his 3rd homerun of the year, a 2-run shot giving Texas an 11-2 lead. The Blue Jays tried to rally in the 9th but settled for 2 runs against Ron Mahay and the Rangers finished with an 11-4 victory.

Offensive Highlights:
Kenny Lofton walked twice and scored two runs.
Michael Young went 3 for 5 with a double, a homer, and drove in 5 runs.
Mark Teixeira ripped his 7th double of the year and drove in 3 runs.
Matt Kata hit 3 for 3 with a double, 3 runs scored, and a stolen base out of the 9 slot.

[Molina00]

Game 3 Recap
For what I believe is the first time this season, the Rangers have a series sweep. Kameron Loe outdueled A.J. Burnett and the Rangers went on to a 3-2 victory and the sweep over the Blue Jays.

The Blue Jays broke through first with a 2nd inning, solo homerun from Troy Glaus, the Jays only run against Loe who pitched into the 7th inning. Kenny Lofton and Mark Teixeira hit solo homeruns against Burnett in the 5th and 6th innings respectively to take a 2-1 lead. Toronto's only other run scored came in the 8th off of Joaquin Benoit to tie the game at 2. Michael Young homered in his 2nd consecutive game in the bottom of the 8th to give the Rangers a 3-2 lead and eventual win by the same score. Aki Otsuka pitched a scoreless 9th to nail down his 4th save of the season.

Game Note: All 3 Rangers runs were by solo homeruns and 4 of the 5 total runs scored in the game were from solo homeruns.

[realmofotalk]

I would have expected that either John Danks or McCarthy to perform well enough to make the trade appear one-lopsided, but so far it hasn't happened yet.