Rangers @ Athletics (May 28th-30th)

[Molina00]

Game 1 Recap
The slide continues. After getting swept by the Red Sox in Texas, The Rangers headed off to Oakland hoping for a fresh start. What they got was more of the same. Disappointing starting pitching, inadequate offense, and even the 11th error of the season by Ian Kinsler.

Robinson Tejeda started for Texas lasting only 3 innings allowing 5 runs on 4 hits and 3 walks and giving up homeruns to Travis Buck and Eric Chavez. Willie Eyre pitched in relief, and was brilliant however, striking out 6 Oakland batters in 4 scoreless innings of work to keep the Rangers in the ballgame. Only problem is the offense, after trailing 5-0, came up short. The Rangers only managed to score 3 runs over the final 4 innings of the game to fall in Oakland 5-3 and run their losing streak to 6 games.

[Molina00]

RANGERS WIN!!! RANGERS WIN!!!

After a devastating 6 game losing streak, everything came together for the Rangers Tuesday night in Oakland. Mike Wood made the start for Texas pitching 5 scoreless innings. He had some control problems walking 5 batters in those 5 innings, but managed to make it out without allowing a run. C.J. Wilson, Joaquin Benoit, and Eric Gagne combined for 4 scoreless innings of relief with Gagne getting the final 2 outs to notch his 3rd save of the season.

Sammy Sosa and Marlon Byrd proved the bulk of the offense with Sosa driving in 2 runs and Byrd going 3 for 4 with an RBI.

The Rangers went on to win 4-0 with all 4 runs scored coming in the 6th inning.

[Molina00]

Game 3 Recap
Is there a worse team at building momentum right now? Maybe, but probably not a lot worse. After snapping a 6 game losing streak with a 4-1 win over Oakland, the Rangers were almost completely shut down by Dan Haren last night in a 6-1 loss.

John Koronka started for Texas but got hit around for 6 runs on 10 hits over 5.1 innings and did not strike out a single Oakland hitter. Dan Haren, on the other hand, was dominating giving up just 1 run on 4 4 hits over 8 innings of work improving to 6-2 on the year and lowering his ERA to an incredible 1.64.

The offensive highlight for Texas was Michael Young who went 2 for 4, hit his 16th double of the year, and drove in the Rangers only run.