Rangers vs. Mets

[Bob Of Burleson]

[Bob Of Burleson]

After long journey, Feliz back in the bigs

By T.R. Sullivan / MLB.com

NEW YORK -- Former All-Star closer Neftali Feliz is back in the Major Leagues.

Feliz was called up on Friday, with Ben Rowen optioned back to Triple-A Round Rock. Manager Ron Washington said that the Rangers needed a fresh arm in the bullpen, and Feliz was the best available at Triple-A.

The Rangers went to Feliz right away on Friday, as he took over in the sixth inning for Yu Darvish. Feliz pitched two scoreless innings, with two walks and two strikeouts. He left with the score tied at 4.

Feliz will likely be used in middle relief and occasionally as a setup man until he returns to his form of 2010 and 2011. He is not here to replace Joakim Soria.

"As long as Joakim Soria is available, he is the closer," Washington said. "Unequivocably."

"I'm ready when they need me -- ninth, seventh, eighth," Feliz said. "Wherever they want me."

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[Bob Of Burleson]

Two homers not enough for Rangers vs. Mets
Texas takes sixth straight loss after Darvish puts up erratic start

By Tim Healey / MLB.com

NEW YORK -- Manager Ron Washington opted to play it safe on Thursday, scratching Yu Darvish from his scheduled start against the Orioles in rainy Baltimore and sending his prized right-hander to New York ahead of the rest of the team. The thinking was plenty rational, but ultimately, it didn't do Washington & Co. much good.

The Mets got to Darvish for four runs in just five innings en route to a 6-5 win, the Rangers' sixth straight loss and 14th in their last 16 games. The Rangers also dropped their 10th consecutive road decision, despite a first-inning homer from Shin-Soo Choo and Mets starter Jon Niese exiting with a lower-back contusion after recording just one out.

"It is something every day," Choo said. "One day the pitching is good and the offense isn't there. For many teams the hitting and the pitching are there at the same time. Right now nothing is happening together for us. I'm tired of it. Every day it is something."

New York catcher Travis d'Arnaud smacked a two-run double to right-center to snap a 4-4 tie in the eighth inning. That hit, which came off righty Jason Frasor, proved to be the game-winner.

The rough outing for Frasor, who has a 2.63 ERA on the season but 4.91 ERA in the last month, came two days after a blown save against the O's.

"Life is better with a changeup, but it hasn't been there this road trip," Frasor said. "It has been noncompetitive."

Darvish's command was touch-and-go. The Mets scored thrice in the first inning -- two runs coming on Lucas Duda's opposite-field long ball -- then again in the fourth, when Eric Campbell doubled to plate Duda. In Darvish's other three innings, he set the side down in order. He allowed five hits and two walks while striking out six. The four earned runs allowed tied his season high.

"I had difficulty making adjustments with the wind," Darvish said through an interpreter, "but I didn't feel bad at all."

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[BigTex]

Nice double by Darvish. Maybe he should DH.

[BigTex]

Today we get to see Colby Lewis vs. that physical specimen Bartolo Colon.

[Cowman52]

Trying to watch the game, the play by play is horrible, about ready to go back to the barn and listen to the radio guys.

[Bob Of Burleson]

What do you need play by play for? You're watching the game.

[Bob Of Burleson]

Solid efforts from Lewis,
bats help Rangers snap skid
Chirinos, Beltre connect for homers off veteran right-hander Colon

By T.R. Sullivan / MLB.com |

NEW YORK -- There was no dancing or singing in the clubhouse on Saturday night. The voice of shortstop Elvis Andrus could be heard, but that's normal whether the Rangers win or lose.

This time they won, 5-3, snapping another losing streak, but they look at the victory as something they should be doing more than they have and need to start doing more of in a hurry.

"It's great, but I don't think we should be excited to get a win," third baseman Adrian Beltre said. "The last few weeks have been difficult. We haven't played the way we wanted, but a win shouldn't be a relief, it should be routine. It should be something we're doing more of. I know we have injuries, but that's no excuse. We should still be winning. We still have a good team and should be winning more ballgames."

But right now they'll take what they can get. Colby Lewis pitched six solid innings, and Robinson Chirinos smashed a three-run homer that helped carry the Rangers over the Mets at Citi Field.

The loss snapped the Rangers' six-game losing streak. They had also lost 10 straight on the road, their longest skid away from Arlington since they dropped 12 straight in 2003.

"It's no relief, because we still have games to play," manager Ron Washington said. "We finally won a ballgame, but we have to win more than just one game. It's nice to win, but we've got to come back tomorrow and be consistent. … Score some runs and pitch."

Lewis, in outpitching Mets starter Bartolo Colon, allowed three runs on eight hits to improve his record to 6-5 with a 5.51 ERA. He did not walk a batter and struck out seven before Neal Cotts took over in the seventh.

"You always want to build off the previous game," Lewis said. "We won tonight, but we want to do it again tomorrow. We're not out of this yet. It's only the All-Star break. You never know what can happen. We just have to keep running guys out there and stay healthy. You never know."

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[BigTex]

Incredible. Now Nick Martinez is hurt. Tweeked his back while taking batting practice.

[Bob Of Burleson]

Fuggedaboutit.

[Bob Of Burleson]

Tepesch has tough first,
and Rangers can't recover

By T.R. Sullivan / MLB.com

NEW YORK -- Starter Nick Tepesch pitched five strong innings on Sunday afternoon and also picked up his first Major League hit in an Interleague game.

It could have been a great all-around afternoon for Tepesch except for one small problem. He actually went six innings; his day got off to a terrible start with a five-run first, and the Rangers never recovered in an 8-4 loss to the Mets at Citi Field.

The Rangers ended up 1-6 on their road trip to Baltimore and New York and have lost 16 of their last 20 games.

Tepesch allowed just five hits, but two of them were home runs, and he walked four batters. It's only the fourth time in 28 Major League starts that he has allowed two home runs in a game and the third time he walked four, but it's the first time he has done both in the same game.

Mets right-hander Zack Wheeler earned the victory by holding the Rangers to one run in 6 1/3 innings. The Rangers' only run off Wheeler came on Robinson Chirinos' ninth home run of the season and seventh in the last 25 games.

Alex Rios added a solo home run and Leonys Martin hit a two-run shot off reliever Gonzalez Germen in the eighth inning, but the Rangers were 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position and are hitting .207 in those situations in their last 20 games.

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[Bob Of Burleson]

With 2014 failure,
Rangers GM has sunk
into Jerry territory

By Randy Galloway
Special to the Star-Telegram

Even this early, even before the All-Star break of July, it’s already a sleazeball of a season for the Texas Rangers.

But speaking of Jon Daniels …

Despite the clear evidence of GM incompetence associated with roster management for the 2014 campaign, we know there will be no hot seat for Daniels.

Jon is the love child of Bob and Ray, two baseball-stupid owners who are as much to blame for this season, and last season, as Daniels himself. Bob and Ray, of course, gave Daniels all the power two years ago.

Jon has since gagged on his own power trip.

But what about those injuries? Been a bunch of them this season, huh?

Ron Washington is certainly excused for this season, based on both the injuries and Daniels’ screwups. Jon owes Ron and Ron’s entire coaching staff an apology for this mess.

But does Daniels get an injury excuse for 2014?

Let us examine five pieces of solid evidence, and then judge on the excuse question.

Read more here: http://www.star-telegram.com/2014/07/05 ... rylink=cpy

[Bob Of Burleson]

Darvish, Beltre returning to All-Star Game

By T.R. Sullivan / MLB.com

NEW YORK -- Yu Darvish is going back to the All-Star Game for the third straight year. This time, he might even get into the game.

Darvish and third baseman Adrian Beltre were selected to represent the Rangers in the 2014 All-Star Game, on July 15 at Target Field. Both were selected via the players' vote. Darvish was one of five starting pitchers chosen, and Beltre was selected as the reserve third baseman.

Beltre will be going for the fourth time in five years.

"It's great. … Maybe we can fly together and he can teach me some Japanese," Beltre said. "It's always an honor to be selected to represent the American League in the All-Star Game. It never gets old."

Darvish was selected in 2012 and '13, but he did not pitch. He will be well rested for this year's event after his pitching schedule was altered last week, and he could be a strong candidate to start the game for the AL.

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[crocmommy]

Looks like the Astros really are going to pass us up....

[bodine]

Today we get to see Colby Lewis vs. that physical specimen Bartolo Colon.

Watched a couple of innings of that game. Colon is FAT!

[Bob Of Burleson]

Looks like the Astros really are going to pass us up....

Not yet. The Astros are off on a losing jag themselves. They've reeled off seven straight losses and are three behind Texas.