Rangers vs. Angels

[BigTex]

Are we having fun yet?

[Bob Of Burleson]

May we have a moment of silence?

[BigTex]

Whatta they got on the Oprah Winfrey Network tonight?

[Bob Of Burleson]

Check out "Welcome to Sweden" on NBC right now.

[Cowman52]

Watched a little of the pre game show,, There was talk that the rangers couldn't play this bad for too long. Is some one rethinking that statement right now?

[Dennis]

Snow Monkey curse.

[Cowman52]

You reckon Nolan is smiling bout now?

[BigTex]

And Gimenez takes the mound for the ninth.

[BigTex]

Shutdown inning - 12 pitches and one SO (but I think the Angels were swinging at everything just to get it over with)

[Bob Of Burleson]

Trout's HR, four hits help Angels rout Rangers

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — All-Star center fielder Mike Trout had a three-run homer among his four hits for the fast-starting Los Angeles Angels in a 15-6 victory over the freefalling Texas Rangers on Thursday night.

The first four Angels batters in the game had hits and scored. It all got started when Kole Calhoun had a leadoff triple into the right-field corner, then trotted home on an errant relay throw that bounced into the seats.

Calhoun had four hits and scored four times while finishing a homer shy of a cycle. He had three hits in the first three innings for the Angels, who won for the seventh time in eight games.

The Rangers have lost five straight and 19 of 22. They have the worst winning percentage in the majors at .413 with their 38-54 record.

Colby Lewis (6-6) allowed a club-record 13 runs in only 2 1-3 innings. He also gave up a career-worst 13 hits in his 130th major league start, while his ERA increased by more than a full run - from 5.51 to 6.54 - after 11 earned runs were changed against him.

. . .

Rangers rookie outfielder Jake Smolinski, who made his major league debut as a pinch-hitter Monday, had three hits, drove in three runs and scored twice. He has hits in all three of his starts and is the first Rangers player ever with eight hits in his first four games.

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[BigTex]

ARLINGTON — Manager Ron Washington resorted to a fire-and-brimstone blistering of the Rangers after a 15-6 loss to the Los Angeles Angels on Thursday night at Globe Life Park.

In a post-game clubhouse meeting that lasted about 30 minutes, Washington vented his unhappiness at the way his club has been playing in this current dreadful stretch. The Rangers have lost five consecutive games and 19 of their last 22 games.

“I needed to remind them of some things,” Washington said.

Right-hander Colby Lewis, who allowed a club-record 13 runs in 2 1/3 innings, described Washington’s mood as “pissed.”

Said Lewis: “So am I. For every reason. We don’t lose here, and that’s what’s going on. We have to make changes, and it all happens like Wash said in this locker room.”

Washington said the Rangers have “a big group … that doesn’t know what winning is all about.” He hinted some players have let the losing distract them and used third baseman Adrian Beltre as the example of what is expected.

“It doesn’t matter the situation, he’s locked in,” Washington said. “We’re trying to get a lot of these guys locked in like that. It hasn’t happened yet.”

Washington did not mention specific plays form the loss, but two veterans gave away an out during the Angels’ six-run second inning. Shortstop Elvis Andrus did not make a play on a foul pop-up, and right fielder Alex Rios dropped Albert Pujols’ sacrifice fly.

Andrus and Rios have also combined for 11 RBIs in the last 22 games.

The Halos first four hitters — Kole Calhoun, Mike Trout, Albert Pujols and old friend Josh Hamilton — were 9-for-9 with eight RBIs and 10 runs scored against Lewis. Trout finished Lewis’ agony with a three-run homer.

“It happened so quick,” Lewis said. “It was a different night, that’s for sure. I still have to get outs, and I didn’t do my job.”

The Rangers also suffered the double indignity of becoming the first team to lose to Angels left-hander Hector Santiago since last August. Santiago was 0-9 with a 4.64 ERA in his previous 16 starts.

[crocmommy]

Is this still a baseball town?

[Bob Of Burleson]

Texas Rangers catcher Geovany Soto arrested
Wednesday on marijuana possession charge

By Tasha Tsiaperas
ttsiaperas@dallasnews.com

Rangers catcher Geovany Soto has released a statement on his arrest on a marijuana possession charge.

“I was stopped by Grapevine Police on Wednesday night. I am embarrassed and would like to apologize to my family, the Rangers organization, and our fans that I was taken in on this charge,” Soto said in a written statement. “Because this is an ongoing case, I cannot discuss this matter any further at this time.”

The Texas Rangers have also released a statement on the arrest.

“The Rangers organization is aware of Wednesday night’s incident involving Geovany Soto. We have spoken to Geovany, and he has apologized and expressed deep embarrassment for the situation. We have notified Major League Baseball of the incident. As this is an on-going case, this is the only comment we will have at this time.”

. . .

Soto, 31, was pulled over for speeding around 10 p.m. in the 3500 block of Ira E. Woods Avenue, said Grapevine police spokesman Sgt. Robert Eberling.

He has been charged with misdemeanor possession of marijuana under 2 ounces. Eberling said Soto was cooperative during the arrest.

The Colleyville resident is free on a $500 bail. The Tarrant County district attorney’s office filed his charges Friday. Soto has not selected a defense attorney.

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[BigTex]

All he really has to do is explain that he needed something to help him cope with the Astros sweep. No jury would convict him.

[BigTex]

Rangers get out of the first inning without giving up 5 runs. Doesn't that go in the record book as a win?

[geeiabil]

.
Close but still four runs short,.

[Bob Of Burleson]

Rangers can't break through against Richards, Angels
Texas loses for 20th time in 23 games despite solid start by Tepesch

By T.R. Sullivan / MLB.com

ARLINGTON -- The Rangers were 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position on Friday night, all coming with two outs. They managed just six singles and no extra base hits. Their struggling leadoff hitter was 0-for-4 with three strikeouts.

Rangers manager Ron Washington had an overriding reason for it all and that was Angels starter Garrett Richards.

"Tonight was Richards more than anything else," Washington said after the Rangers went down for the sixth consecutive game with a 3-0 loss to the Angels on Friday night.

Richards kept the Rangers from taking advantage of a strong start from Nick Tepesch, who allowed three runs in six-plus innings. It was only the Rangers' sixth quality start in the last 23 games and they are now 3-20 in that stretch.

"We were just one hit away from getting back in the game," shortstop Elvis Andrus said. "It was a lot better tonight. Nick did a great job keeping us in the game. We created a lot of opportunities, unfortunately we didn't get the base hit that could relax the team."

Richards, who wasn't particularly thrilled to be left off the American League All-Star team, allowed just five hits and two walks while striking out eight. Shin-Soo Choo struck out three of those times but nobody else was having much luck either against a pitcher who is now 11-2 with a 2.55 ERA on the season.

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[BigTex]

Hey look. Billy Gibbon's dad is at the Ranger game.

[BigTex]

Now THAT is a nose bleed.

[Bob Of Burleson]

Ron Washington on Jake Smolinsky:

"He has an idea of how to play the game. He is into the game when he is in the outfield. He is a baseball player."