Surprise Party: Rangers vs. Padres Live Blog

Posted on March 5th, 2009 2:33pm by Evan Grant
Filed under Texas Rangers

So, enough with the congratulations, already. I’m blushing. And the bald head really looks bad when it’s all scarlet and everything. Instead, let’s do some live blogging. Remember. Just jump and refresh for the latest stuff.

Bottom of 2nd: Scott Feldman has been perfect through two innings, throwing 22 pitches and 14 of them for strikes. Now, keep in mind he’s facing perhaps the majors worst-hitting team from 2008. Nevertheless, it’s a vast improvement over the nine hits and seven runs he allowed in 1.2 innings against the Cubs on Feb. 27.

Bottom of 4th: Taylor Teagarden helped out Kris Benson with a strong throw to catch the scrappy David Eckstein trying to swipe second base for the second out of the inning. Then Benson struck out Kevin Kouzmanoff. Rangers lead 1-0 on a first-inning RBI single by Josh Hamilton.

Top of 5th: The Rangers got a run on back-to-back doubles by Josh Hamilton and Hank Blalock in the bottom of the fourth, but with nobody out and a runner on second, neither Marlon Byrd, David Murphy or Chris Davis could get a second run home. Luis Mendoza has now entered the fray.

Bottom of 5th: Elvis Andrus went up the middle with ease to start an inning ending double-play in the top of the inning.  Mendoza’s sinker, which completely deserted him last year, appears to be working. He got all three batters to hit the ball on the ground. The batter who reached did so on an infield single.

Top of 7th: Derrick Turnbow – not so good.  Three walks and a hit batter in an inning. Painful to watch. Andruw Jones struck out for the 10th time in 14 spring at-bats in the bottom of the inning. Yes, it was on an offspeed pitch.

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16 Comments to “Surprise Party: Rangers vs. Padres Live Blog”
  • Rangerette @ March 5th, 2009 at 2:38 pm

    Yippeee!! Evan is back!! Love it. Love your picture on the website. You are so swarthy!

  • Cormac from Connecticut @ March 5th, 2009 at 2:39 pm

    This is excellent news Evan. Glad to have you around for another season of Texas Rangers baseball.

  • Stephen R @ March 5th, 2009 at 2:44 pm

    Nice to see Scott Feldman rebound, regardless of what team he is facing. And did I hear that right? Did they say Feldman was throwing 94 MPH? That is pretty impressive.

    I must say, Feldman might be the most perplexing pitching to project on the Rangers staff. He was a decent #4/5 starter last season despite having virtually no experience in a professional rotation. He had incredible movement on all of his pitches, despite struggling to consistently keep the correct arm angle.

    He could post a 4.25 ERA or a 5.50 ERA and neither would surprise me at all. Same goes for Harrison, who looked like a different pitcher in his first 7 starts than he did in his final 8 starts.

  • Evan Grant @ March 5th, 2009 at 2:55 pm

    I saw only 90 on the scoreboard, but it has been a bit of a scramble out here. Hey, I’ll try to answer questions when possible, but having put the website up, flying and offering greetings and salutations, we’ve been a little overwhelmed today.

  • Chris @ March 5th, 2009 at 3:53 pm

    Evan, Great to have you blogging again!

  • Rangerette @ March 5th, 2009 at 4:01 pm

    Evan, what are you wearing?

  • Chris @ March 5th, 2009 at 4:07 pm

    Evan, we MUST have Hawaiian shirt video blogs again.

  • pblack @ March 5th, 2009 at 4:11 pm

    Evan, this is so great having you back.

  • jimmers @ March 5th, 2009 at 4:22 pm

    Evan – anything wrong with Feldman, why did he only pitch 2 innings with only 22 pitches, shouldn’t he have gone another inning

  • Evan Grant @ March 5th, 2009 at 4:41 pm

    @jimmers: Feldman did go and throw a bit in the bullpen after his innings were up. No health worries, Rangers just had a lot of pitchers that needed to get work today.

  • Gastronome @ March 5th, 2009 at 5:43 pm

    This is so much fun.

  • ChrisR @ March 5th, 2009 at 6:03 pm

    So after how many Ks will the Rangers pull the plug on this disgusting Andruw Jones experiment.

  • Chris @ March 5th, 2009 at 6:06 pm

    ChrisR, I agree

  • scooper @ March 5th, 2009 at 6:18 pm

    I do already know that we won, but what’s up? Why did you leave us hanging? We expect more, Evan!

  • Evan Grant @ March 5th, 2009 at 6:20 pm

    @scooper:I had to get down to the clubhouse for a few interviews and haven’t yet managed to figure out how to type and interview at same time. Plus, still a little rusty after all that time away. I’ll do better tomorrow – promise.

  • John Driver @ March 6th, 2009 at 8:34 am

    Evan,

    Great to see you writing about the Rangers Again. I have missed you this spring.

    John