Big Bash: Rangers Slug Their Way To Season-Opening Sweep For First Time Since 1996

• Boxscore: Rangers 12, Indians 8

• Other stuff: Standings, live blog, post-game thread

• Bench plays key role in win

ARLINGTON _ It’s a dry heat here. But even an early nine-run outburst and an eight-run lead in the fifth inning couldn’t prevent the Rangers from sweating out getting closer Frank Francisco up in the ninth inning of their 12-8 win over the Cleveland Indians on Thursday afternoon.

But smashmouth baseball won out again, and the red-clad Rangers’ start remains rosy. They swept a home series for the first time since September 2007, sweeping a three-game opening series at home for the first time since 1996 thanks to 29 runs.

“You can’t ask for anything more than what this offense has given us so far,” said RHP Brandon McCarthy, who threw 105 pitches in five innings to become the third consecutive Texas starter to earn a victory. (The last time that happened? April 30-May 1-2 last season with Kevin Millwood, Sidney Ponson and Vicente Padilla.) “I don’t think any pitcher in this league wants to face this lineup.”

Now it’s off to Detroit for a weekend series. Late last April, the Rangers dropped three straight there, giving up 10, 19 and eight runs. Michael Young said the previous poor starts under manager Ron Washington have been forgotten.

“We couldn’t care less about the last two Aprils,” he said. “We’re focused on the task at hand.”

Added McCarthy: “When you combine energy and passion and the team chemistry in here, it’s second to none. Right now, it’s a special team to be part of.”

McCarthy faced Carl Pavano in a matchup of starters with timeshares on the disabled list. McCarthy, limited to a month’s work late in 2008 because of arm and finger injuries, put on 25 pounds over the winter to hit 220, thanks primarily to a high volume of protein shakes. Good thing for him, too, given the 40-mph gusts that roared through Rangers Ballpark in Arlington on Thursday.

Without the added weight, he said, “I’d be rolling around third base. The first couple of pitches, I noticed I’d get to the top and I was wobbling a little bit.”

The Rangers knocked around Pavano, making his first start for Cleveland. He didn’t last 40 pitches, giving up nine runs on six hits and three walks while getting only four outs. The six hits included home runs hit by Marlon Byrd and Ian Kinsler. The Rangers added good situational hitting early, with two sacrifice flies.

But with a 9-1 lead, McCarthy immediate gave back two runs in the third. In his five innings, he allowed two homers, walked four and struck out seven.

“I thought he was good in the beginning, then I thought he got a little erratic,” Washington said. “He just couldn’t command his change-up. He did make pitches with his fastball when he had to. I thought Mac did good for his first time out. I know he had a lot of jitters. He was looking forward to this opportunity for quite a while, being healthy to start the season.”

McCarthy was disappointed in throwing only five innings in reaching 100 pitches: “As the game went on, I started thinking too much and trying to do a little too much. So that’s something I’ve got to work on and get back under control. Again, that’s something I’ve got to work on – pitch command and pitch efficiency.”

For those who like to play the McCarthy-Danks game, John Danks pitched six scoreless innings on Thursday for the White Sox in a game that they lost 2-0, allowing three hits and three walks on 95 pitches.

More Washington on McCarthy: “Now it’s behind him, and we certainly look for better things out of him.” As for the Indians refusing to go quietly, including five total homers, Washington attributed that mostly to the Cleveland attack: “They can swing the bats. I don’t expect my staff to go out there and shut down people every night.”

The first of four Indians relievers, former Texas A&M pitcher Zach Jackson, tamed the Rangers during the middle innings. Jackson, acquired from Milwaukee as part of last season’s CC Sabathia trade, allowed two runs over four innings with six strikeouts. In all, the Rangers struck out 12 times.

“We’re going to strike out,” Washington said. “We’re a very aggressive team. I’ll take 12 strikeouts and 12 runs any day.”

Said Marlon Byrd, who had a three-run homer and a double: “We’re going to keep scoring. We’re going to keep pounding, pressing.”

Post-game transactions: Right-handed reliever Willie Eyre, on the 15-day disabled list, was sent out on a rehab assignment to Class AAA Oklahoma where he’s scheduled to pitch an inning tonight. Right-handed reliever Dustin Nippert, also on the 15-day DL, will be sent to Class AA Frisco effective Saturday to start that night.