Sunday Night Depot: Live Game Blog

Posted on May 3rd, 2009 7:00pm by Jeff Miller
Filed under Baseball, Texas Rangers

ARLINGTON – Matt Harrison will try to even his record at 2-2 and duplicate his last five innings in Baltimore last Monday, not his first two. For the White Sox, John Danks will try to forget his entire last start, knocked around by the Mariners. Speaking of, the Rangers will get their first look at the A.L. West leaders on Monday night when they open a three-city, seven-game trip that will continue through Oakland and Chicago.

6:58: Michael Irvin threw out the first pitch, and it took a nice grab by “catcher” Michael Young to snare it on the short hop. You’d hate to add Young to the DL because of that.

7:20: The only man to reach in the top of the first on Harrison was No. 2 hitter Josh Fields, hit on the left wrist. The fourth White Sox batter plunked in two games. Will Ozzie finally respond?

7:33: The Kinsler leadoff homer gives him 18 extra-base hits this season, one behind A.L. leader Evan Longoria of the Rays. It was his third leadoff shot of the season and eighth of his career.

7:50: Evan (Grant, not Longoria) might have to be activited to go in and pitch for the Mariners tonight. They’ve used seven relievers and are going to the 14th with Oakland, having just matched the Athletics’ three runs in the top of the 13th.

7:54: According to my amateur math, that was a nine-pitch inning for Harrison, ending with a 3-6-1 DP on Josh Fields. (Was Fields quick out of the pocket when playing QB for Oklahoma State?) Fifty-four pitches through three.

8:03: A couple of Andrus-related observations: After the double down the third base line and the steal of third, he didn’t run wildly for the plate on Young’s one-out grounder to first. With two out, the Rangers were rewarded with Jones’ single to left for a 2-0 lead.

And when Guillen came out to argue the call at third, 3B coach Dave Anderson wisely escorted Andrus off the base with time called, away from Guillen’s “discussion” with 3B ump Greg Gibson.

8:17: Those pesky Mariners will be pooped but pleased when the Rangers hit town. One in the ninth, three in the 13th and one in the 15th to beat Oakland.

8:35: Of note after Harrison escaped damage in the fifth by leaving the bases loaded, he’s helping himself tonight by staying around the plate. Letting his fielders work for him. His walk totals in each game, this being his fifth start: 5-4-2-1-0.

8:37: That half inning did require 34 pitches, giving Harrison 100. He threw 112 at Baltimore in seven innings.

8:50: Your safe and courteous operator was surprised that Andrus put down a sac punt with a 2-1 count with Kinsler on first and none out, considering Andrus already singled and doubled. But you can’t argue with Young singling in Kinsler (breaking Young’s 0-for-15 RISP) for a 4-0 lead.

9:10 Danks leaves having pitched 5.1, 10 hits (two doubles and the Kinsler lead-off HR) and so far four runs, three K’s and one walk and 105 pitches.

9:20: For Danks’ last two starts against the Mariners and Rangers, 9.1 innings, 18 hits 10 earned. His ERA after the first three starts was 0.95; now it’s 3.81.

9:33: D. O’Day (loved him in “Animal House”) is throwing in the bullpen. Before the game, Washington said he’s comfortable using him in any situation and was pleasantly surprised to discover the right-handed sidearmer has a change-up in addition to a slider and sinker. O’Day said he was pleasantly surprised Saturday night to come back out for the eighth inning after getting the final out of the seventh. And that Mike Maddux moved him over on the rubber, which is helping him get out lefties.

9:55: For a second, I thought we were going to get to see Washington toss the little red flag out near the 50. But the replay showed Cruz’s shot hit the top of the wall and appeared to brush Brent Lillibridge’s glove.

10:03: Full disclosure on Wilson: In 10 appearances since the Detroit disaster, he has been charged with earned runs on only two occasions.

I’ll be back with the post-gamer in a bit. Evan, you can go out to dinner now.

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66 Comments to “Sunday Night Depot: Live Game Blog”
  • Last of the Romohicans @ May 3rd, 2009 at 7:11 pm

    Finally – there’s Rangers baseball on my TV

  • Fai Mao @ May 3rd, 2009 at 7:25 pm

    How long are the Rangers going to keep Kinsler in the leadoff spot? The guy should be batting 4th!

  • Last of the Romohicans @ May 3rd, 2009 at 7:25 pm

    …and my Kinsler system fails again when I don’t play.

  • Jolly @ May 3rd, 2009 at 7:39 pm

    Jon Miller and Joe Morgan…..wow what a great team….might detract my attention tonight…….

  • Last of the Romohicans @ May 3rd, 2009 at 7:40 pm

    Harrison appears to have continued on with the stuff from his last start. Glad they stuck with him instead of going Colby Lewis when he struggled.

  • becca @ May 3rd, 2009 at 7:54 pm

    Joe Morgan is great. I don’t catch many of his games but it’s nice to hear him tonight. I’m reminded of how much I enjoy him.

  • JustSaying @ May 3rd, 2009 at 7:54 pm

    Sweet double play…..great defense is always fun to watch…….and Harrison last game ephiphany seems to still be working

  • Jeffrey @ May 3rd, 2009 at 7:58 pm

    I really like Andrus in that #2 spot. He seems more aggressive…doesn’t look like a 20-year-old, that’s for sure

  • becca @ May 3rd, 2009 at 7:59 pm

    @justsaying: could have something to do with teagarden being his battery partner? :)

    regardless, it’s good to see a strong start for harrison.

  • becca @ May 3rd, 2009 at 8:05 pm

    @jeff: why would they walk elvis away? i saw that and thought maybe it was because he was stretching something after the slide. are they just trying to keep him pure and innocent and don’t want him tainted by ozzie?

  • Jeffrey @ May 3rd, 2009 at 8:08 pm

    @becca I’m thinking Anderson took him away so he didn’t have to hear Ozzie’s rant because he IS only 20…might rattle the kid a little bit. That’s just my opinion though

  • Last of the Romohicans @ May 3rd, 2009 at 8:11 pm

    Andruw seems to position himself well in left.

    Also, my wife thinks Harrison looks like Leonardo DiCapprio circa body of lies. I think he looks like the dude from the British edition of The Office.

    Young needs to get the ball in the air there, not ground to the pitcher.

    And the dot race is now contested between people in dot costumes, not on the video board?

  • Tom B @ May 3rd, 2009 at 8:13 pm

    Speed Kills! Andrus has it, the Rasngers generally don’t. You gotta love that guy.
    Don’t worry Omar has warned him about Ozzie.

  • JustSaying @ May 3rd, 2009 at 8:13 pm

    @becca I had to beat my son after he commented that Teagarden only had a .160 ave. If you can save runs by being behind the plate shouldn’t that figure in your average somehow?

  • Jeff Miller @ May 3rd, 2009 at 8:14 pm

    @becca: My thought is Ozzie could certainly intend part of his chat for Andrus’ young ears, gamesmanship intended to get into his head.

  • Jolly @ May 3rd, 2009 at 8:15 pm

    I love all these hits from the inside of the zone…….geez what happens when Danks puts one over the center of the plate?

  • Jeffrey @ May 3rd, 2009 at 8:16 pm

    Does Nellie Cruz have a shorter bat than the other guys, or does it just look that way to me on my old tv?

  • becca @ May 3rd, 2009 at 8:25 pm

    ha. danks was picking his nose.

  • Jolly @ May 3rd, 2009 at 8:27 pm

    I hope someone recorded the game for Hicks, Ryan, and JD so they can replay the comments about traded pitching and maybe percolate a little……

  • mo @ May 3rd, 2009 at 8:30 pm

    i hate steve phillips

  • becca @ May 3rd, 2009 at 8:32 pm

    oh i hope harrison can get this guy out. he looked great on fields.

  • Last of the Romohicans @ May 3rd, 2009 at 8:33 pm

    @Jeff: Happy until they gotta go to the pen in the 4th inning.

  • mo @ May 3rd, 2009 at 8:35 pm

    and those are hometown fans, they should have let chris have that one

  • JustSaying @ May 3rd, 2009 at 8:35 pm

    Somebody go escort those two jerks who put their hand/glove out there to inferfere with Chris

  • Last of the Romohicans @ May 3rd, 2009 at 8:36 pm

    I don’t know if this is regular or not, but being the first game I’ve seen this year – Gary Pettis sure has the outfielders in the right position.

  • Jeffrey @ May 3rd, 2009 at 8:37 pm

    y’all think Harrison is done? His pitch count is getting up there and they showed Jennings in the pen

  • Jolly @ May 3rd, 2009 at 8:37 pm

    Gotta love it……Harrison is in the ZONE…….

  • Tom B @ May 3rd, 2009 at 8:40 pm

    That was a good experience for Harrison. 100 pitches, I’d let him start the next one until he puts somebody on or exceeds the pitch count from last time out. Good stuff!

  • becca @ May 3rd, 2009 at 8:40 pm

    i’d like to think he’s got one more inning in him. he really picthed out of a jam to get quintin out. you gotta go with the momentum, you’d think. at least let him start.

  • Jolly @ May 3rd, 2009 at 8:43 pm

    Who poo-poo’d Andrus hitting ability?

  • Tom B @ May 3rd, 2009 at 8:44 pm

    Rangers got to close the gap from Starter to O’Day and the grand finale w/F.F. Those bums in between will get you killed.

  • Last of the Romohicans @ May 3rd, 2009 at 8:44 pm

    @ Tom – Holland?

  • Jolly @ May 3rd, 2009 at 8:50 pm

    YOU HAVE TO START JONES EVERY DAY “SOMEWHERE”

  • JustSaying @ May 3rd, 2009 at 8:53 pm

    Wonder what the Dodgers would be willing to give for Andruw?

  • JustSaying @ May 3rd, 2009 at 8:55 pm

    @Last I think Holland will be better as a starter….flame throwers can give up those doubles that will kill the inherited runners stats………..

  • Coach Willingham @ May 3rd, 2009 at 8:56 pm

    I agree with Jolly. Andruw Jones needs to be playing everyday!!!

    Where’s Grant???

  • Last of the Romohicans @ May 3rd, 2009 at 9:00 pm

    DaMN reports that Golson will be up, Max down tomorrow.

  • Last of the Romohicans @ May 3rd, 2009 at 9:07 pm

    oops – missed the word “likely” on my first read of the story.

  • Evan Grant @ May 3rd, 2009 at 9:12 pm

    @Coach Willingham: I’m in Seattle, watching the game from my hotel room, thanks. Everyone doing OK tonight?

  • Jeffrey @ May 3rd, 2009 at 9:13 pm

    as long as the Rangers don’t blow this 4-0 lead, we’ll all be great

  • Jeff Miller @ May 3rd, 2009 at 9:14 pm

    @Last: Would seem that with Saltalamacchia feeling fine, there would be no need for Ramirez to catch the plane to Seattle.

  • Mark @ May 3rd, 2009 at 9:14 pm

    Jeff:
    Do you think we’ll have another Harrison-Danks matchup on Friday when the Rangers play the Sox in Chicago?

  • alan @ May 3rd, 2009 at 9:15 pm

    Evan…why do you have to go to Seattle 36 hours before the game? Are you pitching tomorrow night?

  • becca @ May 3rd, 2009 at 9:15 pm

    especially with teadarden actually making a hit tonight!

    i’m just saying, i’m rooting for the guy.

  • Ehren @ May 3rd, 2009 at 9:16 pm

    glad you made it okay Evan! My Frisco game got washed away last night. Wish I got to see Kiker pitch.

  • Last of the Romohicans @ May 3rd, 2009 at 9:22 pm

    Saturday layover means cheaper tickets?

  • Evan Grant @ May 3rd, 2009 at 9:23 pm

    @Alan: Six-seven hours of travel on game day is not a prescription for quality coverage, so going to the West Coast or the Northeast, I usually fly night before. Had I flown the night before on this occasion, I’d have had no chance to see this game, so that was a consideration. Also, in the interest of being as frugal as possible so our dollars go as far as possible, flying this morning was more affordable than flying later.

  • Jeff Miller @ May 3rd, 2009 at 9:23 pm

    @Mark: I believe on Friday in Chicago it’ll be another Danks-Harrison tilt.

  • Jeffrey @ May 3rd, 2009 at 9:27 pm

    oooh that was close

  • Last of the Romohicans @ May 3rd, 2009 at 9:28 pm

    He was out at first.

  • morgan @ May 3rd, 2009 at 9:31 pm

    the guys on espn are right…kinsler didn’t sell it enough and the umpire had a bad angle.

  • alan @ May 3rd, 2009 at 9:32 pm

    Evan–bet you wish you had gone last night so you wouldn’t have had to sit through 14 hours of rain delays

  • becca @ May 3rd, 2009 at 9:43 pm

    granted that o’day keeps it 5-1, he’ll be back in the 9th, right?

  • Little O @ May 3rd, 2009 at 9:43 pm

    I’d rather sit through a delay at a ballpark than the airport ;)

  • becca @ May 3rd, 2009 at 9:43 pm

    oh wait you have to be kidding me. would they really bring in cj?

  • Last of the Romohicans @ May 3rd, 2009 at 9:44 pm

    Not Wilson! NOT WILSON!

  • dude in Afghanistan @ May 3rd, 2009 at 9:45 pm

    It’s 7AM here in Kabul and I’m getting to see the Rangers on TV…pretty cool, but it’s about time to head out for the day…

    My first look at Andrus has been enlightening; just as I’ve heard, his bat control is exceptional. Plus, his range and glove are really superb. It seems he’ll always have quite a few throwing gaffs, because he’s often letting it go from so far up the middle or deep in the hole…you could justify an “*” on many of those errors!

    Wow, O’Day looks absolutely filthy right now…good pick-up, IMO…

  • morgan @ May 3rd, 2009 at 9:45 pm

    they’re putting in wilson so that franky can come in and get the save when wilson gives up a run haha

  • Auditor @ May 3rd, 2009 at 10:02 pm

    Welcome “Dude” and stay safe.

  • becca @ May 3rd, 2009 at 10:03 pm

    and he did it! maybe he is getting better? cj? i hope?

  • morgan @ May 3rd, 2009 at 10:03 pm

    i stand corrected: cj wilson took care of business albeit against the weaker part of their lineup

  • Jolly @ May 3rd, 2009 at 10:10 pm

    I just want to publicly apologize for questioning Andruw during spring training…….guess that’s why I’m just a fan……

  • Tom B @ May 3rd, 2009 at 10:14 pm

    I hate to complain but we could of had these guys for three. I’ll take two out of three in every series…BUTT S-W-E-E-P sounds sooo Good

  • Caren Alexis @ May 3rd, 2009 at 10:17 pm

    Evan, what a great tribute to Eric Nadel on ESPN tonight!

  • Jolly @ May 3rd, 2009 at 11:05 pm

    @Caren It was really well articulated and made Eric look like the most dedicated guy in the business…….learned Spanish so he could communicate with Pudge, Juan,
    et al…….

  • JustSaying @ May 3rd, 2009 at 11:12 pm

    Rangers looked like a pretty classy baseball team on Sunday Night Baseball……just improved image with potential bullpen free agents…..Everybody looked like a baseball player and they played well as a team……..
    I still chuckling over the double play ball twhere Harrison covers first…….and some nnice stretches from Davis…and Andruw patiently walking…..and Andrus showing a bunch of tools…….Kinsler being Kinsler……Cruz slapping that single……amazing what they do when they mix in a little manufactured run approach….