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Frankly Speaking: Francisco Follows Routine After First Loss As Oakland Beats Rangers 5-4

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ARLINGTON – The most important moment of the Rangers Sunday’s game with Oakland didn’t come in the ninth inning when Adam Kennedy blasted a drifting fastball from Frank Francisco into the right field seats.

No, it came about an hour later when Francisco wandered back to his locker for the first time as a closer who had been beaten. Mr. Kennedy’s homer, his second of the game, gave Oakland a 5-4 win and denied the Rangers a four-game sweep.

When he finally got to his locker, Francisco had spent a long time in the weight room and an equal amount of time in the trainers’ room – his typical post-game routine. And when he finally appeared at his locker, at exactly 5:55.55 (according to the very specific clubhouse clock), he had the same cock-eyed, playful expression he’s worn after every converted chance as a closer.

Which is to say, all of them.

The moments after the game were significant because as much as the Rangers could live without ever seeing their closer fail, they know that won’t happen (though with Francisco, you were starting to wonder). They need to see how he responds after adversity.

First impressions: Exactly the same as he has with the wins and saves.

“I’ll just give it my best shot, every single time,” Francisco said. “That’s what I’m supposed to do and that’s what I will do.”

And really he has. Even though he suffered the loss on Sunday, the numbers he’s put up since ascending to the closer’s role last August are truly amazing. Sunday’s run was the first earned run he’s allowed as a closer, a span of 28 games and 28.2 innings. He held batters to a .139 average during that stretch and had a 4-to-1 (36-to-9) strikeout-to-walk ratio. While his ERA is no longer a pristine 0.00, what is still intact his is consecutive saves streak. It’s at 11 for the year, at 16 for his entire time at closer.

“It’s absolutely incredible what he’s done,” 3B Michael Young said. “To do that in the American League at this time, I mean, you give up a bloop single and a double, you’ve given up a run. It’s so easy. The guy is as close to automatic as you could be.”

Kennedy demonstrated how easy it is for a pitcher to give up a run.

After the Rangers rallied back from a 4-0 deficit to tie the game in the bottom of the eighth, Francisco came on in the ninth of a tie game, a move in adherence with conventional baseball wisdom. That is, you use your closer in the ninth in a tie game at home. You expect him to keep the score tied and then you expect to be able to manufacture the winning run in the bottom of the inning.

Francisco, who spent two weeks on the DL earlier in May with some biceps tendonitis, got Orlando Cabrera to pop to the catcher. But perhaps there should have been a sign there that Francisco was in for a tough day. Cabrera never had a hit in eight previous career at-bats against Francisco, yet Francisco, throwing nothing but fastballs, fell behind 3-and-1 before rallying back in the count.

Kennedy, who homered in the first inning against starter Kevin Millwood, then took another fastball for a ball. Francisco left his ninth consecutive fastball of the inning over the middle of the strike zone. Kennedy drove it into the upper Home Run Porch.

“There’s nothing you can do, but ask for another baseball,” Francisco said. “And then you try to get the next guy out.”

If he can maintain that approach – to let nothing change his demeanor on the mound – Francisco ought to be able to minimize any rough stretches he encounters.