Frank Francisco: Officially Rangers Closer Once Again

ARLINGTON – This is how manager Ron Washington announced that RHP Frank Francisco will resume his closing duties as closer:

“He’s back,” Washington said with a smile.

Francisco, who has spent two stints on the DL this season with a sore shoulder, has not pitched in a ninth-inning save situation since he returned. But on Tuesday, for the second time in a week, the Rangers had LHP C.J. Wilson enter in the eighth and Francisco pitch the ninth. Wilson had served as surrogate closer while Francisco was out.

Washington had been coy regarding the transfer of Francisco back to closer since he returned from the DL. The Rangers wanted to see Francisco pitch on back-to-back days, which he did last week in Arizona. Even though he allowed a game-tying two-run homer to Mark Reynolds in the second of those outings, Washington determined Francisco was healthy enough to resume closing games.

The Rangers simply haven’t had a save opportunity since. The truth is, however, it doesn’t seem to matter who pitches the ninth. If the Rangers can get a lead there, they are safe. The Rangers are now 33-0 when taking a lead to the ninth this season. As a team, they have blown only five saves, fewest in the AL. They also lead the AL in save percentage at 80.8.