Post-Game Show: Rangers 12, Rays 4

D-tails
Boxscore, Standings
• Grant: Rangers should make everyday “Veterans’ Day” for the next month

And now for a little Three Up and Three Down from Rangers Ballpark in Arlington Saturday where the Rangers won their fourth straight game to keep pressure on Los Angeles atop the AL West. As always, you are invited to add subtract, tweak this list. Derek Holland didn’t make it, but was considered for his sixth-inning rebound.

Three Up
• Since Jason Grilli appeared in a Rangers uniform for the first time on June 9, bullpen roles seem to have been settled and stabilized. The relievers contributed three scoreless innings Saturday and have a 2.66 ERA since Grilli first appeared on the scene. Grilli has a 1.93 ERA.
• Big-time players play big at big times. On this homestand, Michael Young is 10-for-29 (.344) with five RBIs and four runs scored. His three-run double in the second opened up a 6-1 lead and all but forced Tampa Bay starter David Price out of the game.
• 1B Hank Blalock had an RBI single in the eighth inning. He has driven in runs in all three games he’s started this week for a total of six RBIs.

Three Down
• OF Josh Hamilton did not get to play at Triple-A Oklahoma City on Saturday due to rain, so his return to the lineup will be postponed until at least Monday when the Rangers go to Anaheim.
• 2B Ian Kinsler may very well be named to the AL All-Star team, but his batting average is going to lack star quality. Kinsler, who is 5-for-33 on this homestand with only two walks, saw his batting average fall to .256 after an 0-for-4 performance.
• I did not get to attend a cookout. Somebody save me a hot dog. Like mine a little blackened.

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6 Comments to “Post-Game Show: Rangers 12, Rays 4”
  • Ehren

    @Evan: Just for you, I have some Angus beef hot dogs and Angus burgers for ya!

  • Tom B

    Evan: Could you order up 50 wins by the ASG?
    That’s 6 out of 8 against LAA and SEA in their house + one more w/TB. I see 48 to 49 but my vision needs help. HELP!!!

  • Christine

    @ Evan. What a perfect night! SO FUN.

  • JustSaying

    up 1 the larkspur fourth of july parade
    up 2 murphy continues to be a great unsung hero……
    up 3 derek has a great fastball but he has to have another pitch? he can develop that in the bullpen……
    down 1 kinsler is killing my fantasy team….
    down 2 40k+ at the game and we can’t meet payroll? can’t meet one of baseball’s lowest payrolls……seems to point to someone sucking all the cash out and walking away………

  • badspellr

    1. Blalock’s OBP is .293
    2. He is a butcher at first.
    3. He is disgruntled when benched.
    4. One more shot at regular playing time, maybe, but you got to think about release waivers pretty soon.
    5. Davis is not the answer either.

  • Fred

    Looked like Holland figured it (need to use breaking /off speed stuff more) after the Navarro HR. Will be interesting to see what he does next time.