Post-Game Show: Rangers 4, Red Sox 3

D-tails
• Boxscore, AL West standings, Wild Card Standings

Story Of The Game
The Rangers went on Sunday where only their playoff-participating predecessors dared. By winning the last two games of the Boston series, the Rangers took over the AL Wild Card lead.  The only times the Rangers have been in playoff position this late in the season, they ended up winning a playoff spot.

Only once during the entire weekend did the Rangers end an inning trailing Boston, which now trails Texas by a half-game in the Wild Card race. That came at the end of the ninth on Friday when the Rangers blew a 4-2 lead.  RHP Frank Francisco, who had allowed all six of Boston’s ninth-inning runs on Friday, pitched a perfect ninth Sunday. After getting CF Jac0by Ellsbury to fly out to start the first, Francisco struck out Dustin Pedroia and Victor Martinez in succession.

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Kinsler Update and Other Texas Rangers Notes

ARLINGTON - Ian Kinsler said Sunday morning that he feels no ill effects from being hit in the eighth inning on Saturday night and, after a post-game chat with Boston catcher Jason Varitek, has no ill will toward the Red Sox.

In Monday night’s game against Minnesota lefty Francisco Liriano, Rangers manager Ron Washington plans to sit left-handed hitting Julio Borbon, return Kinsler to the top of the order and start recent call-up Kevin Richardson to give Taylor Teagarden a night off.

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The Depot: Rangers-Red Sox Live Game Blog, News, Notes And Entertaining Music Videos

11:38: The homer pool is open for brunch time swimming. Also, now appearing at the home run pool: Bobby McFerrin performing his hit single: “Don’t Worry, Be Feliz.” (many thanks to Drew Sheppard for the video and the Awesome AJM for passing it along).

Neftali Feliz – Be Happy from Drew Sheppard on Vimeo.

11:42: Just wondering: Your thoughts on the Feliz music video vs. the music video created for the guy Feliz was traded for.

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Home Run Pool Sunday

After a close call in Saturday’s game between Ryan’s Dad and Tippett’s Stache, the judges ruled in favor of the ‘Stache for calling the leadoff homer. Ryan’s Dad was oh, so close, but thought Ian Kinsler’s homer would come with a man on base. Attention, ‘Stache get in touch with me ASAP to claim your prize.

Now, here’s your lineup for Sunday: LF Julio Borbon, 3B Michael Young, DH David Murphy, CF Marlon Byrd, RF Josh Hamilton, 2B Ian Kinsler, 1B Hank Blalock, C Taylor Teagarden, SS Elvis Andrus and pitching for the Rangers … RHP Dustin Nippert.

So get to it, already.

Road To Arlington: Rangers Farm Report (8/16)

Saturday was a good day to be a Texas Ranger, even if you haven’t quite made it the show yet. The Rangers beat up on the Red Sox in Arlington, and they went 5-1 on the farm.

Triple-A: Oklahoma City 4 @ Salt Lake 3

Both teams put up all of their runs in one inning, but the RedHawks struck first in the bottom of the 4th. Oklahoma City managed five of their six hits in the inning and posted a four spot courtesy of a pair of two-out RBI hits from DH Royce Huffman (.294/.382/.417) and LF Casey Benjamin (.218/.333/.328). 1B Justin Smoak (.238/.345/.367) walked and singled in four trips to extend his hitting streak to five games. 3B Chris Davis walked but was held hitless and struck out.

RHP Guillermo Moscoso (5-3; 2.17) had a passable start, going 5.2 innings and surrendering four hits, four walks and three runs. He got the win, but it was just the second time in 10 appearances at triple-A that he’s allowed more than two runs.

RHP Willie Eyre (0-0; 2.67) loaded the bases with one out in the 8th, but got a ground ball that turned into an inning-ending double play to maintain the lead. RHP Warner Madrigal (2-1; 1.87) pitched a relatively calm 9th to earn his 16th save. (more…)

Kids Do Darndest Things as Texas Rangers Even Wild-Card Showdown with 7-2 Win Over Bosox

ARLINGTON - Little known record set at Rangers Ballpark on Saturday night: a sellout crowd of 48,201 took in a “futures” game.

An apt description for a 7-2 Rangers victory over Boston in which Julio Borbon and Elvis Andrus raced around the bases like kids on a playground. (You can’t catch me!) Derek Holland and Neftali Feliz hit the target like the dunking booth at the fair. Quarterbacked by Taylor Teagarden, the greybeard of the Rangers rookies at 25, who will step in behind the plate for most of the next two weeks and maybe longer.

Thanks in great measure to the youngsters, the Rangers pulled back within one-half game of the Red Sox in the wild-card race. “We’re not afraid to bring our young kids up here and let ‘em play,” manager Ron Washington said. “I think the whole organization gets a pat on the back for that.”

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