Post-Game Show: A’s 6, Rangers 1

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

Story of the Game
Not even the return of Michael Young – albeit temporary – could snap the Rangers out of a malaise that is threatening to scuttle the importance of a showdown with Los Angeles even before the Angels arrive in Arlington Friday.

The Rangers lost for the third straight game and save for a solo homer by RF David Murphy, they might have suffered their third consecutive shutout. As it is, the team has scored just one run in its last 28 innings. The Rangers, who have lost three straight, had gone 22 scoreless innings before Murphy’s fourth-inning homer. The team record for consecutive scoreless innings is 28, set in 1972.

It’s not like the Rangers didn’t have chances. They were 0-for-10 with runners in scoring position. The Rangers are 2-for-28 with RISP in five games on this homestand. They are 0-for-19 in the last three games.

Young’s return lasted only one at-bat. He felt some tightness in his left hamstring during his first at-bat. He landed heavily on his front foot on a check-swing on the second pitch he saw and removed himself after the at-bat. He’s not likely to play on Wednesday, but hopes to return for the series against the Angels. The question is whether that series will still remain important. The Rangers have missed out on consecutive chances to cut into the Angels’ six-game lead in the West. In the meantime, they’ve fallen 5.5 games back in the wild card race, the largest margin they’ve faced all year. And with no games remaining against Boston over the final 18 dates of the season, it would seem the wild card is now lost.

Three Up
• The pepper steak in the media dining room was tender and delicious.
• If that’s No. 1, you know we’ve got nothing for No. 2.
• 3B Michael Young returned to the lineup earlier than expected as the DH, but …

Three Down
• But Young’s return lasted only one at-bat before he determined his hamstring was too sensitive to allow him to play.
• The Rangers committed three errors, 3B Esteban German, C Ivan Rodriguez and LHP C.J. Wilson.  They have made 15 errors in September and have raised their season total to 94. It seems almost certain
• RHP Brandon McCarthy was wild and ineffective. He lasted just three-plus innings and was cahrged with four earned runs. McCarthy walked three, all of them in a 34-pitch second inning. After getting the first two outs, he wlaked No. 8 hitter Daric Barton, then allowed a single and two more walks.

Stat o’ the Game
6.71: Composite Rangers starting rotation ERA over the last 10 games. The rotation ERA has risen from 4.35 to 4.50 in that time.

Player of the Game
Not much in the way of good candidates, but here’s what we’ve got to offer: RHP Willie Eyre (1 IP, 0R, 2K); 3B Esteban German (2-for-xx), RHP Doug Mathis (2 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 3 K); RF David Murphy (2-for-4, HR). Vote here.

Monday’s Player of the Game: Oakland RHP Brett Tomko (By acclimation).

Flying Saucer/Flying Fish Depot Double Dip
Flying Saucer: Rangers lose (But Free Bratwurst coupon good through Sept. 19)
Flying Fish: Rangers walk four times (Print Free Catfish Filet coupon here)

Home Run Pool
No winners.