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Post-Game Show: Rangers 3, Angels 2

•  Box score

Story of the Game

The vast majority of the fourth Rangers Ballpark sellout crowd of the season stayed to see if three runs – three runs – would result in their club’s first win since last Sunday afternoon. The 3-2 victory over the Angels followed some ninth-inning fielding strategy in which manager Ron Washington admitted going against the percentages … and also admitted he’d do it differently in the future.

The one-run lead came courtesy of a sixth-inning solo home run by 1B Hank Blalock, making his first start since Sept. 6 and only his third in the last 23 games. Washington left Blalock at first, Chris Davis at third and 11-time Gold Glover infielder Omar Vizquel in the dugout in the ninth. With Torii Hunter on first and one out against closer Frank Francisco, Kendry Morales hit a grounder to Blalock. He couldn’t field it cleanly, leaving runners at first and second. A double steal advanced the runners to second and third, after which Juan Rivera was intentionally walked to load the bases. Howie Kendrick hit a wicked grounder to shortstop, which Elvis Andrus turned into the game ending 6-3 double play.

Washington said he considered pulling Blalock in the ninth, moving Davis to first (here he has played excellent defense) and inserting Vizquel at third. “But I trust Hank,” he said. “I like Chris over there at third although Vizquel is better. It was a trust thing.” And would he handle it differently down the road, given what happened in the ninth? “Yes, I would,” he said.

Blalock started because Washington wanted a veteran lineup to try to jump start an offense that had scored only one run in the previous five games, all losses. And he wanted as many left-handed bats as possible against Angels RHP Jered Weaver, who came into the game holding right-handed hitters to a .205 batting average.

Blalock hit his 24th home run, his first since Aug. 8, in the sixth off Weaver to break a 2-2 tie. As for the ninth-inning error, he said: “It’s a 3-6-3 double play that’s supposed to end the game.”

But Andrus turned the game-winner, pulling the Rangers within 6.5 games of the Angels going into Sunday’s series finale at noon. And Andrus was on the receiving end of a spectacular force out to end the seventh inning on a submarine throw from 2B Ian Kinsler on a sharp grounder by Kendrick that got past RHP Darren O’Day. Where would O’Day rate Kinsler’s toss on the O’Day underhand scale? “I think I had my eyes closed,” he said. “I was so surprised that he even got to it. You can’t say enough about those two up the middle.”

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The Depot: Rangers-A’s Live In-Game Blog, Etc.

ARLINGTON - The tarp is on the field, and an afternoon drizzle is glistening off it because the lights are already on beneath the overcast. So what’s new? Until first pitch, which should go off on time, Josh Hamilton is backing off  baseball-related drills for the next couple of days and won’t return anytime soon, Jarrod Saltalamacchia will have surgery on Monday, manager Ron Washington told the team after Tuesday night’s loss that they’re the same group that got into playoff contention and batting coach Rudy Jaramillo had a sitdown with all of the hitters on Wednesday afternoon.

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The Wash Cycle: Looking at the Moves Made by Rangers Manager Ron Washington

Rangers manager Ron Washington has stood tall all season in the dugout and in the clubhouse (Photo: R.P. Washburne)

When pressed, even Rangers officials would probably admit the weakest part of Ron Washington’s managerial resume may be his in-game strategy.

But here’s the dirty little secret about in-game strategy in today’s modern baseball world: It ain’t that important.

In the areas that really count, like the quality of effort displayed all season and the record, Washington has been head-and-shoulders above just about every manager in baseball this season.

If you sliced and diced a modern manager’s job up, you woul’d find that the biggest responsibility is figuring out the best way to get the most out of a roster over the course of a 162-game season. That means managing the clubhouse, delegating authority, soothing egos, occasionally kicking someone in the butt and knowing when to lay low.

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For Texas Rangers’ Julio Borbon and Elvis Andrus, It’s as Easy as 1, 2 … Well, 1, 2

ARLINGTON - Amateur statisticians Julio Borbon and Elvis Andrus said it never happened when they hit first and second in the 50-something games that they played together last season at Double-A Frisco. Never did Andrus homer with Borbon on base as occurred Wednesday night in the fifth inning, putting the Rangers ahead for good in a series-clinching 6-4 victory over Toronto.

“And that’s what makes it so special,” Borbon said. Not to mention the win moving the Rangers within 2.5 games of the Red Sox in the A.L. wild-card race and within 3.5 games of the Angels in the Western Division.

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As We Were Saying (Back in Early June), Texas Rangers’ Brandon McCarthy Looking Good

ARLINGTON - When Brandon McCarthy last took a big-league mound, the Rangers held a 4.5-game lead in the A.L. West. Almost 13 weeks and yet another D.L. stint later, he didn’t appear to miss a beat and helped the Rangers pull within 4.5 games of the Angels (and within 3.5 in the wild-card race).

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Chris Davis Returning to Rangers Lineup

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – The progression of manager Ron Washington’s comments over the weekend, combined with three pickoff throws to first that ended up in the right field corner apparently means 1B Chris Davis will be returning to the Rangers lineup when they face the Yankees in New York Tuesday.

Washington was asked each day during the Tampa Bay series about an impending Davis return. On Friday, he said the Rangers had discussed it, but had not yet found the right way to bring him back before Sept. 1 when rosters can be expanded. By Sunday afternoon, Washington was smiling in response to the question.

“Maybe,” Washington said. “Maybe not.”

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Post-Game Show: Rangers 11, Twins 1

• Box score • A.L. wild-card standings • A.L. West standings

Story of the Game

The Rangers displayed their many talents in the 11-1 clubbing of Minnesota on Thurday night that sent them on the road with a series split. Home runs to all fields. Diving catches in the early innings while the outcome was in doubt. Julio Borbon’s first career homer. Neftali Feliz’s almost mystical ability to record two outs on two pitches. (“When you have a weapon on your shoulder like he has,” manager Ron Washington said, “you can be cool.”)

But another story was told in the bottom of the eighth, the Rangers owning a 10-run lead for only the third time this season. Marlon Byrd could have called it a night, given his third career multi-HR game and his diving catch in the third inning. Instead, he followed a leadoff nubber to the mound by charging down the line like he was near the end zone back at Sprayberry High in Marietta, Ga. And Hank Blalock did likewise despite only his second three-hit night of the year, his first since July 1. With two out, his attempt for a fourth hit ended with him sliding and tumbling over the bag. Both were outs but surely sent a message to the growing collection of fuzzy-cheeked Texas talent.

“Hopefully, they’re watching,” Byrd said. “If you watch the Yankees, you watch all the teams that have won … Jeter … It doesn’t matter what inning it is. It doesn’t matter what the score is. He’s running full speed down the first base line. That’s what type of team we have. I believe the maturation of this team over the past three years since Wash has come in … it’s a different mindset here now.”

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Rangers-Twins In-Game Blog, News, Notes

ARLINGTON - Don’t worry. I think Evan is just catching up on his laundry before heading out on the next road trip. He has already been busy  from his palatial estate, confirming that Triple-A Oklahoma’s Jose Vallejo is the player to be named later sent to Houston in the Pudge Rodriguez trade. And he linked to the Houston TV report in which the Purkes addressed their perspective of the recent draft negotitations.

And we’ve gathered some notes here at Rangers Ballpark regarding the activation of Nelson Cruz, what could happen at DH and at first base.

For Thursday night’s series finale with the Minnesota Twins, no Justin Morneau or Jason Kubel in the lineup against Derek Holland.

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Afternoon Rangers Notes on Possibilities at DH, 1B

ARLINGTON - Rangers manager Ron Washington indicated Andruw Jones and Julio Borbon could become a DH platoon since Borbon has remained on the roster following Thursday’s activation of Nelson Cruz from the disabled list. Washington also said he’s about ready to allow Jones to give Hank Blalock a day off at first base against left-handed pitching.

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A Game is Won – Maybe More – by Texas Rangers

ARLINGTON - Over the first eight innings on Sunday afternoon, the Rangers put the stretch in stretch drive. Their pitchers worked from that position with men on base to 18 of 30 hitters (aside from the eight leadoff batters). Bosox were aboard in every inning, hovering like locust.

Texas pitchers walked the tightrope and handed a one-run lead to closer Frank Francisco. The man who was torched on Friday night retired Boston in order to preserve the 4-3 victory. Francisco finished with strikeouts of Dustin Pedroia and Victor Martinez, each of whom doubled off him during the seven-hit, six-run calamity. With the series win, the Rangers earned a half-game lead in the A.L. wild-card chase.

That’s the short-term benefit of Sunday’s events for Rangers fans. To listen to Francisco after the game indicates a long-term dividend was also achieved.

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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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Late Rangers Game, Early Rangers Notes

OAKLAND, Calif. – While giving 2B Omar Vizquel a day off after six straight starts, manager Ron Washington decided to hit replacement 2B Joaquin Arias leadoff. The people’s champion, SS Elvis Andrus remains ninth.

Washington’s explanation, even though Andrus has 50 more games and 150 more career major league at-bats than Arias: “Experience.”

“Arias has more time in the game,” Washington said. “But what it really comes down to is comfort zone. I don’t want to pull Elvis out of the spot he’s in where he is doing such a good job. He’d probably handle the leadoff spot well, but he’s doing a good job where he is and there is no reason to do anything about that. I just think  a 20-year-old at the major league level doesn’t need to be [hitting leadoff].”

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The Short, Sweet Version: Rangers Manager Ron Washington Wraps Up Sweep Of Boston Succintly

ARLINGTON - There are times when Rangers manager Ron Washington fumbles for the words he wants to use to describe the way his team is playing.

Wednesday night was not one of those nights.

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Ron Washington’s Big Test

On the most recent Rangers Podcast in Arlington, I suggested that Ron Washington might be at a very pivotal moment in his career as a manager, facing the job of keeping the Rangers on top without Josh Hamilton in the lineup.

Citing the work Joe Torre has done in keeping the Dodgers rolling without their slugger, I suggested that Washington had an opportunity to establish himself as a manager by doing the same thing.

So far, Washington has not distinguished himself in the face of his club’s adversity while Torre has.

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Rangers To Pick Up Option On Manager Ron Washington’s Contract

UPDATED: At 3 p.m.

ARLINGTON - The Rangers will officially pick up the option for 2010 on the contract of manager Ron Washington through 2010 at a press conference at 3:30 this afternoon.

From the club press release:

“This was an easy decision”, said General Manager Jon Daniels. “We’re excited about the direction the club is going under Ron’s leadership and we look forward to a long, productive relationship with him as our manager.”

As we noted more than a week ago, Washington has the best winning percentage among any of the first-year managers who were hired for the 2007 season. Washington’s record is now 187-193 (.492). The updated chart is at the bottom of the jump.

It simply is another eventful day in what has already been a very eventful month of June for the club.

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