Five-run fifth sinks Astacio, Rangers

ARLINGTON -- The tug-of-war between perception and reality regarding Pedro Astacio's status in the Rangers organization has followed the right-hander like a shadow since the start of the season.
The perception was Astacio's starts were numbered, and as an inexpensive acquisition -- relatively speaking -- he was expendable. The reality included the organization's belief in Astacio's arm, when healthy, and his ability as a leader.

A set of new realities surfaced after Tuesday's 7-2 loss to the Braves at Ameriquest Field in Arlington. Astacio was charged with six runs on seven hits in only 4 1/3 innings for his eighth loss of the season, prompting real questions about his spot in the rotation.

"I'm not going to worry about it," Astacio said. "When you don't do your job, your job will be on the line. I can't control that. The only thing I can control is when I have the ball in my hand."

Easier said than done.

Astacio has lost seven of his last eight decisions and has not won a game since May 25. The losses, combined with the fact that the bar has been raised for pitchers in Texas -- see Ryan Drese -- and that the Rangers are vying for the top spot in the American League West, seemingly does not work in Astacio's favor.

The organization's belief in the veteran's ability to bounce back does. But how long will that last? Astacio and Seattle's Ryan Franklin each have eight losses for the season. Only Cleveland's Jake Westbrook has more losses, nine, among all Major League pitchers.

The next reality is that a decision will be made concerning Astacio's future. Will he or will he not pitch again for the Rangers on his next turn? The only certainty is the Rangers have plenty to think about.

"I'm going to treat this man with the respect he has coming," Rangers manager Buck Showalter said. "He's grinding and competing and he's trying to do something that is very difficult in professional sports, and I'm going to keep that in mind."

Respect means high regard. Respect means faith. Respect does not guarantee another start, but it could.

"We are going to try to," Showalter said. "We are going to give him the respect he is due like we always have and we'll see what the next few days brings."

The past few days has seen the promotion of Triple-A starters Ricardo Rodriguez and John Wasdin. The next few could see another change in the big league rotation. The present shows a manager's support for a pitcher who has a 6.04 ERA in 12 starts this season and a reluctance to even mention any other options -- publicly.

"He has pitched some good games for us and he has struggled, too," Showalter said. "Nobody is more aware of that than him. He's been a warrior for a long time and tonight was not one of them -- he was going okay until the fifth."

End of a streak for Soriano
Braves at Rangers, June 14
After going 0-for-4, Alfonso Soriano saw his hit streak snapped at 15 games, tying a career high:
Dates AB H 2B HR AVG
4/13-4/27, 2003 69 23 3 6 .420
5/24-6/13, 2005 59 21 3 6 .356

Astacio struck out three batters and hit one. He allowed only one run in his first four innings, but gave up two home runs as part of a pivotal five-run Atlanta fifth that saw a 2-1 Rangers lead turn into a 6-2 deficit.

Astacio barely missed with his pitches that inning. The Rangers never recovered.

"I did not do my job," Astacio said. "I'm better than I look out there, but I don't have any excuses, no reason. ... There were situations in the game when I had to make a pitch and missed."

With the loss, Texas fell to 34-29 for the season. The defeat was the club's ninth in the last 13 games. Braves starter Jorge Sosa allowed two runs on five hits in five innings for the victory.

"The attitude about [Pedro] has never changed," Showalter said. "We knew that if he was healthy, he was capable of giving us some quality innings, which he has done more than not. It is a difficult job to do out there. If you look on the scoreboard, good pitchers give up a lot of runs on a given night."

Sosa can attest.

Mark Teixeira hit a two-run home run, his 17th homer of the season, in the first inning to give the Rangers an early 2-0 lead that would not last. Astacio's stay could also be on the clock.

That's nothing new.

"My whole career I have pitched in Major Leagues, I never feel like I can sit down at the table because I have a job," Astacio said. "I have to go out there every time and do my job. When you don't do your job, any job, you are not going to be there."

Source: http://texas.rangers.mlb.com/