Rangers surprise no one now

ARLINGTON -- A year ago, the Rangers were exactly where they stand today with 100 games remaining on the 162-game road to October. Yet they were in a very different place, at least as far as perception from outside the clubhouse goes.
In 2004, a 34-28 record was the stuff of cartwheels up and down the Nolan Ryan Expressway that runs alongside Ameriquest Field, what with four consecutive last-place finishes in the American League West behind them. The record also provided fodder for cynics who figured it would lead the Rangers down the same downhill road in the summertime, cynics who watched it lead to the thrills of contention right up to the final weekend.

In 2005, that same record and the same distance of 2 1/2 games behind the division-leading Angels shouldn't qualify as a disappointment, but it's certainly not beyond expectations. There's a clear sense that the Rangers belong here, if not somewhere better than here.

If the air of expectation has changed around them, the air in the Rangers' clubhouse is a different story.

"Not in here," says shortstop Michael Young. "As far as the players are concerned, we've always expected to go out and win games. Our goal has always been to win the division. We know it's going to be competitive, and we have a lot of respect for the teams within the division. But we know we can win in here."

That mindset is part of the reason why they won 89 games a year ago, and it's part of the reason why they were able to put a rough two weeks on the road behind them with a 7-3 victory over the Braves in Monday night's opener of a six-game stand in Arlington.

The 4-8 road trip took them through four cities and covered almost 5,000 air miles, and it took all the wind out of the perfect eight-game homestand that preceded it. Legitimate questions rose to new levels about the bullpen, which has been a revolving door this year after being a locked one a year ago, and a flurry of roster moves touching the relief corps in the last week were the result.

How did the Rangers respond? By pounding one of the better pitchers and one of the better teams in the game to run their home winning streak to nine behind a brilliant start of their own by rookie Chris Young.

The Rangers' bats were out in full force, completely dismantling a nemesis of theirs for years. They battered Atlanta's Tim Hudson, formerly of the AL West rival Oakland A's, to the tune of five runs and two homers while drawing five walks in just 2 2/3 innings -- Hudson's shortest outing since 2001.

Alfonso Soriano ripped homers in his first two at-bats and came close to going for a third. Hank Blalock blasted one and crushed another ball to the wall in right that was caught. Frankly, this game could have been an even bigger blowout.

Alfonso Soriano / 2B
Born: 01/07/76
Height: 6'1"
Weight: 180 lbs
Bats: R / Throws: R

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For his part, Soriano continues to make Rangers fans forget all about ol' A-What's-His-Name, providing power and, recently, consistency at the plate while running off a 15-game hitting streak that matches his career high. He's batting .356 with six homers during the streak, which is sandwiched around four games lost to a hamstring injury.

The beauty of the Rangers' lineup is it's full of guys who just rake like Soriano, or at least close to it.

But we knew that.

We also knew that the pitching roles have been reversed this season. Last year, the bullpen carried the staff while Kenny Rogers and Ryan Drese were the only dependable starters. This year, it's the rotation doing the heavy lifting, so much so that Drese was deemed expendable after posting a 6.25 ERA in his first 12 starts. Young has been tremendous and Chan Ho Park has been ... well, at least he's making every start.

The proof of rotation stability: It took them until Sunday to use their sixth starter, that after using eight different starters in the first 19 games of 2004.

But they've used 15 different relief pitchers, and counting. Meanwhile, several proven relievers have been available, from former Rangers closer Ugueth Urbina to former Reds closer Danny Graves, but the Rangers have taken passes on outsiders and gone with what they have in hand so far. That, one would figure, has to change before the summer's out.

Shoring up your bullpen can be a little easier than trying to find a way to fill three rotation slots each time around, so in that sense the Rangers are in fact in a better position than they were a year ago. Plus, the younger elements of the club have been through the postseason chase now.

Again, the question is where the Rangers go from here, standing where they stand with 100 games ahead of them.

But this time nobody will be surprised if they're right back where they were the final weekend, fighting for a playoff spot.

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

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/

Rangers eyeing trade market

ARLINGTON -- Regarding trades, the Rangers have not changed their mind about young players and are determined to maintain their core of talented youth in the organization.
But ...

"We are going to stay involved and see what happens, but we are not about to do anything stupid," Rangers owner Tom Hicks said. "We are not about to give up our young assets."

The young assets include players like pitchers Thomas Diamond, John Danks, Juan Dominguez, C.J. Wilson and first baseman Adrian Gonzalez, in addition to players on the big league roster like Laynce Nix and Kevin Mench.

Hicks met with general manager John Hart and assistant general manager Jon Daniels to discuss the organization's status and future on Tuesday. Hicks said he is happy with the club and does not foresee a move at the moment, because teams "are asking for the moon."

However, that could change.

"The players that have been asked about recently are on our big league club, so there is a balancing act between the players that are being asked for and if they are as good as players we would trade for," Daniels said. "For the right piece, I think we would be willing to pay a price. You have to give up something to get something, and for the right piece, we would be willing to do that."

But are the Rangers only one "piece" away from contending for a World Series title? Some believe the club could use help in the bullpen, another starting pitcher and perhaps another bat in the lineup.

That's potentially three pieces, which makes the matter complicated. Which piece is more important? Which piece should be acquired first? These are among the many questions the Rangers will consider as they approach the July 31 trade deadline.

"You have to look at it on an individual basis," Daniels said. "I think we want to be prudent with our young players and our prospects, whether they are on the Major League team or Major League-ready, we are always looking to get better, but it has to be the right move."

The Rangers entered Tuesday's game against Atlanta in second place, 2 1/2 games behind the Angels in the American League West. The club had lost eight of its previous 12 games since a nine-game winning streak from May 20 to May 31, but is riding a two-game winning streak.

"We want to win this year," Hicks said. "Last year, we were kind of flirting with it, but we are not going to give up our future. If we win the World Series over the next few years, we are probably going to do it with guys like John Danks and Tom Diamond."

Soaring Soriano: Rangers second baseman Alfonso Soriano still shies away from the label as a power hitter, but has come to recognize he is a pretty good hitter in the fifth spot in the order.

Soriano came into Tuesday's game hitting .300 in the fifth spot with a .629 slugging percentage. By comparison, he hit .276 with a .480 slugging percentage from the leadoff spot.

"The fifth spot is for a power hitter," Soriano said. "In batting practice, I tried to hit the ball hard and I've changed my swing a little bit now. I hit the ball harder, I don't know why. I think it is because I am batting five."

He entered Tuesday's game riding a 15-game hitting streak, the longest current streak in the Major Leagues.

"I think where ever we hit Sori, he is going to take the same approach, and that's what we want him to do," Rangers manager Buck Showalter said. "I think he is going to have the type of year he is having now regardless of where he is hitting."

Around the horn: Erasmo Ramirez (strained tendon on left middle finger) is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment on Saturday. ... Mark Teixeira has not committed an error this season. ... Kelvin Jimenez has thrown 19 2/3 scoreless innings during his last 10 outings for Triple-A Oklahoma. Ian Kinsler is hitting .333 during his last 18 games to raise his average to .260.

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

Botts out to prove everyone wrong

He goes about 6-foot-7, 250 pounds, with light tower power from both sides, sprinter's speed, and an idea at the plate. You might expect that a singular athlete like Jason Botts has forever been on an express path to the Major Leagues, on a timetable slowed only by a disciplined exercise of organizational patience.

You'd be wrong.

"First the scouts said I was not athletic enough," Botts jokes. "Then I lacked bat speed. Now it's that I'm a defensive liability. All I know is that, in the end, I'm going to prove them all wrong."

Botts has had to silence his baseball critics for years.

• Baltimore used its 28th-round pick on Botts in 1998 after his career at Paso Robles High School in California, but the Orioles made no real effort to sign him.

• He was offered just one four-year scholarship, by Cal Poly State, but instead enrolled at Glendale Community College to accelerate his eligibility to be redrafted.

Only one Glendale draftee (former Phillies reliever Wally Ritchie) has reached the Major Leagues.

• The Texas Rangers chose Botts in 1999 in the 46th round after his first year with the Vaqueros, and monitored him as a draft-and-follow through his second season before signing him -- luring him from an opportunity to transfer to USC.

• The Rangers promptly made Botts a switch-hitter, and though he hit a robust .319/.440/.503 in the Gulf Coast League in his rookie season, he followed with two solid Class A seasons in which he exhibited phenomenal plate discipline (especially for a player with as large a strike zone as his) but his potential to hit for plus power remained just that: potential.

• Botts stepped forward in 2003, splitting the season between high-A Stockton and Double-A Frisco and leading all Ranger Minor Leaguers with 88 RBIs and setting a career high with 13 homers, and yet despite the production and what everyone agreed was the promise to be even better in every phase, Texas chose not to put Botts on the 40-man roster, instead adding Adrian Gonzalez, Nick Regilio, Edwin Moreno, and Jason Bourgeois. Moreno and Bourgeois have since been dropped from the roster and lost to other organizations.

• Botts was passed over by every other team in that winter's Rule 5 Draft.

The 1,375th player taken in the 1999 draft, never doubting himself, erased any lingering doubts around baseball in 2004. Botts set career marks with 24 homers, 92 RBIs, 77 walks, and 85 runs, garnering midseason and postseason All-Star recognition. Earning an assignment to the Arizona Fall League, he fought off a mysterious illness that caused him to rapidly lose 15 pounds, hitting .355/.461/.570 with six home runs in 107 at-bats. Only four hitters in the prospect league went deep more often, and only two reached base at a greater clip.

And Botts played outfield in the AFL, something he hadn't done regularly since 2002. With 22-year-old Adrian Gonzalez entrenched as the Rangers' top first base prospect behind 24-year-old Mark Teixeira, the idea is to explore all ways in which the 24-year-old Botts can eventually impact the big club with his intriguing bat.

Texas added him to the 40-man roster in November, knowing they couldn't get away with leaving him exposed to another Rule 5 Draft. Said Rangers assistant general manager Jon Daniels, "Jason turned his raw power into game power this year. He became more aggressive without sacrificing plate discipline."

He's squarely on the map. Finally.

Botts will play left field for Oklahoma as the season begins. But whether it's as a corner outfielder or a first baseman or a designated hitter, it's not necessary right now to decide what exactly Jason Botts will be when his bat takes him to the big leagues. As he's always done, he'll create his own path, running right past his skeptics along the way.

Jamey Newberg (www.newbergreport.com) is a contributor to texasrangers.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


Source: http://newberg.mlblogs.com/

Rangers sign top pick Mayberry Jr.

ARLINGTON -- When the Rangers officially introduced John Mayberry Jr. as the next star prospect in their organization on Tuesday afternoon, the 21-year-old Stanford product drew raves for his physical abilities.
The son of former Major League first baseman John Mayberry, he showed some of those skills when he took batting practice in a Rangers uniform at Ameriquest Field in Arlington prior to the Braves-Rangers game on Tuesday, shortly after signing for a $1.525 million bonus.

It's obvious the kid has inherited his dad's set of tools -- and then some.

"I'm the same and I'm different," Mayberry Jr. said at a press conference. "I think I can be a middle-of-the-lineup type of guy like my dad, but I think I bring a little more to the table in terms of speed. I just remember watching him play in an old timers game and getting thrown out by 10 feet."

That playful jab broke up the room, but Mayberry Sr. made sure to set the record straight later.

"He should know that I stole 30 bases in my career," Mayberry Sr. said. "I had two a year for 15 years. Those were all on the back end of a double steal, though."

Mayberry Sr., a first-round pick himself in 1967 and a two-time All-Star, actually had just 20 steals and was caught 17 times in his career. His 255 career homers and 879 RBIs more than made up for the speed factor, however.

Speed was the subject of the day in part because Mayberry Jr. will be starting his professional career as a corner outfielder in the Rangers' organization, starting with Spokane of the Class A Northwest League.

That particular tool he obviously picked up from his mother, Janet, was a big factor in the decision to give him a shot in the outfield after he'd spent his entire career at Stanford playing first base.

"John's very athletic," Rangers general manager John Hart said. "When you put the package together, John is a plus runner. He covers a lot of ground. There isn't any reason he can't go out and compete as an outfielder."

For his part, Mayberry Jr. is ready for the challenge.

"I'm willing to do whatever the organization wants me to do to help the Major League ballclub as soon as possible," he said.

That's the whole idea, after all. With budding superstar Mark Teixeira holding down the position and top prospect Adrian Gonzalez in Triple-A, first base is crowded. Having potentially three corner positions -- right, left and first -- on his resume means more potential opportunity to rise to the Majors.

Mayberry didn't play in the outfield at all at Stanford, but he did in the Cape Cod League, a development league for college players, and he did with USA Baseball last summer. Hart said he'll start out in right and get some time in left, and first base won't be ignored altogether.

Tim Fortugno, the Rangers' scout who followed Mayberry throughout his Stanford career, definitely thinks Mayberry can handle the switch.

"I've been a big advocate for it. I really think it's a good idea for John and the organization," Fortugno said. "I've seen John go out toward right field for a ball and beat the right fielder to it, then turn around and fire the ball to second base."

Mayberry, a right-handed hitter, finished out his Stanford career with a .312 average, 28 homers and 148 RBIs in three years there. He was rated by Baseball America as the best college athlete and the third-best power hitter among draft eligibles.

Mayberry Jr. was a first-round pick by the Mariners in 2002 out of Rockhurst High School in the Kansas City area, but chose to attend college. Obviously, the Rangers feel he's still very much a first-round talent.

"This is exactly the type of player you want," Fortugno said. "He just oozes tools."

That is due in part to his Major League bloodline, but Mayberry Sr. says that's only part of the story.

"It's nothing I did," Mayberry Sr. said. "He did this all on his own. He always said this is what he wanted to do and he prepared himself to get here. And here he is."

Still, growing up in Major League clubhouses while his father was a coach -- born in 1983, a year after his dad retired, he never did see his dad play -- couldn't have hurt.

"I was one of those kids in the locker room the players just couldn't get rid of," Mayberry Jr. said.

Soon enough, if all goes well in his trip through the Minors, the shoe will be on the other foot and Mayberry Jr. will be the one with the cubicle in the Major League clubhouse.

Then he'll really be just like dad -- only faster.

"It's a baseball family," Hart said. "They're all terrific, wonderful people, and we're happy to have them part of the Rangers' family now."

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

Rangers won't face Drese

ARLINGTON -- At least the Rangers won't have to face former teammate Ryan Drese this weekend when the Washington Nationals visit Ameriquest Field.
Drese was a 14-game winner for the Rangers last season, but was designated for assignment by Texas last week before being claimed by the Nationals. Drese got his first start for Washington on Wednesday night against the Rangers' American League West rivals, the Los Angeles Angels.

That meant a fired-up Drese wouldn't get the call against his former team over the weekend.

"You just played with a guy a week ago, and then he pitches against you a week later. That would have been weird," said Rangers catcher Sandy Alomar Jr. "Ryan's a good guy. Hopefully, he can turn it around. I know I wouldn't have wanted to go against him so soon after he pitched for us."

Said first baseman Mark Teixeira, "He's a good pitcher. I didn't want him to come in here and beat us."

All-Star watch: The Rangers have some solid All-Star candidates in Teixeira, Kenny Rogers, Alfonso Soriano, and Michael Young.

Rogers is among the league leaders in ERA and wins. Teixeira and Soriano are second in fan voting at their positions. And Young remains among the league's top shortstops at the plate and in the field.

Flying under the radar is right-hander Chris Young, who has given the rotation a major lift with a 5-2 record and 1.81 ERA over his last 10 starts.

Catcher Rod Barajas said Young is deserving of consideration.

"I see no reason why he shouldn't make the team," Barajas said.

Chris Young, who threw seven shutout innings in his last start, is also a solid Rookie of the Year candidate, but neither that honor nor an All-Star berth are high on his priority list right now.

"You guys are getting way ahead of me," said Young of any All-Star talk.

Teixeira and Soriano aren't politicking for an All-Star berth either.

"It'd be fun, but I'm not going out to play for the All-Star Game," Teixeira said. "We're here to win a championship."

Getting a breather: David Dellucci, the league leader in walks, struck out four times on Tuesday night, an uncharacteristic performance that earned him the day off on Wednesday.

Dellucci has a nagging calf problem that's affecting his play, sitting out Wednesday along with the off-day on Thursday can't hurt.

"He's the type of guy that's not going to say anything," manager Buck Showalter said. "So we're trying to get him ... a couple of days off."

Barajas was also out of Wednesday's lineup, replaced by Alomar, as Showalter took the opportunity to give his starting catcher two straight days off.

Rotation shuffle in the works? Pedro Astacio's stretch of ineffective starts has placed his rotation spot in jeopardy, but Showalter wasn't ready to announce any changes on Wednesday.

"Not yet," Showalter said. "We're going to sit down on our off-day and see what our options are."

Showalter said Astacio is still "the leader of the pack" to start on Monday night in Anaheim. The Rangers open a key three-game series against the Angels, so Showalter is considering alternatives.

"We're trying to respect a man who's done a lot of great things, but at the same time he also understands where he is," Showalter said. "He knows."

Astacio allowed six runs and seven hits in 4 1/3 innings, suffering his eighth loss of the season, on Tuesday night against Atlanta. He has dropped seven of his last eight decisions.

"I have a job to do, and I'm not doing it," Astacio said. "I'm not making pitches when I need to."

Astacio might be safe for at least one more start simply because Drese had been dropped so recently. Another early change in the rotation could be too much of a jolt to a team that's in postseason contention.

Around the horn: If Astacio is replaced in the rotation, one potential replacement is left-hander Wilfredo Rodriguez, who pitched six sharp innings in his first start for Triple-A Oklahoma.

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

Rangers' early runs stun Braves

ARLINGTON -- You won't catch Chan Ho Park complaining about his run support these days. When Park takes the mound, his Texas Rangers teammates swing the bats.
The Texas Rangers presented Park with a five-run first inning on Wednesday night, and Park took advantage of his good fortune, capturing his sixth straight decision despite lasting only five innings of a 9-5 victory over the Atlanta Braves.

"It was a battle," Park said. "Obviously, it's easier when we score a lot of runs."

Texas remains on a roll at home, winning for the 10th time in its last 11 games.

Alfonso Soriano of the Rangers had a homer, two doubles and drove in four runs to match a career high. Kevin Mench added three hits for the Rangers.

Park (7-1) began the day with an average of 8.43 runs per start, the highest among qualifying Major League pitchers, and the runs kept coming on a steamy 97-degree night.

The Braves loaded the bases in the ninth, but Francisco Cordero got the last three outs for his 17th save.

In his five innings, Park threw 114 pitches, allowing eight hits.

"I like him going five innings, and giving up one run," manager Buck Showalter said. "He kept making pitches when he had to."

Park wobbled through a 40-pitch first inning against a lineup that included six rookies, but managed to escape after Atlanta scored only a single run.

The first three Braves reached to load the bases, but Adam LaRoche produced the only run on a grounder back to Park. Atlanta had the bases loaded later in the first, but Park fanned rookies Ryan Langerhans and Andy Marte to end the threat.

Park allowed at least two baserunners in each of his five innings, but he got more of the run support he's grown accustomed to this season in the first inning on two-run doubles from Soriano and Mench and Hank Blalock's run-scoring single.

"It was like a college test," said Rangers catcher Sandy Alomar. "It was one of the longest innings I ever caught. But just one run, go figure. It shows that baseball is a weird game."

Park also walked three and hit a batter, but he left with a six-run lead. Park also benefited from two doubleplays and had three strikeouts.

"He kept getting in trouble, getting behind in the count, but he settled down and got the ground ball, or the double play, or the strikeout when he needed it," Alomar said. "For a guy who was in trouble a lot, he came out great. Today it was an ugly game."

Gary Matthews Jr.'s RBI single in the third made it 6-1, knocking out rookie starter Kyle Davies, who might have been affected by having to sit through a lengthy top of the first.

Davies (2-2) started the night with a 1.86 ERA, but the Rangers got to him for six runs and eight hits over 2 1/3 innings.

Texas made it 7-1 on Soriano's solo shot off reliever Jorge Vasquez in the fourth inning, Soriano's team-leading 18th home run of the season.

Rangers first baseman Mark Teixeira's errorless streak ended at 87 games when he missed a throw from reliever Brian Shouse on Kelly Johnson's grounder that would have been the third out of the sixth.

Wilson Betemit scored on the play, and LaRoche added a two-run double off Shouse later to bring the score to 7-4. All three runs in the sixth were unearned.

Teixeira's last error was on Sept. 8, 2004.

Atlanta reduced the deficit to 7-5 in the seventh on Betemit's sacrifice fly.

Texas stretched its advantage to 9-5 in the eighth when Young scored all the way from first on Atlanta second baseman Marcus Giles' error. Soriano then added another RBI double.

Soriano has been on a tear, batting .358 (24-for-67) with seven homers and 18 RBIs over his last 17 games to raise his average from .271 to .294.

"I feel good at the plate," Soriano said. "I'm more aggressive. That's why I'm hitting very well."

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

Rangers walk pitching tightrope

ARLINGTON -- The story had a happy ending for the Rangers, but it had an opening chapter that was troubling and a little too familiar.
Forty pitches and 20 minutes into Wednesday night's game, the Rangers' signature problem -- the kind of pitching that makes you want to slap your forehead -- was on display.

Thirty-five pitches and 20 minutes after that, the Rangers' signature solution -- the kind of offensive display that makes you jump out of your seat -- made its presence known as well.

The result was a microcosm of a first inning for the Rangers, putting them in the familiar position of having to outscore their opponent, which they did in a 9-5 victory over the Braves to take two of three in the Interleague series.

They won, but that kind of baseball could ultimately stand in the way of the Rangers taking their 2004 successes to the next level in 2005.

And that's why you've got to believe the Rangers will be a player in the trade-deadline sweepstakes, making a run for a starter and some relief help to get through the summer and into October.

Wednesday's game was just another example of how the Rangers' fortunes on the hill stand on a slippery slope.

Chan Ho Park labored mightily through the first inning, throwing 40 pitches yet somehow managing to allow only one run. He lasted the requisite five innings to get the win without allowing another run, but it wasn't pretty -- and it could have been considerably uglier.

"For a guy who was in trouble a lot, he came out of it great," veteran catcher Sandy Alomar Jr. said.

True. This time.

On this night, the offense did what it does very often -- it went off, scoring five runs in the bottom half of the first against Braves rookie starter Kyle Davies.

For his part, Rangers manager Buck Showalter was as diplomatic as could be in describing his feelings about Park's first inning, knowing the end result was a win.

"I'll say one thing, it tests what kind of shape you're in, not only him but managers, too," Showalter said.

Not to pick on Park, especially now that he's finally healthy and chalking up wins in the fourth season of his five-year, $65 million deal, but the tightrope act that was his first inning Wednesday flirted with disaster.

And it's just another example of why the Rangers could use some mound help.

Owner Tom Hicks and the team's baseball folks have been adamant that while they'll certainly scour the trade scene, the club won't give up their "young assets," as Hicks put it Tuesday. This team has been building itself back up, and not wanting to shake up the increasingly stronger foundation they've constructed by dealing away their top prospects is understandable.

Indeed, it's a tough spot. Always is. But so is sitting at home in October.

Is that where the Rangers are headed if they don't do something? Who knows for sure?

But only so much can be done internally. They've already used 21 pitchers from within. One or two from without could very well be their ticket to October.

No question, the Rangers have the type of offense that can pick up its pitching when needed. But it can't be expected to do it all the time. Or even 60 percent of the time.

The Rangers do have two starters -- ageless lefty Kenny Rogers and skyscraping right-hander Chris Young -- who have been nothing short of consistently brilliant. After that, well, they're not praying for rain, because their offense -- in the top two or three in the Majors in run-producing categories -- shows up every day.

This year, the bigger problem on the mound has been the bullpen, where key members from 2004's American League-best relief corps -- Carlos Almanzar and Frank Francisco -- have been lost for the season. They've had 15 guys pitch in relief so far, and closer Francisco Cordero went 16 games without a save opportunity before registering his 17th save Wednesday night.

But the last two nights, the starting pitching has been suspect, at best.

Park was living a charmed life getting through what he got through. Pedro Astacio struggled on the mound and the scoreboard, and his future status is among the pitching issues Showalter said he and GM John Hart will be discussing before the Rangers return to action Friday.

Sending Opening Day starter Ryan Drese packing after 12 bad outings was a bold move of subtraction, even though Drese showed in his eight-inning Nationals debut that he's still capable of helping somebody.

Perhaps what should come next is a bold addition to a pitching staff that could use some help.

The hitting solution can't be expected to keep up with the pitching problem forever.

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

Teixeira's career continues to rise

ARLINGTON -- As remarkable as it is to look around the Rangers' clubhouse and see a trio of talented infielders in their 20s who have established themselves as All-Stars, the really remarkable thing is it should be a quartet.
A month from now, figure on Mark Teixeira filling out the foursome.

Second baseman Alfonso Soriano, shortstop Michael Young and third baseman Hank Blalock were among five Rangers All-Stars last year in Houston, all deserving participants in baseball's annual festival of elite players. Teixeira, then in his second year, stayed home.

That definitely should not and very likely will not be the case this year, whether it's the fans voting him in as a starter or baseball personnel anointing him a reserve.

This guy's an All-Star talent who should be among the American League stars introduced on the base line at Comerica Park on July 12. No question about it.

That said, it's not a subject that is consuming Teixeira's time and energy a lot lately.

"I don't think anybody in here is playing for the All-Star Game," Teixeira said. "We're playing to win baseball games and go to the World Series."

Along the way, a little All-Star recognition is in order, and it's time for Teixeira to take his turn.

Perhaps even more than the other three members of the star-studded Rangers infield, All-Stardom has been Teixeira's destiny all along.

The fifth pick overall in the 2001 draft out of Georgia Tech, Teixeira has clearly established himself as the power-hitting (from both sides, no less) corner man everyone expected him to be. Flawless at first base until an error Wednesday night snapped his 87-game errorless streak, Teixeira is batting .286 with 17 doubles, 17 homers, 50 runs and 50 RBIs -- all of which puts him on pace for an MVP-caliber season.

This is the kind of stuff you should expect out of a guy picked fifth overall in the draft, even if it doesn't always turn out that way.

"I had a lot of expectations for myself coming out of college," said Teixeira, who hit .409 for his career and won every college award in 2001 except the Golden Spikes Award that went to Mark Prior. "It was about getting to the big leagues quickly and, once I was there, to produce right away."

Suffice to say he's fulfilled that promise.

Following just 86 games in the Minors, he took a strong rookie campaign to another level last year. He led the Rangers and finished among the leaders in the American League in homers (38), RBIs (112) and slugging percentage (.560) -- not shabby for a second-year player.

So far in 2005, he's taking it to yet another level. And that's the whole idea with Teixeira.

"A lot of players go out and have a good rookie year, but you've got to continue getting better and try to get better every year," he said.

This year's project is consistency. He knows it's the one thing that will really put him among the elite, All-Star Game or no All-Star Game.

"I want to be a player my teammates can count on every single day to show up and produce," Teixeira said. "I'm still working on that. The best players in baseball stay consistent throughout the whole year."

At age 25, that's a reasonable goal. And when you come into baseball as such a high draft pick with such a huge amateur track record, it certainly should be a goal within your reach.

Maybe making the All-Star Game isn't a goal, per se. But it's something that fits in with fulfilling Teixeira's vast potential.

Currently, he's got a ways to go with the fans. The Yankees' Tino Martinez remains the frontrunner despite a precipitous dip in his production the last several weeks. But at least Teixeira was able to vault into second place in the voting this week, his 482,636 tallies leaving him about 130,000 short of Martinez but ahead of Boston's Kevin Millar in third and Chicago's Paul Konerko in fourth. The Rangers playing at home this week should help next week's vote total.

Rangers manager Buck Showalter suggests that Teixeira's performance on the field speaks for itself when it comes to placing him among the game's top players. So he probably won't have to make phone calls on his behalf to help him get to Detroit if the fans don't elect him.

"I've been lobbying for him to win a Gold Glove more than anything," Showalter said. "I'm surely willing to do that for the All-Star Game, but I don't think I'll have to."

All he really has to do is put Teixeira in the lineup every day, and the All-Star bid will take care of itself.

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

Rangers add two to Hall of Fame

ARLINGTON -- The Texas Rangers announced the addition of two new members to the Texas Rangers Baseball Hall of Fame on Wednesday.
Former Rangers closer, and current roving pitching coach, John Wetteland, and former Rangers broadcaster Mark Holtz make up the class of 2005. Holtz and Wetteland become the eighth and ninth members of the Hall of Fame, which inducted its inaugural class in 2003.

"This is a really happy day for me, to see Holtzy get recognized, to see John Wetteland get recognized for their contributions to the franchise," said Rangers radio broadcaster Eric Nadel.

Both men will be inducted into the Texas Rangers Baseball Hall of Fame during the Verizon SuperPages Hall of Fame Weekend. The event will take place during the first weekend in August, when Texas hosts Baltimore for a three-game series. The retiring of former Rangers manager Johnny Oates' number will also be included in the weekend ceremonies.

The main concourse at Ameriquest Field in Arlington will display bronze plaques honoring both men after their induction. The plaques will join those of current members Buddy Bell, Charlie Hough, Ferguson Jenkins, Oates, Nolan Ryan, Jim Sundberg and Tom Vandergriff.

Wetteland joined the Rangers for the 1997 season, and played through 2000. He helped Texas win the 1998 and 1999 American League West titles, with 42 and 43 saves, respectively, while being named to the All-Star team in both seasons. The right-handed hurler is the club's all-time leader with 150 saves. He compiled a 20-12 record with a 2.95 ERA during his tenure.

"The time I got to spend here was probably the most enjoyable time in my career," Wetteland said. "That had a lot to do with the people that are here. There are always wonderful people here."

Holtz served as the lead announcer on the Rangers' radio broadcast from 1982-1994, then moved to television until 1997. He was named Texas Play-by-Play Sportscaster of the Year eight times, and was elected to the Texas Baseball Hall of Fame in 1990.

"Mark Holtz is quite simply the best broadcaster this franchise has ever had, the best broadcaster this franchise will ever have," said Nadel, who was Holtz's radio-broadcast partner for 13 years.

Holtz began every broadcast by saying "It's baseball time in Texas," and spoke his trademark phrase "Hello Win Column!" after each Rangers victory, a slogan that still appears on Ameriquest Field's message board following a Rangers triumph.

"Mark was a really warm and friendly person, and that came across on the air. I think the audience really responded to that, they fed off it," Nadel said. "They thought of Mark as a friend that they were inviting into their house every night. The fans loved him, and he loved the fans."

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

Florida 12, Texas 5

MIAMI (AP) -- For at least one night, the Florida Marlins followed manager Jack McKeon's pregame message.

Reliever Doug Brocail walked Luis Castillo on four pitches to force in the go-ahead run and Mike Lowell hit a grand slam one out later to highlight the Marlins' seven-run eighth inning in a 12-5 victory over the Texas Rangers on Friday night.

Paul Lo Duca, Miguel Cabrera and Alex Gonzalez each drove in two runs for the Marlins, who had lost 12 of 15.

``We started a new season today. We're going to play like we did in the past,'' said McKeon, whom several unnamed Marlins criticized in a local newspaper Friday. ``We talked about (starting over) before the game. I told them to have a little fun. Now we have to keep it going.''

The Rangers lost their fourth straight and seventh in nine games.

``We know we're struggling and we're not playing to the best of our abilities,'' catcher Rod Barajas said. ``Yet we look at the leaderboard and no one's really pulled away.''

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After the Rangers scored four runs in the eighth to tie it, Brocail (3-1) entered and struck out Juan Encarnacion. The right-hander then gave up a single to Gonzalez, walked pinch-hitter Lenny Harris and then gave up another single to Juan Pierre to load the bases. Castillo then walked to give Florida a 6-5 lead.

``A bad day's a bad day,'' Brocail said. ``You just have to chalk it up and move forward.''

After Cabrera singled in Harris, Brian Shouse relieved and struck out Carlos Delgado before surrendering Lowell's fourth career grand slam. It was Lowell's third homer this season and first since April 12 against Philadelphia -- a span of 45 games and 161 at-bats.

``I wasn't sure I was supposed to keep running around the bases,'' Lowell said with a smile. ``I knew it was a long time (since I homered), I just didn't know how long.''

Florida's A.J. Burnett, winless his last seven starts, left in the eighth with a 5-1 lead, two runners on and one out.

After left-hander Chad Bentz retired Hank Blalock, right-hander Guillermo Mota relieved and gave up Richard Hidalgo's run-scoring single and Laynce Nix's two-run double.

Todd Jones (1-1) relieved and gave up Barajas' RBI single that tied the score.


AP - Jun 10, 11:07 pm EDT
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Burnett gave up three runs, seven hits and three walks. He struck out 10 and passed Ryan Dempster to become the Marlins' career strikeout leader.

``We got the 'W' and that's what counts,'' Burnett said. ``We needed a game where we ended up on top.''

Texas starter Chan Ho Park, who had won his previous five decisions, allowed five runs and in 4 2-3 innings.

``Chan battled,'' Rangers manager Buck Showalter said. ``There were a lot of situations with two strikes and he made bad pitches.''

The Marlins took a 5-1 lead with three runs in the fifth, scoring on Cabrera's RBI double, Park's wild pitch and Lo Duca's sacrifice fly.

Park, who singled twice, had his first hits since Oct. 5, 2001, with the Dodgers.

Notes

The Rangers placed RHP Nick Regilio on the 15-day disabled list with elbow tendinitis and recalled RHP Juan Dominguez from Double-A Frisco. Texas also purchased the contract of LHP C.J. Wilson from Frisco and optioned LHP Michael Tejera to Triple-A Oklahoma. Both Dominguez and Wilson relieved in the game. ... Burnett passed Dempster (628) when he struck out Nix to start the second inning. He struck out the side in the first. ... Max Mayfield, director of the National Hurricane Center, threw out the first pitch on a day Tropical Storm Arlene brought rain to the South Florida area.


Updated on Saturday, Jun 11, 2005 12:06 am

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/

The Cycle: For future reference

Interleague play allows you to enjoy new ballparks for the first time. I would've loved to have played at Yankee Stadium, Fenway Park and the old Tiger Stadium. Those parks are full of history, and it would've been awesome to step foot on those infields and take a few swings just to be a part of that history.

I've always wondered what it would be like to have an at-bat at Fenway with the Green Monster right behind the left fielder, or step into the batter's box at Yankee Stadium where some of the greatest players in history have played. Yankee Stadium is the only park I haven't been to as a fan, but it's definitely at the top of my list.

After this weekend, the Red Sox can scratch off Wrigley Field on their list of places they've never played.



Home run
Boston Red Sox

Record: 32-27
2nd, AL East
at Chicago Cubs

Record: 31-27
2nd, NL Central

This is the first time the Red Sox have ever played at Wrigley Field. The teams met in the 1918 World Series, but the games were played at Comiskey Park because Wrigley was said to be too small. The Red Sox won the series 4-2 and a guy by the name of Babe Ruth pitched well for the Sox.

Boston didn't fare too well playing at St. Louis earlier this week. I wonder if the NL style might have hurt them without the DH. This will be a good test for the Cubs just to see how they compare against a good AL team.

Who's hot: Ryan Dempster. The Cubs' new closer has converted seven straight save opportunities. If there's anything the Cubs will be looking for down the stretch, it would be another closer, but Dempster will get the opportunity to keep his job.

Who's not: Johnny Damon. The Red Sox outfielder is one of the better leadoff hitters in the game. Despite his.339 average this season, he's hitting just .190 over the last seven games with no runs scored.

Prediction: Cubs win two out of three games.


Triple
New York Yankees

Record: 29-30
4th, AL East
at St. Louis Cardinals

Record: 38-21
1st, NL East

The Cardinals, who took two of three games against Boston, have another tough series against an AL East power. However, the Yankees aren't playing very well right now. The Yankees feature a big-name pitching staff, which has performed well below expectations.

I experienced a great atmosphere at Busch Stadium during Cubs-Cardinals games. It'll be interesting to see the Yankees fans mix it up with St. Louis fans.

Who's hot: Alex Rodriguez. He hit two home runs on Wednesday to give him 400 career homers. He's the youngest player to get to 400 and has taken a huge step toward Cooperstown. He continues to be the best player in the game.

Who's not: Randy Johnson. He has lost three of his last four starts, and his move to New York isn't going as well as expected. He is the ace of the Yankees' staff and his season kind of reflects how the rest of the pitching staff has gone.

Marquee matchup: Randy Johnson (5-5, 4.07) vs. Mark Mulder (7-3, 4.17) on Saturday. It's an encounter of two great left-handers. Johnson is looking for more consistency; Mulder has pitched well as a big-signing for the Cardinals.

Prediction: Cardinals win two out of three games.


Double
Chicago White Sox

Record: 40-19
1st, AL Central
at San Diego Padres

Record: 35-25
1st, NL West

It's fair to say that this could be a possible World Series preview. The White Sox continue to roll along in the AL Central, but they face a tough challenge in NL West-leading San Diego. The Padres play very well at Petco Park, where they are 20-10. Also, Chicago will be without the DH. That means Frank Thomas will have to sit for the whole series, preventing him from getting some much-needed at-bats to get back into shape.

Who's hot: Jermaine Dye. The White Sox right fielder is hitting .480 over the past week with seven RBIs. He's made a nice jump to .260 and is now a very productive bat at the bottom of the order. He's capable of carrying this team by himself. He's that type of a hitter.

Who's not: Khalil Greene. The Padres shortstop has two hits in his last 30 at-bats and has been dropped from seventh to eighth in the batting order.

Marquee matchup: Jon Garland (9-2, 3.40) vs. Woody Williams (2-3, 4.46) on Friday. Garland will try to become the second 10-game winner in the big leagues. He's on his way to starting the All-Star Game for the AL.

Prediction: Padres win two out of three games.



Single
Texas Rangers

Record: 32-26
2nd, AL West
at Florida Marlins

Record: 29-28
5th, NL East

The Marlins find themselves in last place, but they're only 3½ games out of the NL East lead. That said, I don't think they'll be able to pick up any games while playing the Rangers this weekend.

Who's hot: Alfonso Soriano. The Rangers second baseman has a 12-game hitting streak and is second on the team in home runs with 15.

Who's not: Juan Pierre. He still hasn't turned it on this year. A guy with his speed should be hitting better than .252. Speed usually keeps a guy out of a slump because he can beat out throws for infield hits. He's just 4-for-25 (.160) in his last seven games.

Marquee matchup: Chan Ho Park (6-1, 5.09) vs. A.J. Burnett (3-4, 3.03) on Friday. Park has found a way to be effective after being tutored by pitching coach Orel Hershiser. He's concentrating more on location and control instead of trying to be overpowering, and he's getting results.

Prediction: Rangers win two out of three games.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/

Rangers, top pick 'close'

MIAMI -- The Rangers are hopeful of having first-round draft pick John Mayberry Jr. under contract in the near future.
"We're close to an agreement in principle, but there are still some things that need to be worked out," Rangers assistant general manager Jon Daniels said.

Texas wants to have Mayberry in Arlington during the early portion of a homestand which begins on Monday. Taken with the 19th overall pick, the 6-foot-6 Mayberry is projected as an outfielder in the Rangers' system, although he can also play first base.

Mayberry hit .312 with 28 home runs and 148 RBIs in a three-year career at Stanford. He was rated as the best college athlete by Baseball America.

Rodriguez arrives: Right-hander Ricardo Rodriguez, who will be taking the place of the departed Ryan Drese in the Rangers' rotation, arrived in the Rangers' clubhouse Saturday and accepted a round of handshakes.

"I'm so happy to be back," Rodriguez said. "I've worked hard to be here and I'm going to help this team wherever I can."

Based on his recent outings at Triple-A Oklahoma, the Rangers think Rodriguez is back to the form he showed last year while recording a 2.03 ERA in five appearances (four starts) for Texas.

"I feel that way," Rodriguez said. "I'm pitching the way I should be pitching. My arm feels great."

Rodriguez was 7-3 with a 2.91 ERA for Oklahoma and led the Pacific Coast League with 80 1/3 innings pitched.

Although he was initially disappointed about not making the club out of Spring Training, Rodriguez impressed the Rangers by reporting to Oklahoma with a workmanlike attitude.

"I just put that out of my mind and went about my business," Rodriguez said. "Now, I'm here again and it's a great opportunity for me."

Soriano starts: Rangers manager Buck Showalter had two lineups ready before batting practice on Saturday. One included second baseman Alfonso Soriano and one didn't.

After watching Soriano hit and move around, Showalter decided to start Soriano, who had been out since Sunday with a mild left hamstring strain.

The Rangers will have to make a player move on Sunday and want to know where they stand with Soriano before making that decision.

Draft signees: In the aftermath of last week's draft, the Rangers have signed Michael Kirkman (fifth round), Doug Mathis (13th round), Steve Murphy (14th round), Kea Kometani (15th round), Brian Valichka (19th round), Brian Spielmann (25th round), Jon Wilson (27th round), Thomas Van Buskirk (40th round), Warren Rosebrock (41st round) and Roberto Valiente (44th round).

Around the horn: Left-hander Erasmo Ramirez (finger) will throw on Tuesday. If all goes well, he could be out on a rehab assignment by Saturday. ... Righty Steve Karsay (forearm stiffness) will see Dr. Keith Meister on Monday and may throw a bullpen session if he is cleared. ... Lefty Ron Mahay (groin) and right-hander Nick Regilio (elbow) are tentatively scheduled to head for Surprise, Ariz., on Tuesday to continue their rehab work. ... Righty Thomas Diamond has been named to the California League All-Star team. ... Sports Illustrated was at Dolphins Stadium on Saturday for a photo shoot with the Rangers' starting infield of Mark Teixeira, Soriano, Michael Young and Hank Blalock.

Coming up: Rodriguez will make his 2005 debut with the Rangers on Sunday as Texas plays Florida in the finale of the three-game series. The Marlins will counter with right-hander Brian Moehler.

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

Rangers put Regilio on DL

MIAMI (AP) -- The Texas Rangers on Friday placed right-hander Nick Regilio on the 15-day disabled list with elbow tendinitis and recalled right-hander Juan Dominguez from Double-A Frisco.

The Rangers purchased the contract of left-hander C.J. Wilson from Frisco and optioned left-hander Michael Tejera to Triple-A Oklahoma.

Regilio was 1-2 with a 4.58 ERA in 18 relief appearances. Opponents batted .297 against him, with righties hitting .348 and lefty hitters .214.

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Dominguez was 2-0 with a 2.66 ERA in 17 games (four starts) with Oklahoma and Frisco. He was 1-2 with a 3.91 ERA in four starts with Texas last season, and 0-2 with a 7.16 ERA in six games in 2003 when he was the Rangers' minor league pitcher of the year.

Wilson could be the second Rangers player to make his major league debut on the current road trip. Infielder Marshall McDougall made his debut Tuesday at Philadelphia.

Wilson, sidelined last year after undergoing Tommy John surgery, was 0-4 with a 5.10 ERA in 12 starts with Frisco and Class A Bakersfield.

Tejera, who had been promoted from Oklahoma on June 6, was 0-0 with a 13.50 ERA in three games with Texas.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/

Marlins offset 5-0 deficit, hot pitcher

MIAMI GARDENS · Alex Gonzalez's seventh-inning home run Saturday likely won't get him additional All-Star votes. What it did bring was more important to him: a Marlins victory.

A few hours after manager Jack McKeon lamented how fans weren't giving his shortstop due All-Star consideration, Gonzalez's solo blast held up for a 6-5 win over the Rangers at Dolphins Stadium.

In a performance owner Jeffrey Loria termed "vintage Marlins," they unearthed themselves from a 5-0 deficit against one of the season's hottest pitchers. Kenny Rogers brought a major-league best 1.62 ERA and eight-game winning streak into the game. He departed in the sixth having surrendered as many runs (five) as he had in his last seven games and 52 innings combined.

"We kept working it, putting some good at-bats together," said Carlos Delgado, whose two-run, fourth-inning homer represented his team's lone hit off Rogers through five innings. "This is a good win. It comes at a good time."

The timing of Gonzalez's first homer since May 1 was impeccable. He sent Juan Dominguez's 2-1 offering over the left-field wall, snapping a string of 120 at-bats without one.

Hitting .360 over his last 26 games, Gonzalez hasn't heard any complaints about a power outage. He's hit safely in all but three games since May 14.

"He's got to be in the [All-Star] voting if anybody who votes knows anything about the game," McKeon said, before his team put together back-to-back wins for the first time since May 23-24. "In my opinion, he ought to be in the top three in voting."

The Marlins began hitting like All-Stars in the sixth. Starting with leadoff man Juan Pierre, five of six batters reached on singles or doubles. Delgado made it a three-RBI game with a double to right and Mike Lowell tied it with a two-run double to left on Rogers' next offering.

Rogers legging out a triple in the top half of the inning probably didn't help his stamina. Second baseman Luis Castillo said his pitches were "barely getting [to the plate]" in the sixth and seventh.

"It's 27 outs," Gonzalez said. "We know we can score runs. We have offense. We have power. We have speed. You can't give up if you're losing 5-0."

That's how much of a cushion the Marlins spotted their opponent. Four of the runs came on one Kevin Mench swing in the second. Three of the first four batters starter Al Leiter faced reached on singles to load the bases for Mench, who sent a knee-high, 1-1 fastball into the left-field seats for his first grand slam.

"Hopefully he can help us down the road," McKeon said, of Leiter.

That grand slam, the third Leiter has served up, punctuated a 37-pitch inning for Leiter, who needed 114 deliveries to make it through 4 1/3 innings. Leiter retired the side in order in both the first and third, and nearly got out of a fourth-inning jam. Rogers beat out a bases-loaded, double-play grounder for an RBI-fielder's choice.

After the last of Leiter's four walks loaded the bases in the fifth, McKeon lifted him for Travis Smith, who needed one inside sinker to induce an inning-ending Richard Hidalgo double play.

"I was looking to do that exact thing," Smith said.

Five Marlins relievers combined to keep the Rangers scoreless over the final 4 2/3 innings. In the ninth, Todd Jones struck out Mark Teixeira, Hank Blalock, and Alfonso Soriano, who between them have 41 homers, to record his 11th save in 13 chances.

"I have to remember that if I'm going to pitch inside I can't guide it," Jones said, of facing the three mashers. "My focus has to be even sharper."

The Marlins' focus this afternoon is on a three-game sweep.

Source: http://www.sun-sentinel.com/