Rangers rally in the top of the 9th, beat A's 5-4

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud: Nick Martinez had a few tough innings to start the game.

With Kouzy pulled in the middle of 4, Josh Wilson was pressed into service at 3B and committed an error that put men on 2B and 3B with 1 out. And it cost the Rangers 2 runs, unearned, and allowed the A's to take. 4-3 lead.

Wasted lead off double by Mitch in the top of 9, he was bunted over to 3B representing the tying run, then Martin bunts but Mitch doesn't head home till well after the bunt was laid down. The bunt was right back to the pitcher and it was a relatively easy out at home plate. Terrible play, just not sure whose fault it was. Did Mitch miss the sign, break too late or did Martin bunt on his own?

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining: Nick got out of a bases loaded 1 out jam on a double play flyout to CF, with Martin then gunning down the runner at home in the bottom of 2. Then in the bottom of 3 Nick had a 6 pitch, 3 up 3 down inning.

Prince continues to at least get a base knock here and there.

After Mitch is thrown out at home on a terribly executed bunt play, Josh Wilson tied the game with a double that scored Martin from 2B(Martin had just stolen 2B). Then Choice hit a single that scored Wilson from 2B to take the lead 5-4.

Soria got the save.

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes: Choo was hurt in the opener versus the A's and was out of the lineup tonight and likely will be out for a few games.

Kouzy was lifted in the middle of the 4th with back stiffness. Of course it was in the mid 50's
temperature-wise to start the game so hopefully that's all it is, cool weather causing muscle tightness in Kouzy's back.

I tell you what, the Rangers have shown a knack for scoring runs against the bullpens they've faced.

Rangers deliver the A's first back to back losses of the season.

Rangers are .5 GB now behind the A's.

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Rangers win opener in Land of Oak 4-3

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud: Yu has had trouble versus the A's in his short career, when compared to his performance versus other teams the A's appear to be his kryptonite.  He had a 1-6 record versus the A's going into the game tonight.

Tonight Yu gave up 3 ER's in 6 IP.  That doesn't sound so bad but Yu only had one 3 up, 3 down inning all night.  It was an adventure.

Elvis had a huge throwing error in the bottom of the 9th that put the tying run on 2B with 1 out.  Could have been terrible.

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining: As opposed to a lot of other outings versus the A's, Yu got some run support, getting out of the Land of Oak with a no decision.  Choo went yard to lead off the game and Prince continued to produce at the plate (2-4), he even had a double (sure it's not a homer but it showed some power).

Kouzy was named the AL offensive player of the week after his great performance last week filling in for the injured Beltre, not too shabby.  And Kouzy continued his hot streak at the plate tonight, scoring the go ahead run in the bottom of 8 after a lead off double.

Soria absorbed the Elvis error in the bottom of the 9th and got the save.

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes: With Kouzy performing so well at the plate don't the Rangers have to find a spot for him in the batting order when Beltre comes back?  Moreland has been OK but nowhere near as good as Kouzy.  I could see Kouzmanoff DH'ing for the Rangers.  Hopefully the Rangers can too.

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Rangers take 2 out of 3 in weekend series versus White Sox

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud: The winning streak was stopped at 5, with the Rangers losing the finale/getaway game badly today.

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining: Colby Lewis was good in his start yesterday only giving up 1 ER.

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes: The Rangers travel to the Land of Oak for a 3 game set against the A's. Your Rangers trail the A's by 2.5 going into the series. Yu starts tomorrow night in the opener of the series. Hate, hate, hate the west coast road games. So hard to stay up that late and watch them because the games don't even start till after 9pm our time.

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Rangers win series versus Seamen, win a daytime getaway game and have a...what do you call it? Oh yeah, a 3 game winning streak going!

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud: Scheppers a starting pitcher he is not. 6 ER's. Ouch.

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining: The Rangers' offense bailed out a poor outing by a starter. Prince had another hit, 2 BB's and no strikeouts. All but 2 Rangers batters had at least 1 hit. And Kouzy (my nickname for Kouzmanoff) was 2-5.

The bullpen held the M's offense from doing any more damage.

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes: Is it sad that we're all so excited that Prince didn't go 0-fer? Is it sad that we're so excited about a 3 game winning streak?  Don't care, it's great.

Also, is it too early to be watching the standings? Also don't care, Rangers are 1.5 GB with A's yet to play tonight.

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Rangers win walk off style 3-2 versus Seaman, somehow...

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud: The offense was poor most of the game.  Yu gets a no decision, again because of the lack of run support.

Leonys Martin and Choo had a circus moment in the outfield that somehow, when I saw the game, was scored as a hit.

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining: Rangers win!!!

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes: The Rangers continue to be King Felix's kryptonite.

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Robbie Ross awesome, Rangers' offense good, Rangers beat Seamen 5-0

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud: Only 2 solo homers in the 2nd inning represented all the Rangers' offense until the 8th inning.

Ogando came in with a 2-0 lead and a man on 1B in the 8th and immediately proceeded to walk the first batter he faced.

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining: Robbie Ross was great, 7.2 IP, 0 runs, no BB's.  The offense woke up in the bottom of 8 putting up 3 additional insurance runs.

Prince and Kouzmanoff each had solo homers in the 2nd.  And Kouzmanoff was 3-4.  And again, Prince wasn't 0-fer.

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes: A marquee match up between aces is tomorrow, King Felix vs. Yu.  Hope it's good and a Rangers win.

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Errors and lack of offense doom Rangers in loss to Seaman

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud: Errors kill.  Errors give the other ball club extra outs and the Mariners made the Rangers pay.  3 errors way are too much for this incarnation of the Rangers to overcome.

Question:  And how many games are you going to win when you score 1 run on 7 hits?
Answer:    Not many, including this game.

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining: If I would have told you Colby Lewis would go 5+ IP in his first start with 3 ER's and no BB's you'd have been happy right?  Well that's what he did.  Not too bad.  And the whole pitching staff had only had 4 ER's.

Wash got thrown out, good to see he still cares, even if he got thrown out after a replay decided Arencibia committed and error on a force play at home on the transfer of the ball from his mitt to throwing hand.

Prince had a 2 bagger along with a single so there's that.

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes: To answer Raw Athleticism's questions in comments re Prince, it is neither too early or too late to worry about Prince's offense.  Any time is the right time to worry about his offense.  Of course tonight he went 2-4, so all he needs to do is keep up going 1-3 or 2-4 in every game the rest of the way to maybe bat .250-.275 by the end of the season.

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Rangers take 2 out of 3 versus 'Stros, barely.

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud: The Rangers only scored 1 more run than the 'Stros in the 3 game series this weekend, out scoring them 7-6. That's for 3 games, not one. Yeah, the offense has not been impressive to say the least, and that was the Ranger's offense going up against Houston's pitching. Case in point Prince had 1 hit in the series. ONE.

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining: The Rangers won the series. A win is a win.

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes: 4 against the Seamen are next. And Mr. Colby Lewis is the listed starter for the next game. I would just like the offense to give him some run support. That'd be nice.

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The bullpen lets us down. Again. Rangers lose series versus Bo Sox. Prince 0-fer. Again.

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All the Rangers get at least 1 hit (except for Choice and Wilson), Rangers hang on and win 10-7

Glass Half Empty / Afternoon Cloud: Beltre was DH'ing and left the game in the 6th with tightness in his left quadriceps. The bullpen again was shaky as the Rangers hung on for the win.

Glass Half Full / Silver Lining: Offense finally showed up. And Prince contributed. Perez looked good throwing 5 double plays. The ER's look bad at 4 in 6.1 IP but yet again the bullpen doesn't help a starter out allowing all 3 the runners Perez allowed to get on in the 6th to score.

Thoughts / Observations / Sidenotes: The Rangers have to start winning series. They get another chance tomorrow in a rubber game versus the Red Sox.

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