Rangers win the first game of a nine game, 3 city road trip against the Indians 4-2.

The first home stand of the season is over and the Rangers have already kicked off the first road trip of the season with a win.  The first home stand included three games each against the Toronto Blue Jays and the division rival Seattle Mariners.  During the first 6 games of the season the Rangers played .500 baseball going 3 and 3.

In the first series against the Blue Jays, they won the opening day game on a walk off hit off the bat of Jarrod Saltlamacchia.  Before the start of the third game, the Rangers had already placed Saltlamacchia on the 15 day disabled list with muscle spasms.  Matt Treanor was recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma City to back up Taylor Teagarden at the catcher position.

In the last two games of the series the Rangers were outscored 10-5 over the two games and ended the first series of the season looking kind of bleak.  The Rangers then broke out against the Mariners beating them 6-2 on the first game.  The next day they lost to the Mariners 4-3 compliments of a blown save by closer Frank Francisco.  This was his second blown save of the year thus far.

In the first five games of the season Frank Francisco went 1-2 with a 27.00 era.  Before the finale against the Mariners which ended in a win manager Ron Washington announced that Francisco had temporarily been relieved of his closing duties.  Eighth inning setup guy Neftali Feliz would assume the closers job and veteran Darren Oliver would slot into the eighth inning role, with Francisco becoming a middle reliever.

In yesterday’s finale against the Mariners Scott Feldman picked up his first win of the season after receiving a no-decision on opening day.  During the early games of the season the Ranger’s offense was not putting up very many runs.  It was reported by MLB.com that during the Rangers had a hitters meeting and apparently it worked considering on Sunday the Rangers bats came alive outscoring the Mariners 9-2 to finish the first home stand 3-3.

Today’s game at Cleveland verses the Indians was more like a normal game with the Rangers winning 4-2.  The ironic thing is that Francisco who was removed from the closers position to a regular middle reliever picked up the win today.  Francisco worked a quick 1-2-3 ninth inning to get the win and improve to a 2-2 record with a 18.00 era.  He lowered his era 9.00 points in one inning.

Center fielder Julio Borbon is continuing to struggle having a .40 batting average in 25 at bats so far this season.  The Rangers need their center fielder to have his batting average around .280 to .300, so Borbon needs to change something before the Rangers do.