From Shutout to Blowout: A Day/Night Doubleheader in Baltimore

After a Friday evening filled with rain and a make-shift slip-n-slide the Texas Rangers played a day/night double header against the Baltimore Orioles. We’ll recap both games for you.

The Day Game: Baltimore 5 Texas  0

Colby Lewis took to the mound in the afternoon game for his second start of the season. Colby was prepared to start on Friday night and it seems that the postponed game took away his control and speed. Lewis went a full six innings giving up five runs with four earned and picked up the loss in the game. Not much to say about this one, a normally dominant starter for the Rangers had an off-day. We can just blame this one on the rain.

On the offense side the Rangers weren’t effective at all and just could not get on the scoreboard. The team had base-runners with five hits and three walks, but went only 1 for 7 with runners in scoring position.

A bright spot in this game was the work of reliever Mason Tobin. The rule-5 draft pick went two innings only allowing one hit and one walk and no runs. The team doesn’t have very much invested in Tobin so the production we have seen from him in spring training and now during the season has been impressive.

More on both games after the jump

Opposing pitcher Zach Britton has been very good for the Orioles this season. The rookie who was not in the rotation plans for Baltimore is now 2 and 0. Britton went seven and two-thirds innings only allowing four hits and three walks. So far this season he has pitched 13.2 innings with only one earned run and a mere seven hits. (If this kid hasn’t been claimed on your fantasy leagues he may be a good inexpensive pickup).

The Night Game: Rangers 13 Orioles 1

The two games were night and day different; after the beating the offense took in the first game they came back with power.

Matt Harrison took the mound in his second start of the season. This past week Peter Gammons was quoted as saying the Red Sox were most impressed with Harrison of the three pitchers they faced in the opening series. Harrison continued to be dominant last night, only allowing two hits on seven innings. One of those was a solo home-run from Adam Jones, the only score of the game for Baltimore. I have been massively impressed with Harrison so far, I have seen Harrison in the past in person and he has always disappointed. Lets hope this is not a fluke, I am anxiously waiting for his next start.

For the bullpen Pedro Strop and Mark Lowe each got an inning of work. Strop got himself into some trouble, allowing a hit and two walks, but picked up three strikeouts and was able to stop any damage. Lowe walked a batter but didn’t allow a hit.

Offensively every Ranger had a hit last night except for David Murphy. Adrian Beltre, Mike Napoli and Nelson Cruz all had home runs. Cruz now holds the lead in all of Major League Baseball with five home runs on the season. Including the home run Nellie had four RBIs, and Beltre had three. Josh Hamilton and Ian Kinsler each had two runs batted in. Totally different from the first game. in the nightcap the Rangers were 5 for 9 with runners in scoring position.

At the end of the night the Rangers have seven wins and only one loss, still holding the best record in all of baseball. There was plenty of bad in the first game but they made up for it in the second. The Rangers both ended their winning streak, and started a new one all in the same day…you can’t win them all I suppose!

Today at 12:35 the Rangers complete the series with Baltimore. Derek Holland (1-0) is scheduled to take on the Orioles’ Jeremy Guthrie (1-0)

-Jonathan