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Texas Rangers Roundup – May 20, 2014

By Lisa Weatherall

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ARLINGTON, Tex. — The Texas Rangers begin a short 2-game series against the Seattle Mariners tonight. This is the last time the club will face an American League West team until June 13, when the Rangers will have a 9-game, 10-day roadtrip. The Texas Rangers defeated the Toronto Blue Jays Sunday 6-2 and were off yesterday. Prince Fielder was scheduled in tonight’s lineup after missing two games due to a herniated disk in his neck; however, he has now been scratched along with Leonys Martin. Look for those details along with MANY more changes to the Texas Rangers below in today’s Rangers Roundup.

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TEXAS RANGERS: (21-23, .477)

  • Texas Rangers snapped their 4-game losing streak on Sunday after beating the Blue Jays 6-2
  • Rangers are currently in 4th place in the American League West
  • Entering today’s game Texas is 7.0 GB first place Oakland Athletics, 3.0 GB second place Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and 0.5 GB third place Seattle Mariners
  • The Texas Rangers have not been in 4th this late in the season since finishing 2007 season in last place (4th) in A.L. West
  • The Rangers’ home record of 12-12 (.478) ranks T7th in the American League, club’s slowest start in Arlington since 2007

MITCHY:

  • Mitch Moreland hit a tie-breaking 2-run homer in the 7th inning on Sunday, helping the Rangers win 6-2
  • According to Elias Sports Bureau it was Moreland’s 4th career go-ahead homer in the 7th inning or later, but the first since an 11th inning walk-off homer on June 21, 2011 versus Houston Astros
  • Only Adrain Beltre (5) and Josh Hamilton (4) have 4 go-ahead HR since Mitch Moreland’s MLB debut on July 29, 2010

NOT A ‘ROOK ANYMORE:

  • Nick Martinez has pitched at least 5.0 innings and allowed 3 earned runs or less in each of his first 3 ML starts
  • Yu Darvish is the only Rangers starter with a longer streak of that kind this season (first 4 starts)
  • Martinez is the first Texas starting pitcher with multiple blown saves behind him in 2014, as he exited with leads on 4/5 at Tampa Bay Rays and on Sunday versus Toronto Blue Jays

WHAT-A-FEAT:

  • Aaron Poreda recorded a blown save AND win on Sunday
  • From May 2, 2011 through Saturday the Texas bullpen had a total of 41 blown saves, but in only one of those instances had a pitcher recorded a blown save and a win in that game: Neal Cotts on 9/29/2013 versus Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

RAPID CHANGES:

  • After receiving a nerve-block injection and missing 2 games Prince Fielder was initially scheduled in tonight’s lineup batting 5th as DH; however, he is still experiencing some weakness on his left side and the Rangers want to give him another day of rest. Michael Choice is now the DH and set to bat 7th.
  • Leonys Martin was slated to lead off tonight playing in center field, but was also a last minute scratch due to neck stiffness and will be replaced by Daniel Robertson. Robertson will lead off for Texas and play CF.
  • Rougned Odor will return to 2B tonight after missing Sunday’s game due to soreness in his right wrist
  • J.P. Arencibia has been optioned to Round Rock (AAA)
  • Texas has purchased the contract of catcher Chris Gimenez from Round Rock and was hitting .259 with 4 HR and 16 RBI
  • Martin Perez has been transferred to the 60-day DL
  • Tanner Scheppers will begin rehab assignment on Saturday. The Rangers have informed Scheppers that when he returns to the ML team that it will be as a reliever. The Rangers don’t want to risk further injury by using him as a starter.
  • Robbie Ross Jr. has been taken out of the rotation and will be replaced by Scott Baker. Baker will start on Friday at Detroit Tigers.

TONIGHT’S LINEUPS:

TEXAS RANGERS: RHP Colby Lewis (3-2, 4.99)

SEATTLE MARINERS: RHP Hisashi Iwakuma (2-0, 1.59)

ON DECK FOR TOMORROW:

  • RHP Nick Tepesch (0-0, 1.69) vs. RHP Chris Young (3-1, 3.22)
  • You can tune in to FSSW/ 103.3 FM/ 1540 AM at 1:05 p.m. (CDT)
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