Apr. 18, 2009 (The Dallas Morning News delivered by Newstex ) --
Texas drops to 4-6 after a loss to the Royals . Gil Meche pitched well and the Rangers just couldn't claw back from an early 4-0 deficit. The Rangers have lost 6 of the last 7 to drop to 4-6 overall. They were actually 5-5 through the first 10 games last season, when they started 7-16. Discuss:
? Pinch hitting for Michael Young in the seventh. We'll have to see if Young is hurt, but if he's not, that's a strange decision to pinch hit for Young with the bases loaded. It's a 9-0 game at that point, but one swing of the bat makes it interesting. If you want Young to get a break, you could put Vizquel in for him in the next half-inning. And if there was a reason to pinch hit, what about David Murphy or Andruw Jones? We'll see if we can get an explanation.
? Matt Harrison. He pitched five innings (allowed a walk and a hit to start the sixth before exiting). Harrison's fastball command was inconsistent and one bad inning doomed him. He gave up a homer to Mark Teahen to start the second and then, with two outs, allowed a single, walk and a homer (to Coco Crisp) and the Rangers were down 4-0. Harrison had four walks as well. Your thoughts on his outing?
? Willie Eyre. It was not a great night for Eyre after two scoreless innings on Wednesday. He gave up single in the sixth that scored two runs charged to Harrison. Then he gave up three consecutive doubles to begin the seventh as the Royals added to the lead.
? Ian Kinsler. He managed a walk, stolen base and a hit following his cycle on Wednesday. But he also was caught trying to get to third on a ground ball to short in the first. The Rangers didn't get many more runners in scoring position on Gil Meche after that.
? Josh Hamilton. He has five strikeouts in the last two games, but he also had a hit taken away on Friday by Royals second baseman Alberto Callaspo on a play that is surely going to be on ESPN.
? Jarrod Saltalamacchia. He struck out three times on Friday and has 13 strikeouts in 30 at-bats this season. But can that home run in the ninth get him going? That was no-doubter.
? Seventh inning. Nothing went right for the Rangers. The seventh was a case study. Consecutive singles to start the inning and then the bases loaded with one out for Ian Kinsler. He strikes out and then Omar Vizquel, pinch-hitting for Michael Young, popped up on the first pitch. The crowd booed loudly.
Newstex ID: DA-2661-34226509
