That was a nice win for the Rangers to open this ten game road trip. The Rangers should beat this Royals team and it was a comfortable feeling watching them do just that. The offensive still isn't clicking the way we know it can, but with Nelson Cruz back and Ian Kinsler on his way, it shouldn't be too long before the lineup is producing up to expectations.
With the win the Rangers are back up 8 1/2 games in the AL West over the Oakland Athletics. The Rangers were also able to drop their Magic Number down to 24.
T.R. Sullivan's report on the game is about C.J. Wilson. Clearly C.J. was the star of the game having gone 7.2 innings of 2-hit scoreless baseball. T.R. also talks about C.J. Wilson's second half and how it might be putting him in consideration for the Cy Young discussion.
Jeff Wilson's game story quotes C.J. Wilson as attributing his second half success to being able to better prepare for teams now that he has started against them a few times.
If you want to be scared to death, here's a story from Evan Grant about Josh Hamilton's knee. Grant mentions that the knee that kept Hamilton out of the field and regulated him to DHing Monday night is the same one that has bothered him all season and the same one that had a second cortisone injection in late July. Grant's headline of "Josh Hamilton's knee injury could doom Rangers" pretty much says it all.
The Rangers have decided to roll with Derek Holland in the rotation after Rich Harden struggled again in his last start. Richard Durrett spoke with Rich Harden, who is being moved to the bullpen, about his new role. Harden seems to be taking the move in stride while saying just wants to help the team. Holland will make his first start on Friday.
Durrett also has a piece up looking at the 40 man roster to see who might be getting a September 1st call-up.
T.R. Sullivan has some various Rangers notes including Ron Washington saying he will alternate David Murphy and Julio Borbon in the lineup now that Nelson Cruz is back from the disabled list. Thad Levine talks about the team's decision to move Harden out of the rotation and Holland back in. And Sullivan also has injury updates on Craig Gentry, Ian Kinsler, Cristian Guzman, and Scott Feldman.
Jeff Wilson reports that the Rangers are likely switching their Triple A and High A affiliates after renewing the deals with three other affiliates. Round Rock and Myrtle Beach, S.C. would be the logical replacements for Oklahoma City and Bakersfield considering both are owned by the Rangers new owner partnership and each of those team's affiliations are expiring after this year.
And finally, poor Emily Jones fielded horrible questions from fans during a Dallas Morning News Rangers chat on Friday. My favorite question involved yet another person trying to get someone to admit that the Rangers clubhouse hates C.J. Wilson. By favorite I meant most terrible.