ARLINGTON, TX - MAY 14: Adrian Beltre #29 of the Texas Rangers pops it up against the Kansas City Royals on May 14, 2012 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Layne Murdoch/Getty Images)
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This was dangerously close to being a 1-0 Ranger victory. Scott Feldman pitched well in 4.2 innings in his spot start, with the only two runs he allowed coming on a two out single by Alcides Escobar after Adrian Beltre threw wide on what should have been an inning-ending ground out by Chris Getz. Robbie Ross, meanwhile, allowed his lone run in an inning that went walk-single-GIDP-K, with the single being a chopper back up the middle that Ross had a chance to field and start a double play on.
Allowing no earned runs, Feldman's ERA dropped to 3.00 on the year. Ross, giving up 1 run in 2.1 innings pitched, saw his ERA edge up to 2.65.
Remember, the Rangers will likely let Colby Lewis walk as a free agent after the season, opening up a rotation spot for an internal candidate. Ross has impressed thusfar with his stuff, his results, and his composure and ability to handle the majors. Martin Perez, considered before the season to be the leading candidate to replace Lewis in 2013, has a 5.27 ERA in AAA right now. Neil Ramirez, the second-leading candidate coming into the season, has a 6.21 ERA in AAA right now. If I had to pick the pitcher most likely to join the Rangers' rotation in 2013, right now I'd say it is Robbie Ross.
Ron Washington, Mike Maddux, and trainer Jamie Reed all came out to the mound to check on reliever Mike Adams in the 8th inning with two outs. After spending some time out there, the visitors returned to the dugout and Adams finished out the inning. The reporters in the clubhouse tweeted afterwards that Adams' asthma was acting up, which prompted the visit.
Derek Holland pitched a scoreless 9th inning in relief. Holland's next start is being bumped back by a few days, and this is consistent with the Rangers' pattern of getting a starter who is scheduled to have significant extra rest into a game for an inning or two in relief in between those starts.
Nelson Cruz hit a mammoth home run off of Royals starter Bruce Chen. He also struck out in his other three at bats. Two steps forward, one step back...
Josh Hamilton went 1 for 3 with a walk, putting his average on the season exactly at .400. He also has now gone two straight games without a homer, which seems weird and unnatural.
Ron Washington sat both Mike Napoli (who had started six of the last seven games, and caught most of those six games, and thus was due for a day off) and Ian Kinsler today. Supposedly, Kinsler's day off wasn't health related, but I found it curious that, with Yorvit Torrealba, Brandon Snyder, Alberto Gonzalez, and Craig Gentry due up in the 9th, with the Rangers down 2 runs, Ron Washington chose to let Torrealba hit, then had Mitch Moreland, David Murphy, and Napoli hit for Snyder, Gonzalez and Gentry. Kinsler, who would seem to be a better option against closer Jonathan Broxton than anyone who hit in the 9th (other than possibly Napoli), never got off the bench, which leads me to believe that, for whatever reason, he was flat not available for tonight's game.
Napoli struck out pinch hitting to end the game. As a result, Napoli is now 3 for 32 lifetime as a pinch hitter, with 7 walks and 17 strikeouts. That's not good.
Oakland starter Tyson Ross, who came into today's game against the Angels with a 7.71 ERA, went 6 scoreless before turning the game over to the bullpen. Anaheim's offense has some issues.
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