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So the Rangers finally lost consecutive games. The bats were silent for pretty much the entire series in Minnesota, with the Rangers scoring a total of eight runs in the four game set. In fact, there was only one inning in the last 18 that the Rangers scored at all -- a fairly meaningless two-run 9th in Saturday's 7-2 loss.
Yesterday was only the second time this season that the Rangers have been shutout but it seems like today's off day is coming at a good time for the offense.
ESPN Dallas' Anthony Maggio has the Rapid Reaction to the Rangers' 5-0 shutout loss to the Minnesota Twins as though there were anything to rapidly react to. It's hard to feel too bad about a road series split in a four game series, and the Rangers still haven't lost a series, but it would have been nice to come away with the series win after taking the first two.
MLB.com's Nate Sandell had the inglorious task of writing about yesterday's game. He chooses to focus his game story on the absence of support for the Ranger starting pitching over the last couple of games.
Drew Davison also had the misfortune of writing about the shutout loss. Davison, and Ron Washington, seem to agree that an off day is needed for the Rangers right now.
Gerry Fraley is here with the good news: The crisscrossing road trip has concluded and the Rangers get Yu Darvish on the mound at home starting Tuesday.
Fraley also has a blog post up about the bizarre struggles of Double-A Frisco starter Cody Buckel so far this year. Jon Daniels is apparently as confused as the rest of us.
Sandell handles the MLB.com Notebook and writes on Nelson Cruz's recent durability, slumps in need of busting, and a few other items.
Davison's notes cover Michael Kirkman's slow start, more on Cruz's iron man status, Robbie Ross' campaign to limit inherited runners from scoring, and a note on Buckel's wildness.
Lastly, in an understatement, Fraley blogs that David Murphy is having a "frustrating time" so far this season.
That's all, folks. Free day!