Saturday a.m. Rangers stuff

So after that stomping of the ChiSox, the Rangers are now 3.5 games up on Oakland in the A.L. West, and are still tied with Detroit for the best record in the A.L.

The must have been some clubhouse meeting Wash called at the end of the Cleveland series.

Jeff Wilson's game story talks about the Rangers winning with the long ball last night, ringing up five home runs (although one of them was an inside-the-park job by Ian Kinsler, so I'm not sure if that's really a "long ball").

Evan Grant writes that yesterday's game represented a growth experience for Martin Perez, who fought back after a rough second inning to give the Rangers seven strong innings and keep them in position to win.

Someone named "Cash Kruth" did a game story about yesterday's game for the Rangers' website.

Todd Wills has his Rapid Reaction at the ESPN Dallas blog.

Bruce Levine at ESPN Chicago has a lengthy piece on A.J. Pierzynski's return to Chicago, where he spent eight years with the ChiSox.  Scott Merkin also has a piece on Pierzynski's return at the Ranger website.

The S-T's notes talk about A.J. Pierzynski being welcomed back to Chicago, Yu Darvish heating up, and Neil Ramirez being sent to the Cubs.

The Rangers' website notes hit on Adam Rosales starting at DH, Alex Rios being in a pennant race, the Rangers playing in the Civil Rights Game tomorrow, and some updates on injured players, including the news that Colby Lewis underwent successful surgery on his hip.