Eddie Guardado's save was his first since August of 2006.
With six straight series wins, the Rangers have won more consecutive series than they have since 1999. The 1999 team won seven series.
If the Rangers win Wednesday, they'll be at .500 for the first time since April 11.
The Rangers have yet to sweep a three-game series this season.
The Rangers have scored two more runs in the eighth and will take a 5-2 lead into the ninth. The Mariners have made four errors.
- Anthony Andro
Josh Hamilton's crashing catch in center off a Kenji Johjima drive may have saved a run in the top of the eighth with a runner on first. Joaquin Benoit got out of the inning. It will be interesting to see who pitches the ninth. Jamey Wright and Eddie Guardado are the best bets.
- Anthony Andro
Well, maybe raining is a bit strong. But it is raining and the Rangers have scored to break the 2-2 tie. Monday hero Ramon Vazquez scored Gerald Laird with a sacrifice fly to left.
- Anthony Andro
Kason Gabbard will not get a decision. He left with a 2-0 lead and runners on second and third but Josh Rupe couldn't hold it. A sacrifice fly and a double by Kenji Johjima tied things in the sixth. Rupe walked the next two batters to load the bases but got out of the inning with a fly ball.
- Anthony Andro
The radar is actually right. We have one out in the top of the sixth and the few fans that are here are making the run for cover. It's not raining hard but it is raining. Kason Gabbard is still pitching with a runner on first.
The game can't be called because of the rain that is nonexistent as we're onto the bottom of the fifth. The other thing that's official is Kason Gabbard is dealing. The lefty has allowed three hits through five innings but Seattle hasn't had a hit since the third. Gabbard has retired seven straight.
- Anthony Andro
The game is three outs from being official and I'm calling out www.weather.com. The site shows rain at the Ballpark. There's one little problem. There's no rain here. It's dry and the Rangers are up 2-0.
- Anthony Andro
We're on to the fourth with the Rangers still up 1-0. The rain looks like it's approaching Burleson. The Rangers are doing their best to speed the game along, unfortunately that's also meant leaving five runners on base through the first three innings.
- Anthony Andro
We're through two and still dry with the Rangers enjoying a 1-0 lead. It could have been more if Felix Hernandez wouldn't have snared an Ian Kinsler liner to start a 1-2-3 double play. But we're now just 15 outs from making this game official.
- Anthony Andro
The rematch between Kason Gabbard and Felix Hernandez is moving along quickly, like the pitchers know rain is coming or something. We're through one and it's scoreless. There have been no hits, and that includes batters.
- Anthony Andro
It's 15 minutes before first pitch and there's still no rain at Rangers Ballpark. According to www.weather.com, there's a 60 percent chance of rain in the area. The only people that would benefit from a rainout tonight are in the Rangers' bullpen.
- Anthony Andro
Milton Bradley is out of the lineup tonight to rest a sore right shoulder that forced him out of Monday's game. Manager Ron Washington said Bradley would miss as many as three games but is not a candidate to go on the DL.
Ian Kinsler, 2B
Frank Catalanotto, DH
Michael Young, SS
Josh Hamilton, CF
David Murphy, RF
Brandon Boggs, LF
Gerald Laird, C
Chris Shelton, 1B
Ramon Vazquez, 3B
Third baseman Hank Blalock said he plans to be activated from the 15-day disabled list in time for Friday's game against the Astros, but manager Ron Washington said he wants to see how Blalock's hamstring reacts to his first game action since late last month.
Blalock, who was injured while legging out a double April 25, will head to Midland and join Double-A Frisco there. He worked fielding drills with Washington and bench coach Art Howe on Tuesday and also ran the bases.
It has rained at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington, but the sun is shining and the grounds crew has just removed the tarp from the field. Those are good indicators, along with a clear radar map, that the Mariners and Rangers will play the second game of their three-game series in about four hours.
Because of deadline issues, the Doug Mathis interview won't be Tuesday's Star-Telegram. Here's what the rookie pitcher had to say after collecting his first major league win in his debut.
"This is the coolest thing that's ever happened to me in my life."
"You never know when you're going to come in there and get your chance."
"For me, from where I come from and where I've been, it's quite an accomplishment for me."
"When I got on the mound, I started slowing down a little bit. After I threw strike one, I was pretty much under control. It still went quick. It's one of those situations you want to savor a little a little bit but you're kind of glad it's over with."
"I didn't expect it (my first major league win) to come that way."
- Anthony Andro
Brandan Morrow struck out the side in the bottom of the ninth. The Rangers, whose bullpen is depleted, are using Doug Mathis in the 10th inning. C.J. Wilson, Jamey Wright, Joaquin Benoit and Frank Francisco have already been used and Franklyn German, Josh Rupe and Eddie Guardado are not available. It's Mathis or bust in his ML debut.
- Anthony Andro
It's an 0-2 to Kenji Johjima, who came into the game hitting .208, and C.J. Wilson throws him a fastball that Johjima hits into the stands in left to tie the game at 12. This follows a bad trend for Wilson. It's his fourth-straight appearance in which he's failed to retire the side in order. He's allowed six earned runs in his last 1 2/3 innings.
- Anthony Andro
Rangers manager Ron Washington said Travis Metcalf wasn't ready to play for the Rangers yet. But with the Rangers needing a right-handed hitter in the ninth, Metcalf was called on to pinch hit. He fouled out to first. Metcalf hadn't played in a game in the minors or majors this year after having hamstring surgery during spring training.
- Anthony Andro
Texas' 10-6 lead is now 10-8 after Wladimir Balentin blasted a two-run homer off Joaquin Benoit in the eighth.
Milton Bradley left the game Monday night with a sore right shoulder. Frank Catalanotto replaced him and had an RBI single.
- Anthony Andro
The homers by Josh Hamilton and Milton Bradley marked the first time this season Texas has gone deep in back-to-back batters. The homers totaled more than 850 feet with Hamilton's going 447 and Bradley's 410.
- Anthony Andro
That's not a good thing either. Two first-inning errors, a balk and four hits were among the lowlights as Vicente Padilla allowed five runs, two of which were earned. Not a good start against Erik Bedard, who has a 1.99 ERA on the season. The Rangers have now snapped the tie for most errors in the majors with Florida. Texas has 38, two more than the Marlins.
- Anthony Andro
Richie Sexson, public enemy No. 1 for Rangers fans, is in Arlington with Seattle and took part in pre-game warmups. Sexson will miss the series while he's serving his five-game suspension for charging the mound against Texas last week. Because of Sexson's suspension, the Mariners have only 24 players on the active roster. Jose Vidro, whose hitting .194, is starting for Sexson at first base.
- Anthony Andro
David Murphy gets the night off, a break manager Ron Washington hopes will jump-start Murphy's left-handed bat. He will be available as a late-inning defensive substitution for tonight's right fielder, German Duran, a right-handed hitter who is starting against Mariners lefty Erik Bedard.
Ian Kinsler, 1B
Michael Young, SS
Josh Hamilton, CF
Milton Bradley, DH
Brandon Boggs, LF
Gerald Laird, C
Chris Shelton, 1B
German Duran, RF
Ramon Vazquez, 3B
The Rangers have put Kevin Millwood on the disabled list with a strained right groin. Doug Mathis will replace Millwood on the roster. Millwood injured himself Saturday night in the first inning.
- Anthony Andro
Pitcher Doug Mathis is up with the Rangers but no roster move has been made to put him on the 25-man roster. He will either replace Kevin Millwood, who strained his groin Saturday night, or Travis Metcalf. Metcalf hasn't played since his hamstring surgery and would get playing time if he was optioned to Oklahoma. The roster move will be made official today.
- Anthony Andro
Rangers manager Ron Washington said there's a chance the team may need to have a pitcher ready in relief Sunday. Texas used five relievers after Kevin Millwood left with a strained right groin Saturday. C.J. Wilson and Joaquin Benoit have each pitched in back-to-back games and Josh Rupe was extended Saturday. The only relievers who didn't pitch Saturday were Jamey Wright and Franklyn German.
- Anthony Andro
Ian Kinsler's third-inning error allowed Jack Cust to score to end Texas' scoreless streak at 33 innings. Josh Rupe got the first two outs of the third inning before giving up a double and hitting Frank Thomas. Emil Brown then hit a chopper over Rupe that Kinsler fielded and threw away for an error.
- Anthony Andro
A double-play ball helped the Rangers escape the second inning and push the scoreless inning streak to 33 innings. It's the longest in the majors since Baltimore posted a 45-inning streak to close the 1995 season.
- Anthony Andro
Kevin Millwood's injury has been diagnosed as a mild right groin injury. He will be re-evaluated Sunday.
- Anthony Andro
Rangers starter Kevin Millwood has left the game with two outs in the first inning with a leg injury. Millwood retired the first two batters and had a 3-0 count when he hurt himself. He threw one warmup pitch before leaving. He was replaced by Josh Rupe.
- Anthony Andro
The Rangers went through a pair of DHs before deciding on Milton Bradley after Josh Hamilton and David Murphy were possibilities. Here's how the Rangers will line up in search of win No. 5 in a row.
1. Ian Kinsler
2. Michael Young
3. Josh Hamilton
4. Milton Bradley
5. David Murphy
6. Brandon Boggs
7. Gerald Laird
8. Chris Shelton
9. German Duran
Gerald Laird was originally supposed to be in tonight's lineup and bat seventh. He's been replaced by Jarrod Saltalamacchia. Laird is scheduled to catch Kevin Millwood Saturday.
- Anthony Andro
Kason Gabbard didn't want to talk much about Thursday's bench-clearing incident in Seattle. Gabbard is still sore in both of his knees but he plans to make his next start against Seattle. Here's a little of what Gabbard did say.
"It's behind us and that's all I have to say about that."
"I had a bunch of guys on top of me and I don't know what happened after that."
"I want to finish a game. It's my first day off the DL."
"My back feels great. I'm just a little sore. I'll be ready for Tuesday."
"It happened so quick that you don't really think about it or feel it."
- Anthony Andro
Seattle first baseman Richie Sexson has been suspended for six games for charging the mound Thursday night. Texas pitcher Kason Gabbard was not fined or suspended. Seattle pitcher Felix Hernandez was also fined as were Rangers catcher Gerald Laird and pitcher Sidney Ponson.
Texas outfielder David Murphy was also honored Friday as he was named the American League rookie of the month for April. In 27 April games, Murphy hit .277 with two homers and 14 RBI along with 11 doubles.
- Anthony Andro
The Rangers have traded Kevin Mench to the Toronto Blue Jays for cash considerations. Mench has spent the entire season in Triple A after being one of the final spring training cuts. Mench is expected to join the Blue Jays in Cleveland. In 25 games with Oklahoma, Mench hit .290 with three home runs and 18 RBI.
- Anthony Andro
Here's Richie Sexson's take on what was going through his mind when he charged Kason Gabbard during the fourth inning Thursday night. Rangers reliever Eddie Guardado, a former teammate of Sexson's, said Sexson "will be sorry about throwing the helmet. He's a pretty good dude."
I understood the situation, but there is a right way and a wrong way to play the game. If you hit me below the shoulders, I am fine with that. I was well-awarde of the fact he probably was going to hit me, and I go to first -- no big deal. But get up near the face, and that's when you start talking about careers or talking about your family. There's a lot you can lose when you go up around the head.
It can turn into a he said-she said deal. But everybody in the ballpark knew what was going on there. Throw a pitch up around my head, I'm not going to deal with that. It's the wrong way to play baseball. I have played the game a pretty long time. I have been hit on purpose before, but it has been the right way. You get hit and you go to first.
Their guy hit a two-run shot, we are not particularly playing well, two guys have been hit. You know what's going to happen: Get two quick outs, hit me, and I'm good with it. But near my face, I'm not going to deal with that. I am 6-8. This guy can hit corners at will, and he throws one up there. How hard is it to hit me in the thigh? Up near my face is no good.
It's a rage. Like I said, if that ball hits me in the face, what are we talking about? Who knows what that can lead to. At that time, you are so [ticked] off you don't even know what happens for the next five minutes. It's a rage at that point. I know throwing a helmet is the wrong thing to do. I know in the end that wasn't the right thing to do, but I lost it. You start thinking about a lot of things there. Whole time, going to the plate, don't mind getting hit, but keep it down.
Last night I missed the game because I was with my child at Children's Hospital. There is a lot of stuff running through my head right there.
Richie Sexson was ejected after charging Rangers pitcher Kason Gabbard in the fourth inning. The odd thing? Sexson wasn't even hit by a pitch. He charged the mound after Gabbard uncorked a fastball that sailed high but didn't appear close to hitting Sexson.
Gabbard had to leave the game with an undisclosed injury two batters after the melee. He had just come off the disabled list today after suffering a back injury last month.
Both benches and bullpens cleared. The most animated player beside Sexson was Mariners starter Felix Hernandez, who hit two Rangers with pitches during the game. One was Ian Kinsler in the fourth. The second baseman spun and looked toward Hernandez before taking a slow walk to first base.
Hernandez also hit catcher Gerald Laird in the second inning, and Laird was also an active combatant during the brawl. At one point he was separated from the fracus by Milton Bradley, who picked up Laird, carried him 10 feet, and pushed him in the chest to calm him down.
-- Jeff Wilson
Ben Broussard was designated for assignment just before Thursday's game after he lost his spot at first base earlier this week. The Rangers will go with Frank Catalanotto and Chris Shelton at first base for the time being.
The Rangers activated Travis Metcalf from the 15-day disabled list to fill Broussard's spot and to give the Rangers an extra infielder in case the hip-flexor injury to shorstop Michael Young is worse than feared.
Broussard, who was acquired in a trade with the Mariners in December, was hitting .159 with three home runs and eight RBI. All of his homers and RBI came on the season-opening six-game road trip, and he struggled for the rest of April.
"I think Ben is a better player than he's shown here for us," general manager Jon Daniels said. "He had a rough month at a rough time for the club."
Michael Young is out of the lineup, taking doctors' advice to rest the hip flexor he injured Wednesday. But he said he will be back Friday. So, Ramon Vazquez will be the Rangers' shortstop tonight.
Ian Kinsler, 2B
Ramon Vazquez, SS
Josh Hamilton, CF
Milton Bradley, DH
David Murphy, RF
Brandon Boggs, LF
Frank Catalanotto, 1B
Gerald Laird, C
German Duran, 3B
Shortstop Michael Young said the soreness he felt in his left hip flexor shouldn't keep him out of lineup more than a game, if that. He will be evaluated Thursday.
He was in the starting lineup and batted in the first inning, flying out to right field. But Ramon Vazquez was the shortstop when the Mariners came to bat for the first time.
Young said he first felt the injury during batting practice.
"But I still felt like I could get through the game," he said of his inclusion in the lineup to start the game. "If I can't play tomorrow, I should be back in there the next day. It's not a big deal."
Manager Ron Washington said with cool temperatures in Seattle, the best bet was to play it safe.
"If he felt it swinging the bat, I felt he would feel it out there in the field," Washington said.
Shortstop Michael Young was removed from tonight's game after his first-innnig at-bat against Erik Bedard because of soreness in his left hip flexor. Young, who flew out to shallow right field, is day-to-day. He was replaced by Ramon Vazquez before the bottom of the inning.
The first Foul Territory book review is pertinent because it's Rangers related. Mike Shropshire's book The Last Real Season is set to come out next week. If you're on old Rangers fan, this is the book for you. The book, subtitled A Hilarious Look Back at 1975 - When Major Leaguers Made Peanuts, the Umpires Wore Red, and Billy Martin Terrorized Everyone, is an ode to the 1975 season but mainly talks about the 1975 Rangers. It was a team that was a preseason pick to go to the World Series but as every Rangers fan knows, that didn't happen. Billy Martin was fired. Cesar Tovar staged a sit-in in centerfield and the Rangers tanked. The book is great for fans of baseball and of the Rangers. Shropshire was the Star-Telegram beat writer in 1975 and the book is basically a day-by-day look at the team. The language is raunchy but it's accurate. The players drank more than they do now but they have a lot easier life than they did back in '75. There are laugh-out-loud moments and it's a name-droppers paradise. Jim Sundberg and Tom Grieve are mentioned plenty of times as is the likes of Star-Telegram columnist Randy Galloway, who apparently wasn't a big fan of flying. The real star of the book is Martin, who Shropshire obviously spent a lot of time with. He's comes across as the hard cussing, hard drinking manager we've all heard about. There are funny and strange stories throughout the book, which is a must read for Rangers fans.
- Anthony Andro
The Rangers have seven right-handed bats in the lineup to face Mariners lefty Erik Bedard.
Ian Kinsler, 2B
Michael Young, SS
Josh Hamilton, CF
Milton Bradley, DH
David Muprhy, RF
Brandon Boggs, LF
Chris Shelton, 1B
Jarrod Saltalamacchia, C
German Duran, 3B
Jason Botts, the outfielder/first baseman who was designated for assignment last week, cleared waivers and has been outrighted to Triple-A Oklahoma. General manager Jon Daniels said on Tuesday that there had been no trade interest in Botts from other major-league teams.
Botts indicated last week that he wanted to move to another organization. In fact, he said it might be a good career move because so many former Rangers have found success elsewhere. But he didn't have a choice in this one and will be with the RedHawks soon.
He had six hits, two home runs, in 38 at-bats in April.
Former Rangers starter Robinson Tejeda, who was moved to the bullpen during spring training, was the starter from Triple-A Oklahoma on Monday. General manager Jon Daniels, though, alerted the media that Tejeda remains a reliever but needed to log more innings to work through some things he has been trying.
The Rangers did something similar last week with right-hander Dustin Nippert, who started and logged five shutout innings during a rehab assignment with Oklahoma. Nippert will be in the bullpen when he is activated from the 15-day disabled list.
The home run Josh Hamilton just clubbed into the second deck at Safeco Field drew many oohs from the thin but resilient crown. The Mariners PR department hasn't yet come up with a total of balls hit where Hamilton's landed, though they estimate that no more than one a year goes there.
For the record, if you've been away from the tube, the Rangers' lineup looks like this:
Ian Kinsler, 2B 1-1, sacrifice, walk
Michael Young, SS, 1-1, walk, sacrifice fly, 3 RBI
Josh Hamilton, CF, 1-2, walk, three-run homer
Milton Bradley, DH, 0-2, walk
David Murphy, RF, 1-2, two-run homer, 3 RBI, diving catch in third
Brandon Boggs, LF, 0-2, walk
Frank Catalanotto, 1B, 0-1, 2 walks
Jarrod Saltalamacchia, C, 0-2
Ramon Vazquez, 3B, 2-2, 2 runs scored
Josh Hamilton isn't the only Rangers outfielder who can cover some ground. Add David Murphy to the list after he charged, dove and robbed Yuniesky Betancourt of a single to lead off the second inning.
Milton Bradley had a chance at the spectacular as the next hitter, Kenji Johjima, sent a weak fly toward right field, but Bradley had to play the ball on a hop. Wladimir Balentien followed and also sent a flyball toward Bradley, who appeared to misjudge the ball and again had to play it on a hop.
Ian Kinsler is back, but Josh Hamilton is out of the lineup. No worries about an injury. Manager Ron Washington finally decided to sit the center fielder for a day of mental rest. Anyway, as a result, the lineup has a few new wrinkles.
Ian Kinsler, 2B
Gerald Laird, C
Michael Young, SS
Milton Bradley, 3B
David Murphy, CF
Brandon Boggs, LF
Chris Shelton, 1B
Jarrod Saltalamacchia, DH
German Duran, 3B
Ian Kinsler gets another day to rest his injured right hamstring. He said he will be in the lineup tomorrow in Seattle.
Ramon Vazquez, 3B
Michael Young, SS
Josh Hamilton, CF
Marlon Byrd, DH
David Murphy, RF
Brandon Boggs, LF
Gerald Laird, C
Chris Shelton, 1B
German Duran, 2B
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