The Rangers are going to play the Arizona Diamondbacks for 3 games. So I am going Down there for 2 games. So I'll be gone from my Blog for 2 Days. Sorry about that. But Go Rangers!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thomas Diamond is stumped. He's trying to think of a nickname for the Rangers' new group of highly-touted pitching prospects, the pride of Baseball America's No. 1 farm system. Some of those arms include former first-round picks Eric Hurley, Blake Beavan, Kasey Kiker, Michael Main and Diamond, as well as star prospects Neftali Feliz, Omar Poveda, Wilmer Font and Martin Perez. Nicknames are nothing new for Diamond. Years ago, he was part of the Rangers' infamous "DVD" trio of John Danks, Edison Volquez and himself. They combined to win four games at the Major League level for Texas. The Rangers traded Danks to the White Sox on Dec. 23, 2006, and received Brandon McCarthy in return. Volquez was used to acquire Josh Hamilton from the Reds on Dec. 21, 2007. Both of those pitchers have had success with their Major League clubs, but Diamond has yet to get his big league break.

"I just got hurt," Diamond said. "I'm just trying to make my way back, just doing things the same things I was doing before. It's just a matter of staying healthy and getting there." Diamond gives up on the question and asks fellow pitcher Michael Ballard for help. Catching his breath after his pregame running, Ballard thinks for a few seconds. "How about the Johnny Wholestaff?" he suggests. "Yeah," Diamond says, "the Johnny Wholestaff." Johnny Wholestaff is a term given to pitching staffs that don't rely on a set rotation but rather a collection of arms. The Rangers Double-A affiliate in Frisco boasts three of those former first-round picks -- Diamond, Kiker and Beavan. "We have a plentiful amount of pitchers, and we've drafted more pitchers this year," says Kiker, a 2006 first-round pick out of Phenix City, Ala. "The Rangers have always been an offensive team. It's nice they're thinking about pitching more. "It feels good, No. 1 system in baseball, revolves around pitching. That's what we're built on at every level -- pitching." To add to their embarrassment of riches, the Rangers drafted pitchers Matthew Purke and Tanner Scheppers in the 2009 First-Year Player Draft. Both were ranked within the top 10 list of Draft prospects by Baseball America this year.  None of the Frisco three is putting pressure on himself because of these accolades. "We just go out and prove we belong at the level we're at," Diamond says. "I just look at it as a badge of honor. It's, 'You're a part of the best farm system.' It's not going to win us any games. We gotta showcase that or else we're going to get beat like anyone else." Beavan, who grew up about 10 minutes from Rangers Ballpark in Arlington and watched about 40 games a year there, agrees with Diamond. "I'm a hometown guy, playing for my hometown team and have been a longtime fan," says Beavan, who the Rangers selected in the first round of the 2007 First-Year Player Draft. "There's really no pressure as much as there is pressure. There's really no pressure being a first-round guy. All you can do is go out there and give it your best. I just pitch." And that is exactly what Double-A Frisco pitching coach Jeff Andrews wants from his pitchers. "They need to see different situations that arise," Andrews said. "It's how they handle giving up three in the first inning, taking a shutout into the seventh inning, [and] how they react to it in their next start." Andrews, who was the pitching coach for the Pittsburgh Pirates last season, isn't willing to put an estimated time of arrival for these Rangers prospects reaching the Major League level because of the inconsistencies of young pitchers. "I can't answer that," said Andrews. "The reason I can't answer that is because it's too hard to sit in Double-A and say this guy's going to be a star. There's too much left in the path along the way. There's body changes, there's arm strength changes. One may throw harder or softer. "It's not like a science project where you can mix these gases and say they're going to explode in 33 minutes. There's a human element involved and a lot of that is understanding and ability to adjust and coachability and having no fear of success and failure.

This time the Rangers managed just three hits. They were 0-for-3 with runners in scoring position and they were no-hit for six innings by Barry Zito. But manager Ron Washington wasn't interested in going into great detail about the latest Rangers offensive woes after a 3-2 loss to the San Francisco Giants on Sunday afternoon at AT&T Park. He was more interested in talking about his defense. "We weren't doing much offensively but our defense beat us today," Washington said after the Rangers were swept by the Giants in the three-game series. "Our defense let us down today." Washington was referring to a couple of plays by rookie shortstop Elvis Andrus in the third inning when the Giants scored two runs and one by right fielder Nelson Cruz that led to the go-ahead run in the seventh. Those cost pitcher Kevin Millwood and he is now 7-5 with a 2.62 ERA. "Millwood deserved a better fate," Washington said. "We've been taking pride in playing defense but today it beat us." Millwood wasn't ready to put it all on the defense or an offense that scored just seven runs in three games against the Giants. "I didn't make enough pitches to win the game," Millwood said. "I was able to keep it close, but in the end I didn't do enough to win it." Andruw Jones delivered the Rangers' only runs with a two-run home run in the seventh that broke up Zito's bid for a no-hitter. But the Rangers' only two other hits were singles by Jarrod Saltalamacchia and Andrus. Zito walked the first two hitters he faced on the afternoon but got out of that jam by getting Michael Young on a liner to center, striking out Jones and retiring Cruz on a grounder to third. Those were the Rangers' only three at-bats with runners in scoring position. They are now hitting .218 for the month of June with a .277 on-base percentage and a .363 slugging percentage. They are also averaging 3.3 runs per game in losing 11 of 18 games this month.

"It's just a funk," Ian Kinsler said. "There's not much else you can say. We're facing adversity right now. Every team goes through adversity at some point during the season and you have to fight through it. Zito threw well. You want to give him credit for throwing the ball the way he did, but we feel we're better than that." But, according to Washington, 3.3 runs would have been more than enough to win Sunday afternoon without the defensive lapses."We should have won that game, 2-0," Washington said. The Giants started the third inning with a triple by Aaron Rowand. Andrus then made a terrific diving catch to his left on Edgar Renteria's line drive for the first out. It was the next play that had Washington mystified. Randy Winn hit a little blooper past Millwood toward Andrus, who came in on the ball and then stopped. It fell in front of him, holding Rowand at third but allowing Winn to reach safely at first with an infield hit. "That was a weird base hit," Andrus said. "At first I intended to make a diving catch. I started running in and then it stopped in the wind and I didn't have a chance." Millwood walked Pablo Sandoval to load the bases and set up the next crucial defensive play. Travis Ishikawa smacked a sharp grounder down the first-base line that Chris Davis grabbed deep behind the bag. He made a strong throw to second to get the force but Andrus was wild with his throw to first base and the ball skipped past Millwood covering the bag. Two runs scored. "I should have eaten that ball," Andrus said. "I didn't have a chance and it was a horrible throw. I should have just taken the ball and saved one run."That gave the Giants a 2-0 lead. The Rangers tied it in the seventh on the two-run home run by Jones, which snapped their streak of 14 straight home runs with nobody on base. But the Giants regained the lead in the bottom of the seventh. With one out, Rowand hit a pop fly into shallow right field. Cruz came in hesitantly and tried to make a sliding catch. Instead the ball dropped for what was ultimately ruled a hit, although Washington made it clear that the ball should have been caught. "He just didn't get to it," Washington fumed. "Millwood ended up having to throw extra pitches."

 

Ian Kinsler's homer leading off the sixth gave the Rangers new life Saturday, but Jason Jennings' wild pitch in the 11th brought home the winning run in a 2-1 loss to the Giants.

 

Rangers pitcher Scott Feldman had a four-game road winning streak snapped in a 6-4 loss to the San Francisco Giants on Friday night at AT&T Park. Feldman was trying to become the first Rangers pitcher in team history to win his first five road starts to open a season. Instead, he allowed five runs in six innings and the Rangers are now 0-7 in Interleague Play at AT&T Park. The Rangers knocked out Giants starter Randy Johnson in the sixth inning. The Giants led, 3-1, going into the inning, but the Rangers scored three on an RBI single by Nelson Cruz and a two-run double by Marlon Byrd. But the Giants struck back in the bottom of the sixth on a two-run home run by Fred Lewis to take a 5-4 lead off Feldman. That was the last inning for Feldman. Michael Young hit a home run with nobody on base in the fourth inning, the Rangers' 13th consecutive solo home run, which established a club record. They haven't hit a home run with a runner on base since June 5, when Ian Kinsler hit a three-run home run in Boston.

The Rangers started out with a bang, but the Astros won a seesaw affair against the Rangers, 5-3, on Thursday. Arlington native Hunter Pence provided the game-winning hit with a solo home run to deep center field in the eighth inning. The Rangers scored first on Michael Young's solo home run in the first inning. Chris Davis went deep an inning later to put the Rangers ahead, 2-0. In the fourth inning, Nelson Cruz reached when he singled with one out, advanced to second on a single by David Murphy, stole third and scored on a throwing error.

Vicente Padilla again ran into early-inning trouble. He threw 28 pitches in the first inning. In his previous start Saturday against the Dodgers, Padilla needed 29 pitches to escape the first inning. The Astros knocked him out with a 36-pitch, two-run sixth inning. Jeff Keppinger walked to lead off the inning before Miguel Tejada singled. Carlos Lee singled home Keppinger and Tejada scored on a passed ball by catcher Taylor Teagarden. The Rangers are now 6-3 in Interleague Play and went 5-1 against their in-state rivals this season.

George W. Bush doesn't own the Rangers anymore, but the 43rd president of the United States has a share of the owner's suite at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington. On Thursday, the Rangers unveiled the new name for the owner's suite: the "President George W. Bush Owner's Suite." "I've looked this up, and in the 133-year history of Major League Baseball, never has a president been an owner except President Bush," Rangers owner Tom Hicks said. "I'm glad he's home and can reconnect with this place. We thought it would be fitting to have the suite named after him." Bush was managing general partner of the Rangers from 1989-94 until he was elected governor of Texas. "I was actually thinking of my time in baseball driving up here on the turnpike," Bush said. "Baseball is a great sport, and the Rangers are a great organization. Tom is a wonderful owner and has built this team up, hopefully guiding it to an American League pennant." Hicks gave Bush a personalized jersey with the number 43 and Bush on the back. He also extended an invitation to Bush to visit the suite any time he desires. "I'm thrilled to accept it," Bush said. "I used to [sit in the crowd during the game], but my life changed in January 2001. I have a little less anonymity now."

This was the first appearance for Bush since he threw out the ceremonial first pitch for the Rangers' home opener on April 6 of this season. Before that, he hadn't visited the stadium since 2000, when he was governor of Texas.

Whichever team took right-handed pitcher Tanner Scheppers in the recently completed First-Year Player Draft knew they were going to be taking a little bit of a risk because of questions surrounding his right shoulder. Then again, when isn't the Draft a roll of the dice? The Texas Rangers decided to take the chance when Scheppers was still on the board at No. 44 in the supplemental first round. The pure stuff -- namely, the upper-90s fastball and the power curve -- was just too tantalizing to pass up at that point in the Draft, even while knowing there was the possibility of an on-going issue with the shoulder. They had glowing reports on Scheppers' performances while pitching for the independent league St. Paul Saints this spring and had him checked out before the Draft by their medical staff. Not every team saw it the same way, and two teams that passed on Scheppers believe that he has a 50-percent tear of his labrum based on updated medical reports. Those two team doctors believe his shoulder will eventually require surgery. The Rangers, aware of a possible problem, don't feel the injury is quite that severe, though general manager Jon Daniels declined to go too far in talking in detail about the big right-hander. "I'd prefer not to discuss specifics of Tanner's medical situation for two reasons: One, he's not our player until he's signed; and two, I'm uncomfortable doing so in general," Daniels said. "The best I can put it is this: He was examined by [team physician] Dr. [Keith] Meister before the Draft. He was cleared to be selected, with the understanding that there may be a heightened level of risk vs. other pitchers of a similar age and experience level. We took him with eyes wide open and hope to sign him this summer." The Rangers took Scheppers with the pick they received as compensation for losing free agent Milton Bradley during the offseason, but like every team, they've known all about the talented right-hander since last year's Draft. Questions about Scheppers' shoulder began then, when he was a junior at Fresno State. After a dominant season that moved him high up on draft boards, he was diagnosed with a stress fracture in his right shoulder, effectively ending his college career and moving him out of the first round. The Pirates took a chance and selected him in the second round of the 2008 Draft, No. 48 overall. The two sides could not come to terms, though, and the Pirates received a compensation pick while Scheppers opted to go the indy route to prepare to re-enter the Draft in 2009. Right from the outset, scouts reported a better body, a better delivery and even better stuff than what intrigued scouts a year ago. He was throwing in the upper-90s with a power curve and a free-and-easy delivery. His name once again was moving up draft boards and was figuring into most conversations about the Top 10 picks. Questions about the shoulder remained, perhaps because he never had surgery to correct the problem last year. His agents, the Legacy Group, had him examined by Angels team surgeon Dr. Lewis Yocum, who reportedly sent a letter to teams saying Scheppers was healthy. That didn't completely alleviate concerns, so Scheppers agreed to meet with some teams, including the Rangers, to be examined by their own doctors. Calls to Scheppers' agent, Greg Genske, were not returned.

 

On a historic night Wednesday in Arlington, the Rangers gave their fans an exciting 5-4 walk-off win over the Astros. Ian Kinsler led off the bottom of the 10th on an error by third baseman Jeff Keppinger. He then stole second and advanced to third on a single by Michael Young. The Astros intentionally walked Hank Blalock to load the bases. Nelson Cruz flied out, but David Murphy singled to left to end the game. Omar Vizquel tied Luis Aparicio for career hits by a Venezuelan native with his fifth-inning single. It was career hit No. 2,677. The Rangers played a combination of long ball and small ball. Cruz and Jarrod Saltalamacchia both went deep, while Vizquel scored on a sacrifice fly by Kinsler in the fifth inning. Vizquel singled with one out in the inning, stole second and advanced to third on a bad throw by Ivan Rodriguez.  Kinsler manufactured a run by himself in the first inning. He led off with a double, stole third and scored when Rodriguez's throw went into left field. Matt Harrison came off the disabled list after two rehab starts. He threw five innings, allowing three earned runs and six hits. Rodriguez joined Vizquel in the history-making night by setting the career record for most games started at catcher with 2,227. That broke the mark of 2,226 previously held by Carlton Fisk, who set the record against the Rangers with Rodriguez catching. 

Rangers fans can be pretty happy with Wednesday night. Their team beat the Astros, 5-4, on a 10th-inning walk-off hit, former Ranger Ivan Rodriguez broke a Major League record for most games started at catcher and Omar Vizquel made a bit of history of his own. Vizquel laced a single up the middle in the fifth inning for the 2,677th hit of his career. It tied him with Hall of Famer Luis Aparicio for most by a Venezuelan native. Vizquel was hitless since June 7, when the Rangers were in Boston, and had three hits in his previous 17 at-bats going into that at-bat. He flied out in the seventh and would've had another opportunity to break the record in the ninth inning, but Rangers manager Ron Washington pinch-hit for him. Vizquel also flied out in the third inning. "The manager has the final decision," Vizquel said. "I have to respect that. I'm just thankful he gave me the chance to play." Even though he didn't record the record-setting hit, Vizquel was pleased with his night. "It would have been easier to get two hits and have it over," he said. "But this is great. It was a special moment for me, a really great  moment." Aparicio played from 1956-73 with the White Sox, Orioles and Red Sox. He was elected into the Hall of Fame in 1984. Vizquel has played for the Mariners, Indians and Giants before joining the Rangers this season. He is hitting .323.

 

Reliever Frank Francisco could be just a few days away from rejoining the Rangers. It could take a little longer before he resumes his role as the Rangers closer. "We're going to ease him back in," Rangers manager Ron Washington said before Wednesday's game with the Houston Astros. "We're not going to just drop him back in there. But if he's healthy, he'll eventually get back in there."  Francisco, on the disabled list with a strained right shoulder, is scheduled to pitch one inning on a medical rehabilitation assignment for Double-A Frisco on Thursday night. If that goes well, he could join the Rangers this weekend in San Francisco.  "That will be determined by how it goes," Washington said. "We expect one would be enough. Frank is confident. He's kept his body and arm in shape, he just needs to face hitters. The key is getting in there and feeling good. If he does, everything will be fine."  The Rangers don't need to rush Francisco back as the closer. C.J. Wilson has handled the role well while Francisco has been sidelined. Wilson went into Wednesday night's game with a 1.06 ERA in his past 18 games and was 6-for-7 in save opportunities. Opponents were hitting .207 off him. "It's fun," Wilson said about returning to his old role. "You're always on alert even though you always don't get to work. It's the same as the eighth inning, but it's just fun being out there when everybody is high-fiving."  Wilson was the Rangers' closer last year and was 24-for-28 but with a 6.02 ERA before undergoing elbow surgery at the beginning of August that sidelined him for the remainder of the year. Eddie Guardado took over but was traded to the Twins on Aug. 25. That's when Francisco took over as the closer, and in 30 appearances since that point, he is 2-1 with a 0.29 ERA and 17-for-17 in save opportunities. That's why he'll eventually be back as the Rangers' closer at some point, if not right away. Wilson understands that. "I'm just worried about Frankie being healthy for his own sake," Wilson said. "I can go pitch and do my thing in any role. I can't control that. I learned that in Spring Training. There's nothing I can do except help my team win by doing my job. That's what I'm trying to do. Winning is more fun. It makes driving to the ballpark a lot more fun." 

 

The Rangers clinched the 2009 Silver Boot with a 6-1 victory over the Astros on Tuesday. Ian Kinsler provided two solo home runs. This game was the fifth multihomer game of his career and the first since May 15. He is now tied with Alfonso Soriano for the most multihomer games for a Rangers second baseman. Kevin Millwood pitched seven excellent innings, throwing 115 pitches. He allowed one run on four hits and three walks and struck out six. Former Rangers catcher Ivan Rodriguez tied Carlton Fisk, who also went by the nickname Pudge, for first in all-time games caught at 2,226. Rodriguez belted a homer in the fifth inning off Millwood. Rodriguez is expected to play Wednesday to break the record. The Silver Boot is given to the winner of the annual Rangers-Astros series. The Rangers have won the award six of the nine times it has been given. They are now 27-25 all-time against the Astros.

Toby Harrah, the first Ranger ever selected to an All-Star Game, and Ruben Sierra, a four-time Rangers Player of the Year, have been selected as the 2009 class of the Rangers Hall of Fame. They will be inducted on Aug. 1 before the Rangers' game with the Mariners at the Ballpark in Arlington, becoming the 11th and 12th members of that distinguished group. "This means a lot," Sierra said. "I just want to say thank you to God and thank you to the Rangers for being a part of the history of Rangers baseball. I'm not a guy to say much, but right now I feel so great to be inducted into the Hall of Fame of the Rangers." Harrah, originally signed by the Phillies and taken by the Washington Senators in the Minor League draft, came west with the franchise in the 1971 move to Texas and was one of the Rangers' best players in their first decade. "It's an honor. This is great news for me, my wife and my family," Harrah said. "Coming from Washington, being an original Texas Ranger, makes it even more special to me. I've always been a Texas Ranger at heart and always will be. I'm very thrilled." Harrah was selected to play in the All-Star Game in 1972 as a shortstop but missed the game because of injury. He went on to be selected again in 1975 and 1976. He was also the Rangers' Player of the Year in 1975, when he hit .293 with 20 home runs and a career-high 93 RBIs. He moved to third base in 1977 after the Rangers signed free-agent shortstop Bert Campaneris, and he hit .263 with a career-high 27 home runs plus 87 RBIs. He slipped to .229 with 12 home runs and 59 RBIs in 1978 and was then traded to the Cleveland Indians.

Harrah returned to the Rangers in 1985 and had one more good year at second base, hitting .270 with nine home runs, 44 RBIs and 113 walks. He also had a .432 on-base percentage, which stood as the club record until Milton Bradley broke it last year with a .436 mark. Harrah retired after the 1986 season and went on to manage at Triple-A Oklahoma City in 1987-88 before joining the Rangers' coaching staff in 1989. He managed the team for 76 games at the end of the 1992 season. He has spent the past six years as the Detroit Tigers' Minor League hitting instructor, but he still lives in Fort Worth. He is among the Rangers' all-time leaders in several categories, with 1,220 games (fifth), 4,188 at-bats (seventh), 582 runs (seventh), 1,086 hits (eighth), 176 doubles (seventh), 546 RBIs (seventh), 668 walks (second), 143 stolen bases (second) and .361 on-base percentage (fifth). "The big thing, when [fans] came to watch me play the game of baseball, I did everything to help the team win," Harrah said. "Whether it was bunt for a base hit, break up a double play, make a diving catch, make a good relay throw or hit a home run, I feel like I could do all these things to help us win a game." Sierra made his debut for the Rangers on June 1, 1986, in Kansas City and hit a home run off Charlie Leibrandt in his second at-bat. For the next six years, he was the Rangers' best player, a switch-hitting combination of power and speed He was the Rangers' Player of the Year from 1987-89 and again in 1991. In his first full season, he hit .263 with 97 runs scored, 30 home runs and 109 RBIs, and he followed that by hitting .254 with 23 home runs and 91 RBIs. But his best year was in 1989, when he hit .306 with 29 home runs and a league-leading 119 RBIs. He also led the league with 14 triples, a .543 slugging percentage and 344 total bases. He was selected to the All-Star team and the Silver Slugger team, but he finished second to Milwaukee outfielder Robin Yount in the Most Valuable Player voting. The Sporting News selected him as the American League Player of the Year. In 1991, Sierra hit .307 with a career-high 110 runs scored along with 25 home runs and 116 RBIs while being named to the All-Star team for a second time. He was also selected again in 1992, but he was traded along with Jeff Russell and Bobby Witt to the Oakland Athletics for outfielder Jose Canseco. "I would have liked to have played with the Rangers for my whole career," Sierra said. "I was upset about that, but I learned it was a business. I would have liked to have stayed with the Rangers and had more years like 1989 and 1991 and all those All-Star Games, have a super career and have a big statue of me in front of the stadium. But it always doesn't happen like that. God always has something for you, and now I'm being inducted into the Rangers Hall of Fame." He returned to play for the Rangers in 2000-01 and again in 2003. He still holds the Rangers' career record with 44 triples. He is also fifth with 645 runs and 1,281 hits, and fourth with 180 home runs and 742 RBIs. The Rangers selected Ruben Sierra Jr. with their sixth-round pick in the 2009 First-Year Player Draft, and they have already signed him. "I feel very proud that my son has signed with the team that I started with," Sierra said. "I hope he has a great career with the Rangers -- like me or better." Harrah and Sierra join pitchers Nolan Ryan, Ferguson Jenkins, Charlie Hough and John Wetteland; third baseman Buddy Bell; catcher Jim Sundberg; outfielder Rusty Greer; and manager Johnny Oates as uniformed members of the Rangers Hall of Fame. Also inducted are former Arlington mayor Tom Vandergriff and the late broadcaster Mark Holtz.

 

For the fourth straight week, Ian Kinsler is still leading American League second baseman in fan voting for the All-Star Game.  If Kinsler can continue to maintain this lead over Dustin Pedroia of the Red Sox, he will be the American League's starting second baseman at the All-Star Game on July 14 in St. Louis. "If I get voted in because of the fans ... I don't know what to say," Kinsler said. "That would be a heart-felt awesome. Just to have fan recognition no matter where you play is gratifying." Josh Hamilton is also still in the running for a spot in the American League outfield. He continues to sit second among outfielders behind Jason Bay and in front of Ichiro Suzuki. Hamilton, who underwent surgery to repair a partially torn abdominal muscle last week, wants to play during the All-Star festivities and repeat his appearance in the Home Run Derby, but that is doubtful at best. He is sidelined four to six weeks and has yet to resume baseball activities. Fans can cast their votes for starters up to 25 times with the 2009 All-Star Game Sprint Online Ballot at MLB.com and all 30 club sites until July 2 at 10:59 p.m. CT. Starting rosters will be announced during the 2009 All-Star Game Selection Show presented by Chevrolet on TBS on July 5. Baseball fans around the world will then be able to select the final player on each team via the 2009 All-Star Game Sprint Final Vote at MLB.com. The voting doesn't end there. Fans will have the opportunity to participate in the official voting for the Ted Williams Most Valuable Player Award presented by Chevrolet at the Midsummer Classic via the 2009 All-Star Game Sprint MVP Vote at MLB.com. The All-Star Game will be televised nationally by FOX and around the world by Major League Baseball International. ESPN Radio will provide exclusive national radio play-by-play, while MLB.com will offer extensive online coverage. Among other Rangers, shortstop Elvis Andrus and third baseman Michael Young are third at their positions, catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia is fourth and first baseman Chris Davis is fifth. Nelson Cruz is seventh among outfielders. Kinsler and Hamilton are trying to make the team for the second straight year. Hamilton started last season in the American League's 3-2 victory in 15 innings while Kinsler went as a reserve. Young is trying to make the team for the sixth straight season, all as a reserve.

Eleven-year-old Zackary Calhoun has a new favorite baseball player. "I used to like Alex Rodriguez, but I think he's moved to a different team," Calhoun said. The former Rangers star was traded to the Yankees in early 2004. Calhoun's favorite player is now Rangers ace Kevin Millwood, who helped fund and open the Kevin Millwood Texas Rangers Ballpark on Monday. Millwood threw the first pitch at the field to Calhoun, a fellow pitcher. "I throw fastballs and curveballs," Calhoun said. Millwood also throws both of those pitches. After the first pitch, Millwood threw batting practice to a few of the kids. "It's nice to see the park finally coming together," Millwood said. "Hopefully all the kids can have a great time playing on this field." This opportunity presented itself when he was looking for a charity to donate to during the last offseason. Millwood and the Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation covered the cost of the entire project. "It doesn't matter how long it takes," Millwood said. "I think it's great for kids to have a place to play ball." The new park is the 10th field built with help from the Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation and the first in Arlington. It is located at 2011 Wynn Terrace in the eastern part of Arlington and is part of the National Semiconductor Sports Complex. Grace Temple Missionary Baptist Church donated some of the land for the field, which is also on a vacant lot previously owned by the Arlington Water Department. The Boys & Girls Clubs of Arlington will receive primary use of the field. They hope to have 120 kids play in their Rookie League, which features ages 6-12. Play begins July 29. "Before the summer's over, you'll see a really nice baseball field," said Steve Wurm, the president of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Arlington. "It's an opportunity for kids to play and have structured sports. We approached Kevin Millwood and the Texas Rangers and they graciously wanted to help us out."

In the middle of his 2,225th game behind the plate, Ivan Rodriguez defined himself. That's a little late in a life spent behind the mask for a revelation. Yet a career perhaps misunderstood, and certainly underappreciated, suddenly came into focus. With an 0-and-2 count on Arizona's Felipe Lopez in the fifth inning on Sunday, Houston right-hander Brian Moehler snapped off a breaking pitch that bounced in front of the plate and short-hopped under Rodriguez's spread legs. It would have taken typical men the rest of the weekend to recover from that ding. Within moments, Rodriguez was back in his catcher's crouch. And then he called for the same pitch again. Seeing Moehler's offering again tumble into the dirt and bounce between his legs, most men would've simply passed out. Rodriguez calmly short-hopped the ball with his mitt -- after Lopez had missed it for strike three -- and started to whip it around the infield. There it was: The reason Pudge is one of the most brilliant and competitive catchers in baseball's long history, and also the reason he has survived to soon catch more Major League games than anyone else. Lopez was set up for that sinking breaking ball, so bring it on. As for relenting to injury ... Rodriguez has been facing it for 17 years, and hasn't yet blinked. "I'm proud of everything I've been able to accomplish in this game, but especially to be able to play with very little injuries," Rodriguez said on his way out of Phoenix and to Arlington and a date with history."I've always worked hard. I'm still working hard. I'm very pleased with my career." The pride was a virtual ember in his eyes as Pudge added: "A lot of people know the name 'Pudge Rodriguez.' Pretty much everyone knows me. I'm a player who has proven to be ready and play the game hard. I've earned a lot of respect from teammates and coaches and fans. "I have no complaints." And now he is about to receive confirmation. In Tuesday's opener of an Interleague Series against the Texas Rangers, he will catch for the 2,226th time, tying Carlton Fisk's all-time record at the position. The next day, he will break the record that helped usher the original Pudge into the Hall of Fame. "I congratulate the other Pudge on achieving this amazing milestone, as I know the endurance and strength it takes to get there," said Fisk. "Congrats!"  "To be able to get to that level is a great accomplishment," said Pudge II. "I've always taken care of myself, do everything needed to keep doing things in this game and to be able to reach that record. It's an honor." And to have it happen in Arlington is poetic. That is where Rodriguez played the first 12 of his 19 seasons, beginning as an 18-year-old in 1991. That is where he earned the first 10 of his 14 All-Star laurels, the first 10 of his 13 Gold Glove Awards. Where he chalked up the majority of the imminent record, catching 1,426 games as a a member of the Rangers. "Being able to do that will be nice," Rodriguez said. "It will be nice for my family, my friends and the fans. They're great fans, and I think they look forward to it, too."

Derek Holland's afternoon began with a five-pitch walk to Dodgers leadoff hitter Juan Pierre. It was the beginning of a five-inning struggle. "It was just a bad day," Holland said after the Rangers lost to the Dodgers, 6-3, for the second time in three games. The Rangers' offense began the afternoon by scoring two runs in the first on a walk, two singles and a botched double play by the Dodgers. That was the pinnacle of the Rangers' offensive performance on an afternoon in which their June hitting slump only grew worse. "No, it's not very good," Kinsler said after the Rangers finished with six hits against Dodgers starter Chad Billingsley and two relievers on Sunday afternoon at Rangers Ballpark. Everybody's day ended with Andruw Jones being called out on strikes in the bottom of the ninth, then turning and yelling at home plate umpire Sam Holbrook before being led away in the 92-degree heat by third-base coach Dave Anderson. It was just not a good afternoon for the Rangers overall as they lost for the eighth time in the past 13 games and are now just 2 1/2 games ahead of the Angels in the American League West. Holland allowed four runs in five innings while giving up five hits and four walks. The big blow was a three-run home run by Casey Blake in the third inning, but Holland was most disturbed by the four walks. Two of them came around to score.

"Four walks ... that's high," Holland said. "That's not good enough. That shows I didn't go after hitters. I was falling behind in the count. I've got to go after hitters. I'm really hard on myself and this just wasn't very good. I was doing a very good job of locating the ball. I just didn't attack the zone enough." Instead, he lost his third straight start and is now 0-3 with a 7.08 ERA in four starts since going into the rotation. He has an 8.54 ERA in his past seven games overall to raise his ERA from 1.74 to 6.63.  "It's a learning process," Rangers manager Ron Washington said. "He'll get there. He's learning. He's facing professional hitters. He understands that when you get into trouble, you've got to continue to pitch. You can't give in. He'll continue to get better. When he left the game, we were still in it. We were only down, 4-3." Rangers pitchers overall walked seven on the afternoon. The Rangers are now 2-7 this season in games in which their pitchers walk at least six batters. "They made Derek work from his first pitch," Washington said. "They made every single one of our pitchers work. They are a good contact-hitting team, they've got a little speed and they've got a little pop." The Rangers didn't work the Dodgers pitchers quite as hard. They drew just one walk, the 29th time this season they've walked two or fewer times in a game. The Rangers are 14-15 when that happens. The Dodgers, who have the best record in in baseball, have just 14 games with two or fewer walks. "We'll just keep working," Washington said. "They haven't lost confidence. We just went through a bad week. In the game of baseball, that happens."

Chris Davis was looking forward to being in the Rangers' lineup on Sunday with right-hander Chad Billingsley on the mound for the Dodgers. Manager Ron Washington had other ideas. He decided to get Davis a day off, deciding instead to go with both Hank Blalock at first base and Andruw Jones at designated hitter. "I'm just giving him a day," Washington said, pointing out that Davis had started 11 straight games against the Yankees, Red Sox, Blue Jays and Dodgers. "He's played 11 days in a row, and the last five days here, the heat has been tremendous. The kid has worked his tail off, and I thought he needed a day off. That's a pretty good stretch of facing some pretty good pitchers." Davis batted .270 in those 11 games but without a home run and just four RBIs. He went into Sunday's game hitting .208 with 12 home runs, 27 RBIs and a league-leading 92 strikeouts in 59 games. "I feel much better," Davis said. "The last few days I have been swinging the bat well. With a right-hander pitching, I feel like I should be in there but ... I want to be in the lineup. I hate sitting on the bench, but if Wash thinks I need a day, that's fine." The Rangers have been waiting for Davis to get going all season, but he has yet to take off. He was up to .240 in middle of May but then hit .160 with two home runs and six RBIs in 25 games since then. Both those home runs came in one game against the Yankees on May 26. His defense is keeping him in the lineup regularly and probably in the Major Leagues as well. His defense has been outstanding at first base, and the Rangers don't want to lose that even though Davis is struggling at the plate. "When you're struggling, defense is a big factor," Washington said. "It's hard to take a guy off the field when he can play defense like that, even when he's struggling offensively, especially if you have confidence that he can make a difference on offense with one swing of the bat. Chris has been outstanding defensively. Every night he makes plays."

The Rangers have finally put closer Frank Francisco on the disabled list with a strained right shoulder. Warner Madrigal was recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma on Sunday to take his place.

Francisco hasn't pitched since June 3, and the move was made retroactive to June 4. That means he is eligible to come off the disabled list on Friday when the Rangers open a three-game series with the Giants in San Francisco. But it's unlikely that Francisco will be ready by then. The Rangers want him to make at least one or two appearances on a medical rehabilitation assignment at Double-A Frisco before they activate him again. "This time, we're going to be a little more cautious," assistant general manager Thad Levine said. Francisco was on the disabled list from May 7-21 with a strained right shoulder and was activated without going on a rehab assignment. This time, he'll likely pitch for Frisco on Thursday and at least one more time before the Rangers decide if he's ready to pitch in the Majors. "It's possible he could join us in San Francisco, but it's not the plan for him to be there on the first day," Levine said. Francisco, who has a 0.46 ERA and is 12-for-12 in save opportunities, threw both long toss and in the bullpen on Sunday without any problem. "I feel good," Francisco said. "I think I can go, but we'll see." Francisco will throw another bullpen session on Tuesday and possible live batting practice to hitters. A rehab assignment will be the next step. This time, the Rangers want to make sure he's completely healthy. The Rangers had held off putting Francisco on the disabled list because they kept thinking he was a few days away from being able to pitch. But he hasn't been in a game since saving the Rangers' 4-2 victory over the Yankees on June 3. That's almost two weeks ago, and it's no longer realistic that Francisco is close to being ready to pitch in a game. Putting him on the disabled list allows the Rangers to send him out on a medical rehabilitation assignment.

Rangers starter Scott Feldman was on a roll and wasn't really worried about what was going on -- or not coming on -- high above the ballpark.  "I didn't have any complaints," Feldman said with a smile. He would have preferred to keep on pitching. The Rangers wanted him to continue, even after the game was delayed by light problems. But, ultimately, Rangers manager Ron Washington had to turn it over to his bullpen, and Jason Grilli gave up a two-run home run to Matt Kemp that gave the Dodgers a 3-1 victory at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington on Saturday night. Feldman and Dodgers pitcher Randy Wolf both pitched five scoreless innings before the game was delayed for one hour and 41 minutes because of a breaker malfunction in a light bank at the top of the ballpark between home and first base. The bank was out at the start of the game, but there was more than enough sunlight to begin play. Neither team wanted a postponement and a doubleheader on Sunday. But by the fifth inning, crew chief umpire Charlie Reliford decided that the lack of visibility was a safety hazard. The light-bank malfunction was leaving a shadow of darkness around home plate and neither team was eager to continue in the gloaming. "No way," Washington said. "No way. The outfielders weren't picking up the ball off the bat and the hitters were beginning to complain that they couldn't see the ball out of the pitcher's hand." Said third baseman Michael Young, "My second at-bat in the third inning, I was fine. But by the fifth inning, we were just spinning our wheels and wasting time." The Rangers were hoping for a quick fix so that Feldman could go back out on the mound. The Dodgers felt the same with Wolf. That didn't prove to be the case. "They didn't know how long it would take to fix the problem," Washington said. "It could have been five minutes or it could have been an hour." An hour delay was the over/under for Feldman, who was trying to stay loose during the delay by playing catch. But once the delay went well beyond that, Washington decided he had to go to the bullpen. "An hour and 40 minutes, that's too long for Scotty," Washington said. Feldman had allowed just three hits. He did not walk a batter, struck out one and had thrown 57 pitches. He had extended the Rangers' streak of consecutive scoreless innings to 24 and appeared ready to pitch at least seven innings for the first time this season. Instead, he was forced out with his shortest start since the first one against the Orioles on April 24 that was Day One of the Rangers' turnaround. "It would have been nice to let Feldman get back out there and keep pitching, but I'm sure they feel the same way about their pitcher," Young said. Eddie Guardado took over in the sixth, and Juan Pierre, hitting in the No. 1 spot, led off with a single to left. Pierre, who has been a big boost to the Dodgers' offense in the absence of Manny Ramirez, then stole second and kept on going when catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia's throw ended up in center field. He scored on a ground ball by Rafael Furcal. Andruw Jones, getting his first start against the Dodgers, tied it in the bottom of the sixth with a home run off reliever Cory Wade, his sixth of the season. But Grilli couldn't keep it tied after taking over for Guardado in the seventh. Grilli walked Mark Loretta with one out and, after Russell Martin struck out, he left a fastball up and in against Kemp, who hit it over the left-center wall for a two-run home run. The Rangers had two on and two out in the bottom of the seventh when Washington sent Hank Blalock up to pinch-hit for Elvis Andrus against reliever Ramon Troncoso. Blalock hit it hard but not hard enough, and Kemp ran it down in right-center for the third out. "I got it off the end of the bat," Blalock said.

The Rangers' game with the Dodgers was delayed after five innings because a bank of lights was out between home plate and first base at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington. The lights were out from the beginning of the game, but the umpires didn't call time until after five innings in a scoreless game. By then, the sun had gone down and visibility at home plate was becoming increasingly difficult. Home plate umpire Charlie Reliford made the decision to suspend play after consulting with both managers because of the safety factor. Time was called at 8:17 p.m. CT and the lights were not fixed until about 9:40. Play resumed at 9:58 p.m. with Eddie Guardado replacing starter Scott Feldman on the mound for the Rangers. Cory Wade replaced Dodgers starter Randy Wolf. The official explanation is that there was a breaker malfunction in the light bank that needed to be fixed by a company not present. Any fan holding a ticket to Saturday night's game can exchange it at the Ballpark ticket office for a ticket to the July 5 game against the Tampa Bay Rays. Feldman started for the Rangers and his five scoreless innings extended the club's scoreless innings streak to 24.

A Rangers team struggling to score runs without disabled slugger Josh Hamilton got a spark from an unlikely source in Friday's 6-0 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers. Backup catcher Taylor Teagarden had two doubles, one that led to the Rangers' first run, and another that drove in two runs in the sixth inning to give Texas a five-run lead. The Rangers had averaged just over three runs a game since losing Hamilton on June 2. And they had scored just four runs in a three-game series here against the Toronto Blue Jays earlier in the week. The Rangers won, 1-0, on Thursday behind 7 2/3 strong innings from Kevin Millwood, and while Vicente Padilla only went five innings, he also didn't allow a run. Jason Jennings also pitched in with a workmanlike 46-pitch, three-inning relief stint to preserve the lead into bottom of the eighth. Teagarden, who last played on Sunday, led off the bottom of the third with a double and scored on an error by Dodgers first baseman James Loney. Michael Young delivered a run-scoring single later in the inning for a two-run lead. Hank Blalock had a solo home run in the sixth, his 13th of the year. Later, Teagarden came through with a two-out double that scored David Murphy and Marlon Byrd.

The Rangers signed six Draft picks from this week's First-Year Player Draft, including outfielder Ruben Sierra Jr. Sierra Jr., the team's sixth-round pick, signed two days after being picked during Wednesday's portion of the Draft. He is the son of Ruben Sierra, who signed with the Rangers in 1982 as a free agent out of Puerto Rico and played parts of 10 seasons in Texas. Sierra Jr., who played for San Juan Educational School, is a 6-foot-2, 172-pound center fielder who may eventually shift to a corner-outfield spot, where his father played. Sierra Jr. possesses a powerful arm, much like his father. His fastball has been clocked in the low 90s. The Rangers also signed catcher Vincent DiFazio (12), right-handed pitcher Sam Brown (22), shortstop Danny Lima (23), shortstop Shon Landry (30) and third baseman Taylor Vail (40).

Josh Hamilton made his return to Rangers Ballpark and hinted he may return to Texas' lineup sooner than expected. "My expectations have always been bigger than everyone else's," Hamilton said after the Rangers' 1-0 victory against the Blue Jays on Thursday. "Right now, they're saying four-to-six weeks. I'll let you guys think it's four-to-six weeks." Hamilton has started walking on a treadmill and expects to resume baseball activities in 10 days. The 28-year-old outfielder underwent surgery Tuesday in Philadelphia to repair a partial tear of his abdominal muscle. The surgery came one day after Hamilton visited Dr. William Meyers for a second opinion. "It feels as good as it can," Hamilton said. "I know what to do to get better. I have a program set up and it's good to have a plan of action.

Kevin Millwood was outstanding, Darren O'Day was clutch and C.J. Wilson came through once again in his ongoing role as the Rangers' interim closer. Pitching and defense have been crucial all season to the Rangers, but never more so on Thursday night when the stout combination of both combined to hold off the Toronto Blue Jays, 1-0, at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington. The victory, coming after two losses and one rainout against the Blue Jays, allowed the first-place Rangers to increase their lead to 4 1/2 games in the American League West. Marlon Byrd drove in the only run with a sacrifice fly in the second inning and the pitching and defense made it stand up. It was only Texas' fourth 1-0 victory at the Ballpark since it opened in 1994. "It was Millwood tonight, a sacrifice fly and some [defensive] plays," Rangers manager Ron Washington said. "We needed it, and we needed it bad. We know the offense is going to get it going, but we needed Millwood to step up, and he stepped up." Millwood did so on a warm humid night by throwing 7 2/3 scoreless innings, allowing five hits and one hit batsman. He did not walk a batter and struck out just one. More important than that was Millwood -- in seven of eight innings -- was able to retire the leadoff with just one or two pitches. "It was huge," Millwood said. "It wasn't super-hot, but it was sticky and humid. The longer I stayed out there, the tougher it got. To be able to get the first guy out of an inning with as few pitches as possible was huge." So was the defense. Shortstop Elvis Andrus dove into the stands to catch a foul ball, third baseman Michael Young dove to the third-base line to snatch a double away from Alex Rios, and second baseman Ian Kinsler made a slick diving stop on Lyle Overbay's grounder into the right-side hole. The Rangers also did not make an error and are now 22-10 this season in games in which they do not commit an error.

"We played great defense, and we had to when you strike out just one," Millwood said. "That shows we can win in different ways." One strikeout -- coming on the last batter he faced -- is proof that Millwood wasn't overpowering, but he didn't have to be in helping the Rangers pitch their fourth shutout of the season. "He did a great job changing speeds," Blue Jays designated hitter Kevin Millar said. "His curveball and slider were really good. It was vintage Millwood. We couldn't get a big hit." The Blue Jays were 0-for-9 with runners in scoring position on the night, including 0-for-6 in the final three innings. O'Day and Wilson were just as tough as Millwood in those situations. Millwood left with a runner on second and two out in the eighth, but O'Day, needing two pitches, retired Alex Rios on a grounder to short to end the threat. O'Day, a waiver pickup in April, also retired Vernon Wells on a popup to start the ninth before Wilson was called upon. The Rangers are now 15-4 when O'Day pitches, and he has held opponents to a .167 batting average. "He has meant a lot to us," Washington said. "He's been in some tough situations and come through for us when we needed it. I'm so glad [general manager Jon Daniels] and those guys found him out there because he has been a godsend." Wilson has been just as important with Frank Francisco still sidelined with a right shoulder problem. The Rangers haven't decided to put Francisco on the disabled list, but he remains unavailable to pitch.

Nobody is quite sure how old Orlando Hernandez is and nobody is quite sure how many procedures or operations he's had on his right foot in the past two years. Nobody is quite sure if he has anything left in his right arm and nobody is quite sure what role he would fill on a team. What is known right now is Hernandez has been added to the Rangers' pitching depth.

Hernandez, who is trying to recover from a foot injury that required surgery at the end of the 2007 season, agreed to a Minor League contract with the Rangers on Thursday. He will report to Triple-A Oklahoma City on Sunday. "He was somebody we looked into during the offseason, but he was still rehabbing," Rangers general manager Jon Daniels said. "Our scout in south Florida, Juan Alvarez, has a relationship with him and has seen him throw a few times and liked what he saw. He's healthy, he's motivated, and he's in good shape. It's an opportunity we wanted to give him. He wants to show he can still pitch." Hernandez could be used as a starter or a reliever. He has been a starter for most of his career but there are reports that he would like to come back as a reliever, possibly as a closer. His brother Livan told the Bergen Record before the season that Orlando wants to continue pitching as a reliever. "We're going to build him up as starter but he could be an option in the bullpen," Daniels said.  Hernandez, who is listed as being 39 years old, has a career record of 90-65 with a 4.13 ERA in nine Major League seasons. He was once a star pitcher in Cuba before defecting in 1998 and signing with the New York Yankees. He was a big part of the Yankees' rotation when they won three straight World Series in 1998-2000, and he has a career postseason record of 9-3 with a 2.55 ERA in 19 games, including 14 starts. "He brings experience," manager Ron Washington said. "He knows how to win. He's been in many winning situations. We know he can pitch. We're sending him to Oklahoma City, get him acclimated and give us some depth. You never know what will happen." Hernandez will not be with the Rangers anytime soon. He has been throwing in Miami but has not pitched in a game at all this year. He'll throw at least one side bullpen session and one batting-practice session with Oklahoma City before he gets into a game. From there, it will be a matter of building arm strength and durability, and that could take at least a month. The best-case scenario is Hernandez could be an option at some point after the All-Star break. "If he goes down there and can be successful, we'll find a way to get him up here," Washington said. The Rangers have been looking for some pitching depth with Brandon McCarthy and Matt Harrison on the disabled list. They have not spoken to the agent for Pedro Martinez in at least a month, and Daniels said he doesn't see Tom Glavine as "being a fit" for the Rangers. There are no indications either that Ben Sheets is anywhere close to being ready to pitch or if he will pitch at all this season. Hernandez last pitched in the Major Leagues in 2007 when he went 9-5 with a 3.72 ERA in 27 games, including 24 starts, for the Mets. He has had at least two operations on his right foot since then and made just four starts in the Mets' Minor League system last year.  

The Rangers have built the strongest farm system in the Major Leagues through shrewd trades and quality drafts. After the 2009 First-Year Player Draft, Baseball America's No. 1-ranked farm system may be distancing themselves from everyone else. The Rangers drafted two top 10 talents, taking pitchers Matthew Purke and Tanner Scheppers with the 14th and 44th overall picks, respectively. Both were ranked within the top 10 Draft prospects by Baseball America. "We've drafted the best player available," said Rangers general manager Jon Daniels. "That's the plan in place. At the end of the day, we'll have a list and a board and we want the best player available. We put the pedal to the medal four years ago and there's no reason to change it." But quality Draft picks come with high price tags. The Rangers picked first baseman Justin Smoak with the 11th overall pick last year. He dropped due to signability questions. Smoak signed for $3.5 million, more than five players selected before him. "We briefed Tom [Hicks, the Rangers owner] on our options," Daniels said. "He's always on board with spending money to get talent, even before I got here, with Mark Teixeira." The Rangers selected Teixeira fifth overall in 2001. They signed him to a four-year, $9.5 million contract with a $4.5 million signing bonus. "We've had a budget in the past, and anything above and beyond that, we'll talk about that," Daniels said. "More often than not, he's been supportive." One of those position players the Rangers nabbed on the third day of the Draft was outfielder Reggie Williams Jr. He is the son of former Major League outfielder Reggie Williams Sr., who runs the Dawg Pound Baseball Academy in Tampa, Fla. Williams Jr. was taken in the 32nd round, but was ranked by Baseball America as the 119th overall prospect in the Draft. He has impressed scouts with his speed, notching stole 61 bases -- or more than three per game. He has been clocked at 3.9 seconds from the left-handed batters box. Williams Jr. hit .604 in his first year of high school. He has played baseball year-round on his father's 18-and-under team since he was 14. Williams Sr. played four seasons in the Major Leagues with the California/Anaheim Angels and Los Angeles Dodgers. The strength of the 2009 Draft was its pitching, and the Rangers took advantage of that. They chose 21 pitchers in 31 picks over the first two days. Thursday's final round of selection featured 20 picks, 11 of which were position players. In all, the Rangers selected 30 pitchers and 21 position players.

The game will be made up as part of a doubleheader Sept. 1. The first game will be at 4:05 p.m. Tickets for tonight's game are good for any remaining game in the 2009 season.

Frank Francisco, still unavailable as the Rangers' closer because of a strained right shoulder, admitted Wednesday that he might have come off the disabled list too soon. "Maybe," Francisco said while sitting at his locker before the Rangers' game with the Blue Jays. Then he thought about it. "Yeah," Francisco said. Francisco was not available as Texas' closer Wednesday, and he doesn't expect to be ready in the finale of a four-game set against Toronto on Thursday. He is taking a medicine-dose pack and still needs more time for the shoulder to settle down. "It's getting better," Francisco said. "Every time I throw, I feel better. I'm just going to keep doing what I'm doing. Hopefully, I'll be ready soon. It could be another two or three days. Who knows." Francisco was on the 15-day disabled list from May 7-21 with biceps tendinitis. He has made five appearances since then, going 3-for-3 in save opportunities. But he also gave up his first run of the season when Oakland's Adam Kennedy hit a game-winning home run off him May 31. Francisco has not pitched since last Wednesday in New York, when he saved a 4-2 victory over the Yankees by setting down the side in order. "The first time I pitched [after coming off the disabled list], I felt great," Francisco said. "After that day, I started getting worse and worse. I pitched in New York, then the next day that's when I really started feeling it." Manager Ron Washington said the Rangers have not seriously discussed putting Francisco on the disabled list yet. But that time could be coming. "We can't keep going short like this," Washington said. "That's why we're hoping Francisco will be ready to go." Washington said Francisco is still the Rangers' closer when he is healthy, but he doesn't know when that will be. C.J. Wilson has served as closer when Francisco has been unavailable, and the bullpen has held up for the most part during Francisco's absence.

After the Rangers collected just three runs and 11 hits over the past two games, third baseman Michael Young said Wednesday that it's time for the offense to make an adjustment. "We have not been going as well as we can be," Young said before the night's game with the Blue Jays. "Our offense has always taken pride in making adjustments, and it's a matter of coming out with a little more energy. The last few games, we've been flat out there. Two games is more than enough time to get going." The Rangers managed just two hits in a 9-0 loss to the Blue Jays on Tuesday. The loss also marked the second time in four games that the offense was held to just two hits. Red Sox pitcher Jon Lester tossed a two-hitter against Texas on Saturday in Boston. But over the past 23 games, the Rangers are hitting just .249 with a .422 slugging percentage and averaging 4.3 runs per game. In their first 35 games of the season, the Rangers batted .279 with a .500 slugging percentage and averaged 5.7 runs per game. "It is a combination of things," Young said. "We could be more patient at the plate, but I'm not going to look at every possible adjustment we could make. We need to play with more energy. That's a step in the right direction. For two games, our energy level has not been where it should be. It's time to make an adjustment." The Rangers, despite two successive losses to the Blue Jays, still sported a three-game lead over the Angels in the American League West entering Wednesday. "We need to walk onto that field like we're in first place," outfielder Marlon Byrd said. "It's tough when you go into Boston and New York. You need a high energy level. After it's over, there is a tendency to let your guard down and be relaxed. We're facing a good team, and they're in the AL East. They know about a high energy level. We need to match it and go up there with a little energy level." The Rangers have to deal with the loss of Josh Hamilton, their All-Star outfielder who led the league with 130 RBIs last season. He underwent surgery Tuesday to repair a torn abdominal muscle and is out until after the All-Star break. The Rangers have been able to fight their way into first place and stay there despite Hamilton's injuries and despite the fact that he was not hitting well when he was in the lineup. Hamilton is hitting .240 with six home runs and 24 RBIs in the 35 games this season. But two things are also true, according to manager Ron Washington. Hamilton still brings a presence to the Rangers' lineup when he is in there, and the longer he is sidelined, the more the club misses him.

Major League Baseball has completed two rounds in the 2009 First-Year Player Draft. For the Rangers, the best could be yet to come. Just a quick look at the Rangers' 25-man roster shows that a future Major League star can be drafted in just about every round. That includes the fifth round. The Rangers took both C.J. Wilson (2001) and Chris Davis (2006) in the fifth round. Michael Young was drafted in the fifth round by the Blue Jays back in 1997 out of the University of California Santa Barbara. He was later traded to the Rangers in 2000. Rangers second baseman Ian Kinsler may go down as one of the greatest mid-to-late-round picks in Draft history. The Rangers took him in the 17th round in the 2003 Draft out of the University of Missouri. That's the same school where the Rangers found pitcher Doug Mathis in the 13th round in 2005. Kinsler was actually taken relatively quickly in 2003 compared to one of his teammates. The Rangers took Scott Feldman in the 30th round that year out of the College of San Mateo (Calif.). Derek Holland was a 25th-round pick in 2006 out of Wallace State CC in Alabama, but that was in the final year of the old "draft and follow." He signed right before the 2007 Draft when he would have been selected much higher than the 25th round. The Rangers estimate that he would have been taken in the fourth-seventh rounds. Probably the fifth. Other teams have had success in later rounds and the Rangers have benefited from their wisdom. Kevin Millwood was an 11th-round pick by the Braves in 1993 and Marlon Byrd was a 10th-round pick by the Phillies in 1999. Back in 1990, Eddie Guardado was a 21st-round Draft pick by the Minnesota Twins out of San Joaquin Delta (Calif.) Junior College. The Rangers had a shot at him, but took Tim Kubinski, a high school left-hander out of San Luis Obispo (Calif.) before Guardado in the 20th round. Presumably both had the same scouts looking at both of them. The Rangers didn't sign Kubinski and he was taken in the seventh round of the 1993 Draft out of UCLA by the Oakland Athletics. He is now working in the banking industry in his hometown of San Luis Obispo. Guardado is in his 17th Major League season. After 111 picks on Day 1 -- including Rounds 1, 2 and 3 and Compensation Rounds A and B, -- and rounds four through 30 on Wednesday, the Draft will conclude on Thursday with the 31st through 50th rounds, beginning at 10:30 a.m. CT. MLB.com's coverage will include a live pick-by-pick audio stream, expert commentary and the exclusive Draft Tracker, a searchable database of every Draft-eligible player, featuring statistics, scouting reports and video highlights.

Tommy Mendonca is a powerful 3B from Fresno, big strikeout problem but major offensive power. This pick looks like a nod to needed additional depth of talent at third base to me.

Wow, big step out for the Rangers. Tanner Scheppers was a top 5-10 caliber talent, higher than Purke on some boards. He throws in the upper 90s and has great all around stuff. He has a bit of a shoulder concern and also wants a lot of money, but if the Rangers can sign both of the players, they will move right to the front of their pitching crop with Holland, Feliz and Perez.

Here is MLB.com's scouting report on Purke with a video.

Here is a note from Baseball America's profile on Purke:

Purke rivals Tyler Matzek as the best lefthanded pitching prospect in this draft. He already throws a 92-95 mph fastball and could throw harder as he adds strength to his 6-foot-3, 180-pound frame. He backs up his heater with a hard slider that ranks among the best in the prep draft class. He doesn't have much experience throwing a changeup because he hasn't needed one.

Rangers beat writer Jeff Wilson has confirms (and T.R. Sullivan has it on his blog) that the Rangers sent cash considerations to Colorado in return for RHP Jason Grilli, who was designated for assignment last week. You would think that could mean the end of the Kris Benson experiment in Texas.

Grilli, 32, is 0-2 with a 6.05 ERA with 22 strikeouts and 13 walks in 19.1 innings this season. He has allowed at least one earned run in his last five outings. Walks probably haven't helped as he has seven in his last 5 1/3 innings.

Grilli (who is 6-5) had a 1.08 ERA in April before struggles in May. Lefties are hitting .375 against him and righties .327. Grilli had a 3.00 ERA in 2008 as he pitched with Detroit and Colorado (75 innings). He had 69 strikeouts and 38 walks in that time.

Maybe a change of scenery and a chance to work with pitching coach Mike Maddux will help Grilli. Obviously, the Rangers are hoping he could get back to what he did in 2008 and in April of this season.

Michael Young had the Rangers' only two hits in an 8-1 loss to Jon Lester and the Red Sox on Saturday night.  When the game was over, Young was hitting .335, the eighth highest average in the American League and highest among all third basemen. He was tied for the AL lead in doubles. His .910 OPS (on-base plus slugging) was 15th in the league. In short, Young is having another All-Star-caliber season, but is still not getting full support in the fans' voting to be in the starting lineup for the 2009 All-Star Game on July 14 at 7 p.m. CT in St. Louis. With 655,398 votes, Young, who spent the past few years trailing Derek Jeter at shortstop, is trailing both Evan Longoria (1,560,358) and Alex Rodriguez (678,227) at third base in the latest update of the fans' voting. Young is trying to earn his sixth straight All-Star selection. He has never been voted onto the team as a starter by the fans, but keeps getting selected either by the players' vote or by the manager of the team. He was the Most Valuable Player of the 2006 All-Star Game in Pittsburgh and drove in the winning run with a sacrifice fly in the 15th inning of last year's Midsummer Classic at Yankee Stadium. Two of Young's teammates continue to do well at the ballot box. Ian Kinsler continues to lead Boston's Dustin Pedroia at second base and Josh Hamilton -- despite being on the disabled list for the second time this season -- is second among all outfielders, sandwiched between Boston's Jason Bay and Seattle's Ichiro Suzuki. Fans can cast their votes for starters up to 25 times with the 2009 All-Star Game Sprint Online Ballot at MLB.com and all 30 club sites until July 2 at 10:59 p.m. CT. Starting rosters will be announced during the 2009 All-Star Game Selection Show presented by Chevrolet on TBS on July 5. Baseball fans around the world will then be able to select the final player on each team via the 2009 All-Star Game Sprint Final Vote at MLB.com. The voting doesn't end there. Fans will have the opportunity to participate in the official voting for the Ted Williams Most Valuable Player Award presented by Chevrolet at the Midsummer Classic via the 2009 All-Star Game Sprint MVP Vote at MLB.com. The All-Star Game will be televised nationally by FOX and around the world by Major League Baseball International. ESPN Radio will provide exclusive national radio play-by-play, while MLB.com will offer extensive online coverage. Among other Rangers, Elvis Andrus is third among shortstops with 584,462 votes, Jarrod Saltalamacchia (583,033) is second among catchers and Chris Davis (461,183) is fifth among first basemen. Nelson Cruz (603,769) is ninth among outfielders.

A late rally wasn't enough for the Rangers to win Monday, as they fell, 6-3, to the Blue Jays at Rangers Ballpark. The Rangers loaded the bases with a walk, a single and an error to lead off the sixth inning. Marlon Byrd drove home Hank Blalock on an infield single and Nelson Cruz scored on a wild pitch to Chris Davis, who struck out. Jarrod Saltalamacchia then singled home David Murphy. Elvis Andrus was unable to lay down a suicide squeeze bunt with Byrd running from third, causing Byrd to be tagged out in a rundown, and then flew out to end the inning. Scott Feldman provided six innings on 94 pitches and allowed four earned runs. His only mistakes were two-run home runs to Adam Lind. Vernon Wells preceded each Lind long ball with a walk.

The Rangers learned on Monday that they will be without starting pitcher Brandon McCarthy for an extended period of time. The right-hander is sidelined with a stress fracture in his right shoulder blade and will be out for "several weeks," according to Rangers general manager Jon Daniels. It is a similar injury to the one that sidelined him for almost a month late in the 2007 season. This will be the fourth time in three years that McCarthy has gone on the disabled list. The Rangers suffered a 6-3 loss to the Blue Jays in the opener of a four-game home series on Monday night. McCarthy, who is 5-2 with a 4.92 ERA in 11 starts, came out of his most recent start against the Yankees feeling some soreness. An examination on Monday revealed the stress fracture in the shoulder blade. "It's frustrating," Daniels said. "I feel for him." Doug Mathis, who was 4-2 with a 2.89 in 10 starts for Triple-A Oklahoma, will start on Tuesday. This could mean that Derek Holland will stay in the rotation once Matt Harrison returns from the disabled list, but the Rangers want to take a look at Mathis, who was 3-0 with a 0.43 ERA in his last four starts at Oklahoma. "We're going to let Doug pitch tomorrow and see how he does," Daniels said. "We're not ruling Doug out. He's deserving of the opportunity." Daniels did not rule out looking for starting pitching outside the organization through a trade. "I'm open to it," Daniels said. "It's something we'll look into, but it's easier said than done. My expectation is we'll go with the guys we have. If there is a quality guy available, we'll look into it, but it's easier said than done." Harrison, who is sidelined with a strained left shoulder, threw in the bullpen on Monday. He is expected to come off the disabled list and start on Thursday. At that point, Holland was expected to go back to the bullpen.

The Rangers are hopeful they'll be getting a healthy Josh Hamilton back for the second half.

The outfielder is scheduled to undergo surgery on Tuesday to repair a partially torn abdominal muscle and is expected to be sidelined for four to six weeks. The Rangers are hoping he can return after the All-Star break. The surgery will be done in Philadelphia by Dr. William Meyer, who examined Hamilton on Monday and confirmed the original diagnosis of a partial tear. The injury is not considered as serious as the sports hernia that sidelined second baseman Ian Kinsler for the final six weeks of the 2008 season. "Given what it could have been, this is better than some of the alternatives," Rangers general manager Jon Daniels said. Hamilton, who missed two weeks at the start of May because of a bruised left ribcage, injured himself crashing into the wall while making a spectacular catch against the Angels on May 17. He hit .237 with one home run and five RBI in 11 games while trying to play through the pain before finally being put on the disabled list on Tuesday in Boston. The Rangers open the second half at home on July 17 against the Twins. "It's great in that we thought it might be longer," Rangers manager Ron Washington said. "We thought [Hamilton] might be out until September. Now we have a chance to get him back after the All-Star break. At least it won't be until September. At least we know what we're dealing with and we have a time frame." With Hamilton out, Washington said Marlon Byrd will be his regular center fielder. He said there might be a chance that Andruw Jones could play out there as well. The Rangers are not expected to look outside the organization for outfield help, although they have talked to David Dellucci about a Triple-A contract.  "You can't go out there and replace what Josh brings us," Daniels said. "It's not a possibility. The reality is we haven't had 100 percent of Josh all year. This team has proved that they can win with the guys we have here. We're going to continue to stay with this group." The injury ensures that Hamilton will be not be returning to the All-Star Game after last year's star turn in the Home Run Derby. He has been second in fan voting among American League outfielders in each of the past two updates and also expressed a desire to compete in the Derby again. But his injury will keep him out of the All-Star festivities all together. Instead, the Rangers want Hamilton back to the All-Star level he played at in 2008, when he led the AL with 130 RBIs. He also hit .304 with 98 runs scored and 32 home runs. He has played in just 35 games this season and is hitting .240 with six home runs and 24 RBIs.

The Rangers have picked up the 2010 option for manager Ron Washington, the club announced Monday. Washington is in his third year as the Rangers manager. The Rangers just finished 3-3 on a road trip to Boston and New York and are 33-23 on the season, sitting in first place in the American League West with a 4 1/2-game lead over the Angels. "This was an easy decision", said general manager Jon Daniels. "We're excited about the direction the club is going under Ron's leadership, and we look forward to a long, productive relationship with him as our manager." Washington was hired on Nov. 6, 2006, after spending 11 years as a coach for the Athletics. The Rangers went 75-87 in his first season in 2007, finishing in fourth place in the division. They improved to 79-83 and finished in second place last season. It was the first time the Rangers finished higher than third place since winning the division in 1999. The Rangers, after losing nine of their first 15 games, have been in first place since May 5. This is the longest they've spent in first place since 1999.

Following a week in which he nearly saw his tenure with the Rangers come to an end, Vicente Padilla proved on Sunday that he is still very much deserving of a spot in the Texas rotation. The veteran right-hander, placed on waivers by the Rangers on Wednesday following a rough outing against the Yankees, fired seven innings of three-run ball as first-place Texas took the rubber game of its weekend series against Boston with a 6-3 victory at Fenway Park. The series win was the Rangers' first at Fenway since Aug. 11-13, 1997. "It's part of the game," Padilla said about being placed on waivers. "Baseball is a business, and that's the way it's supposed to be. I just have to keep working, and if I don't pitch for this team, I'll have a chance to throw for another one." Nelson Cruz -- who finished a single shy of the cycle -- and David Murphy had three hits apiece for the Rangers (33-23), who finished 3-3 on their six-game road trip through New York and Boston. "We'll take what we can get," manager Ron Washington said. "We had been coming in here [to Boston] and not having much luck, but we came up here and played two solid ballgames and got away with the [series] win. "I'm very happy with the way our guys recovered [from Saturday's 8-1 defeat]. After every loss we've had, they've always recovered. That just shows how much character we have." C.J. Wilson nailed down his fifth save of the season in the absence of Frank Francisco, who was unavailable for the third straight game after complaining of right shoulder soreness before Friday's series opener. Washington said the closer will be re-evaluated on Monday, when the Rangers return home to open a four-game set against Toronto. One night after spoiling Jon Lester's perfect-game bid, Michael Young put Texas on top in the first with a solo home run to right field. The third baseman pummeled a high fastball from starter Daisuke Matsuzaka (1-4) into the Boston bullpen. Omar Vizquel singled home Murphy in the second, lining a ground ball through the left side of the infield. Murphy, who once played for the Red Sox, extended the Rangers' cushion to 4-0 in the following frame with a two-run double off the center-field wall. Jacoby Ellsbury halved the Boston deficit in the bottom half of the inning, scalding a ground ball to second base that eluded the backhand of Ian Kinsler and kicked into center field. Jason Varitek and Mark Kotsay scored on the play, and Kinsler was charged with an error. Kotsay trimmed the Rangers' lead to one run in the fourth with a solo shot to right, but Boston (33-24) struggled to generate offense the rest of the way against Padilla (4-3) and relievers Darren O'Day and Wilson. Cruz played an instrumental role in Texas' final two runs, scoring from third on a Matsuzaka wild pitch in the fifth before tattooing a fastball from Hideki Okajima over the Green Monster in the seventh. The efforts of Cruz and the Rangers' offense helped lessen the burden on Padilla, who said he did not feel any added pressure to perform in the wake of this past week's events. "If you start thinking about that, then you're going to get nervous and not do your job," Padilla said. "I just have to keep doing what I have to do, and that's it.

Derek Holland's best start as a Major Leaguer, at least according to the Rangers' pitcher and his manager, might not be enough to save the rookie southpaw from a demotion. One night after rehabbing left-hander Matt Harrison (shoulder inflammation) allowed one run on three hits over three innings in a start for Double-A Frisco, Texas skipper Ron Washington said the 23-year-old Holland will likely return to the bullpen before Thursday's home game against Toronto. Harrison, who struck out five in Saturday's 41-pitch rehab stint, will meet with Rangers pitching coach Mike Maddux and Washington on Monday in Arlington to discuss whether the lefty will need another tuneup before being activated Thursday. Harrison, who struck out five in Saturday's 41-pitch rehab stint, will meet with Rangers pitching coach Mike Maddux and Washington on Monday in Arlington to discuss whether the lefty will need another tuneup before being activated Thursday. "We'll see how [Harrison] recovers," Washington said. "It's our expectation [that he'll be activated Thursday], but we'll talk about that [Monday]. "If Harrison is ready Thursday, then Holland will be in the bullpen."Washington said there is no scenario in which Holland could remain in the rotation upon Harrison's return. The Rangers rotation also includes Scott Feldman, Brandon McCarthy, Kevin Millwood and Vicente Padilla. "I can't see both of them in there," Washington said. "If that's the case, then we would need some help in the bullpen. Holland certainly gives us that length in the bullpen."

Holland, who limited the Red Sox to one run through four innings on Saturday night before faltering in the fifth, will likely supplant Kris Benson as the Rangers' long reliever. Benson (1-1, 8.46 ERA) was unimpressive in relief of Holland on Saturday, allowing four runs (three earned) over 2 1/3 innings.

Fenway Park isn't exactly the most inviting venue for visiting pitchers. With hitter-friendly features such as the Green Monster and Pesky's Pole, there's not much room for error when attempting to silence the perennially potent Red Sox lineup. But if struggles at Fenway are normal for opposing hurlers, consider Kevin Millwood the exception to the rule. The Texas ace continued a career-long string of success in Boston on Friday night, twirling seven-plus innings of one-run ball in a 5-1 victory over the Red Sox. With the win, the Rangers improved to 2-2 on their current six-game road trip against American League East powers Boston and New York. Ian Kinsler drilled his 15th home run of the season for the Rangers, who used a four-run fifth inning to back Millwood. The veteran righty improved to 4-1 lifetime in eight career starts at Fenway. Elvis Andrus ignited the Texas scoring barrage in the fifth, lining a 3-2 fastball from Boston starter Brad Penny under the glove of a diving Julio Lugo to score Marlon Byrd. Two pitches later, Kinsler turned on a Penny offering and yanked it into the Monster Seats for a three-run homer. Boston scratched a run across in the eighth against a tiring Millwood (117 pitches), as David Ortiz plated Jason Bay with an RBI single to right field.

 

As expected, Vicente Padilla has cleared waivers, according to a club official. No other team bit on the right-hander and the salary he would have brought to a new team.

It's possible, though, that the Rangers shocked Padilla's system. He realizes that the Rangers have a chance to win this year, and he can help them do that while also building his resume for free agency. The fact that none of the other 29 teams might have told him that he needs to get things together if he wants a decent job next season, assuming the Rangers don't pick up a $12 million club option.

C.J. Wilson calmly stood on the mound and watched in earnest as Melky Cabrera's ball soared toward left field, thinking confidently he had just induced the first out of the inning. Calmness quickly became worry as left fielder David Murphy started drifting back to the fence. Suddenly, drifting turned to sprinting, sprinting to leaping and leaping to disappointment, as the ball dropped in the stands, just out of Murphy's reach. It was a two-run home run to break a tie in the eighth, and Wilson had run the emotional spectrum in a matter of seconds -- from confidence to utter disbelief. For the past two days, the Rangers have maintained the new Yankee Stadium has played fair during this series. But Wilson was victimized from a home run that he believed may have been a product of the ballpark Thursday afternoon, which sent Texas to an 8-6 loss to New York in front of 45,713. "I was like, 'Oh, popup,'" Wilson said. "That's why I didn't really react. I was like, 'Oh, OK, fly ball -- oh [man], I forgot where we are. That's not good.'" Wilson's tough outing came hours after Ron Washington praised his lefty reliever for how he has pitched of late. Wilson struck out Alex Rodriguez with the game on the line in Texas' 4-2 win on Wednesday. Cabrera's game-winning home run took center stage, but the Rangers held an early four-run lead on Thursday and seem poised for their second-straight victory. Starter Brandon McCarthy allowed just one run through the first four innings and seemed to have the powerful Yankees lineup under control. Then came the fifth inning. The first five Yankees batters reached base to begin the frame, before McCarthy was pulled in favor of reliever of Jason Jennings. Francisco Cervelli and Ramiro Pena led off with consecutive singles, and McCarthy walked Johnny Damon and Nick Swisher. That set up the crushing blow: A three-run inside-out double by Mark Teixeira that bounced down the left-field line. All told, the Yankees scored five runs in the fifth to take a 6-5 lead and end McCarthy's day after just four-plus innings. "It seemed like he just lost his location and couldn't throw the ball over the plate like he was earlier," Washington said. "In baseball, that happens." McCarthy had a different explanation for his fifth-inning meltdown. Despite the two walks, he thought his control was not the problem. He credited the Yankees hitters for their plate discipline and particularly cited the fourth ball to Swisher, which he said he expected Swisher to swing at. The Rangers battled back in the sixth, when second baseman Ian Kinsler launched a solo home run off Alfredo Aceves that clanged high on the left-field foul pole. From there, the two bullpens kept the score tied until Cabrera's eventual game-winning homer.

Rangers starting pitcher Vicente Padilla was fined an undisclosed amount by Major League Baseball for hitting Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira with a pitch in the fourth inning of Tuesday's game, a 12-3 Texas loss. Yankees starter A.J. Burnett was suspended six games for throwing near the head of Rangers right fielder Nelson Cruz in the fifth inning of that game. Burnett will appeal the suspension. Padilla was unavailable for comment. The disciplinary actions were announced in a press release before Thursday's game. On Tuesday, Padilla hit Teixeira twice, prompting Teixeira to shout at Padilla on his way to first base. Catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia immediately jumped from behind the plate to calm Teixeira and stop the situation from escalating further. After the game, Teixeira intimated the pitches thrown at him were intentional and that Padilla has a history of purposefully plunking opposing batters. Padilla maintained both pitches were unintentional. Padilla and Teixeira were teammates with Texas from 2006-07. A half-inning after Teixeira was hit the second time, Burnett threw up and in to Cruz, prompting the umpires to warn both benches. There were no other incidents the rest of the game or during Wednesday's game. Before Wednesday's game, reports surfaced that Padilla had been placed on waivers, but the decision has not been confirmed by the club.

Things were starting to unravel for Scott Feldman, and he wasn't sure why. Suddenly, he couldn't find the strike zone in the third inning on Wednesday and began to look increasingly uncomfortable on the mound with each ball he threw. After Feldman walked the bases loaded, Alex Rodriguez stepped to the plate with one out and a chance to quickly eliminate the Rangers' three-run lead. Then, as fast as Feldman lost his command, it came back. One pitch could have swung the momentum the Yankees' way. Turns out, all it took was one pitch to put Feldman back on track. Rodriguez bounced into a 5-5-3 double play, and Feldman settled down, allowing just two runs over 6 1/3 innings. It proved to be the turning point in the Rangers' 4-2 victory over the Yankees in front of 44,452 at Yankee Stadium. With the win, Texas (31-21) reclaimed the best record in the American League by a half-game over New York (31-22). "That was huge for me," Feldman said of the third-inning double play. "I really lost the feel for what I was doing out there. I just totally lost the feel for it. And then I made a pretty good pitch, and the play that [third baseman] Michael [Young] made was probably the play of the game, and it really saved us." From that point on, Feldman was nearly flawless. He retired 10 of the next 11 hitters he faced, with the only baserunner reaching on a throwing error by shortstop Elvis Andrus. After issuing those three walks in the third, Feldman did not walk another hitter. To keep the ball on the ground, Feldman relies on his hard sinker -- a pitch that's especially important when playing in Yankee Stadium, a ballpark already garnering a reputation as a hitters' paradise. Feldman recorded 11 outs on the ground, including two double plays, and did not give up a single fly ball to the outfield. Feldman exited with a runner on first and one out in the seventh, after allowing a solo home run to Jorge Posada earlier in the frame. Relievers C.J. Wilson and Frank Francisco combined to surrender just one hit through the next 2 2/3 innings to ensure Feldman would improve to 5-0 on the season. "I thought he mixed well," manager Ron Washington said. "He didn't put anything where they could get the part of the bat on early. They were beating the ball into the ground, and that's when you know Feldman does have his best stuff." The Rangers immediately jumped on Yankees starter Andy Pettitte, scoring three runs before Feldman even took the mound. Right fielder Nelson Cruz drove in the first run with a single, scoring Ian Kinsler. Two batters later, center fielder Marlon Byrd hit into a run-scoring fielder's choice. The final run of the frame crossed on an RBI hit by Chris Davis. That was all Feldman needed to shut down arguably the best offensive team in the AL. Once he got Rodriguez to hit into the double play to end the third inning, it was smooth sailing. "That was one of the plays of the game," Andrus said. "That was a great play for [Young]. After that, everything was cooled down. It was a bad thing for them. We kind of picked it up after that play. After that, it was our game." Before the game, Washington stressed the importance of quickly forgetting about Tuesday night's 12-3 Rangers loss and focusing on getting back into the win column. Afterward, Washington said he was proud of his team's short memory and resilience.

That's the word according to D Magazine's Evan Grant, who is in New York and Ken Rosenthal of FoxSports.com. Here is Rosenthal's explanation for the move:

Rival teams can submit claims on Padilla until 1 p.m. ET Friday. Any team that claims him would assume his remaining salary of approximately $8 million.

Few clubs are in position to absorb such a payroll hit, making it doubtful that Padilla, 31, will be claimed.

The pitcher's history of moodiness and inconsis tency also works against the Rangers' quest to clear his money and gain financial flexibility for other moves.

Padilla, making his first start since coming off the disabled list with a strained right shoulder, allowed seven runs in 3 2/3 innings in a 12-3 loss to the Yankees on Tuesday night.

He is said to be healthy, and went 2-0 with a 1.57 ERA in his three starts before going on the DL. For the season, however, he is 3-3 with a 5.57 ERA.

If Padilla goes unclaimed, the Rangers can attempt to send him to Class AAA, but they are unlikely to pursue such a move.

BTW, this is the final year of his contract, but there is a club option for 2010.

If they can move Padilla, that would create some salary space to make a move to improve the club at the deadline. But we've talked about on this blog before that one of the decisions the club had to make was whether Padilla would be back in 2010. The answer certainly looks like no. And that would certainly save some money.

How much do you think last night's performance had to do with this decision? Are they tired of the hit batters? Is it the fact that Padilla is inconsistent and has spent some time on the DL in the last few seasons? Maybe all are factors.

Heading into the Rangers' road trip against the Yankees and Red Sox, manager Ron Washington said he just wanted to see his team play well and stay competitive against two of the best teams in baseball, no matter the outcome. By those standards, the first game of the trip fell well short. Hours after star outfielder Josh Hamilton was put on the disabled list, the Rangers' pitching staff was hit hard in a 12-3 loss to the Yankees on Tuesday night in front of 43,948 at Yankee Stadium. New York (31-21) erupted for a seven-run fourth inning to blow the game open off starting pitcher Vicente Padilla, and now leads the Rangers (30-21) by a half-game for first place in the American League standings. "We could take a lesson from them," outfielder Marlon Byrd said. "They put a beating on us." Padilla, who hadn't pitched since May 16 because of a strained right shoulder, struggled with his command all night and allowed seven earned runs in just 3 2/3 innings. He surrendered seven hits and was plagued by four walks and two hit batsmen, but said afterward he felt healthy and that his velocity was acceptable. The problem was his location. The Rangers took an early 3-2 lead, when right fielder Nelson Cruz blasted a three-run home run in the third inning off Yankees starter A.J. Burnett. But it was short-lived. New York opened the floodgates in the bottom of the fourth to take complete control. "We couldn't stop them, and they just opened up seven runs right there in the fourth inning," Washington said. "That killed us right there." Padilla led off the frame by walking Melky Cabrera, who was bunted to second by Brett Gardner. After Derek Jeter walked, Johnny Damon lined a hit into right field to score the tying run. Texas had an opportunity to escape without further damage, when Alex Rodriguez came up with the bases loaded and one out. He hit what looked to be a double-play grounder to second, but Mark Teixeira slid hard into the bag to break it up and allow the go-ahead run to cross the plate.

"That really killed us, because I think if we got off the field with the score 4-3 right there, it's still in striking distance," Washington said. "It's a little different [if] he's coming out there trying to pitch in a 4-3 game than coming out there and pitching in a [9-3] game."

Center fielder Josh Hamilton will be placed on the 15-day disabled list, assuming tonight's game against New York doesn't get rained out, with what was described by assistant general manager Thad Levine as an abdominal strain that effectively is a form of a sports hernia.

Hamilton will seek a second opinion, though the Rangers haven't found a doctor to do another evaluation yet. For now, the prescribed treatment is rest with anti-inflammatories. Levine said it's possible Hamilton could return at the end of his DL stay, but if surgery is required, Hamilton could miss more than two months.

Brandon Boggs will be recalled from Triple A Oklahoma City for tonight's game if there is no rainout. Boggs has already joined the team at Yankee Stadium.

Second baseman Ian Kinsler and outfielder Josh Hamilton continue to have the best shots among Rangers at starting for the American League in the 2009 All-Star Game on July 14 at 7 p.m. CT in St. Louis. Kinsler continues to lead all American League second basemen in voting (787,619), according to the latest balloting update on Tuesday. Kinsler is up on the AL East, with Dustin Pedroia of the Red Sox second, Robinson Cano of the Yankees in third, Aaron Hill of the Blue Jays fourth and Placido Polanco of the Tigers fifth. Hamilton, who was in the American League starting lineup in 2008, is second among outfielders (685,463), just behind Jason Bay of the Red Sox and ahead of Ichiro Suzuki of the Mariners. Hamilton put on a show during last year's Home Run Derby and has indicated that he would like to participate again this year if selected. "If I go, I'd probably do it," Hamilton said. "The only reason people are voting for me is so they can see me in the Home Run Derby." Hamilton hit a record 28 home runs in the first round of the Derby last year at Yankee Stadium before losing to Justin Morneau in the finals. Three of his blasts were measured at over 500 feet. Fans can cast their votes for starters up to 25 times with the 2009 All-Star Game Sprint Online Ballot at MLB.com and all 30 club sites until July 2 at 10:59 p.m. CT. Starting rosters will be announced during the 2009 All-Star Game Selection Show presented by Chevrolet on TBS on July 5. Baseball fans around the world will then be able to select the final player on each team via the 2009 All-Star Game Sprint Final Vote at MLB.com. And the voting doesn't end there. Fans will have the opportunity to participate in the official voting for the Ted Williams Most Valuable Player Award presented by Chevrolet at the Midsummer Classic via the 2009 All-Star Game Sprint MVP Vote at MLB.com. The All-Star Game will be televised nationally by FOX and around the world by Major League Baseball International. ESPN Radio will provide exclusive national radio play-by-play, while MLB.com will offer extensive online coverage. The Rangers continue to do well in the overall voting. Michael Young is second among third basemen (441,912), shortstop Elvis Andrus (393,906) and catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia (401,375) are third at their positions and first baseman Chris Davis is fifth (320,912). In the outfield, Nelson Cruz is ninth (390,903).

Nowadays, it seems that players who show impressive ability in the Minors are expected to instantly become impact players in the bigs. It's a tall order for most young players, who often struggle while learning the ropes at the game's top level. However, Ian Kinsler was one of the few highly touted youngsters who seemingly made the adjustment with ease. Many would point out that the 26-year-old was simply born to play baseball. Which is why Kinsler is an ideal subject for the fifth Club MLB Kids Mailbag, where young fans are encouraged to e-mail questions they have for the Rangers second baseman. A native of Tucson, Ariz., Kinsler emerged as a teenage star when he led the Canyon del Oro High School baseball team to state titles in 1997 and 2000. He turned down the chance to sign with the Diamondbacks in '00 and '01, opting instead to attend college. The budding star showed off his skills for multiple schools, starting at Central Arizona College before moving on to Arizona State University and then to the University of Missouri. He finally signed to become a pro after the 2003 season, when the Rangers made him a 17th-round Draft pick. Kinsler's first Minor League campaign was fairly quiet, but he erupted with a .345 average, 20 homers 99 RBIs and 23 stolen bases across two levels the following season in '04. Bumped up to Triple-A in 2005, he proved capable of handling the leap by hitting .274 with 23 homers, 94 RBIs and 19 steals. By that point, Rangers fans were waiting on the edge of their seats for this talented second baseman to show his stuff in the Majors. After being handed the starting second-base job in Spring Training '06, Kinsler surged to a .476 average through eight regular-season games before landing on the disabled list with a dislocated thumb. He missed over a month's worth of action, but he rebounded to finish the season with a .286 average, 14 homers, 55 RBIs and 11 steals in 120 games, strong numbers for a rookie. Kinsler got off to another sizzling start in '07, tying the team record with nine home runs in April. He was sidelined by injury again, this time missing a month in the middle of the season with a stress fracture in his left foot, but he managed to set new personal highs with 20 homers, 61 RBIs, 96 runs and 23 steals. In 2008, Kinsler emerged as true breakout player. The multi-talented second baseman put together a 25-game hit streak leading up to his first All-Star Game appearance, and he was pacing the American League in batting average, hits, extra-base hits, total bases and runs at the close of July. Unfortunately, injury struck for the third time in his brief Major League career, and Kinsler was forced to undergo season-ending surgery for a sports hernia in early August. Still, he was able to finish '08 with new career highs in average (.319), RBIs (71), runs (102) and steals (26). Now in his fourth big league season, Kinsler is no doubt aiming to avoid the injury bug this time around. With the Rangers having emerged as contenders in the AL West, he has extra incentive to remain healthy and reach a new plateau of excellence.

Drafting high school pitchers is an inexact science at best. No group of players is more difficult to develop. That doesn't stop scouts from placing high expectations on them, though, and Shelby Miller, a right-hander at Brownwood High School in Texas, certainly isn't immune to high praise. "I don't notice them as much as I used to," said Miller, who attracts 30-40 scouts for every game he pitches and appears destined to be a first-round pick in the June 9 First-Year Player Draft. "There were over 200 scouts at one game I pitched, me against Tyler Matzek. Golf carts everywhere." It's Miller's fastball that draws the scouts. His heat is hotter than the central Texas sun during a summer day game. Miller has been clocked at 98 mph, the fastest for a high school pitcher in the nation this season. It causes him to be mentioned in the same sentences as other fabled flamethrowers from Texas -- Nolan Ryan, Kerry Wood and Josh Beckett, to name a few. "It's definitely exciting to hear my name with those pitchers, well-, well-respected athletes," Miller said. "Wood pitched back-to-back games in the state tournament. He's great. Nolan and Josh are unbelievable talents. That's who you think about when you think about pitchers." Miller is 10-1 this season. In 73 innings, he has struck out 146 batters, and allowed just 17 runs. On Saturday, he struck out a season-high 17 in a complete-game three-hitter. Brownwood catcher Dillon Ellis knows how painful Miller's fastball can be. During a game against Seminole High School, Ellis thought his coach was calling for a curveball. Miller thought fastball. Needless to say, the result wasn't pretty. Ellis turned his glove around and Miller's fastball hit him on the top of his left middle finger. He finished the game, but his fingernail is still bruised and black -- nine days later.