Game 121: Rangers vs. Red Sox

Go Rangers! Now, today, the Rangers move on to game two. Let's just try to forget game 1 of this series. It really makes me want to throw up.

Here's a check list the Rangers may want to focus on in the off season...

1. Acquire an ace. I have heard it said that the Rangers are going to spend $$$ this off season on a high quality ace pitcher. Who will that be? I am not at liberty to say.
2. Ackowledge the fielding problems. Too many errors leading to too many unearned runs.
3. Sign Josh Hamilton for life (long-term deal). He's going to be worth it. And I do not want to hear another word about him playing for the Yankees someday.

I have to confess, my heart isn't in it today. After leaving the Airhogs game in the 6th inning, with the Hogs up 12-4, I turn the radio on in the car to find the Rangers ahead in the seventh. Keep in mind that the Airhogs game started an HOUR after the Rangers/Boston game. And they were both in the seventh inning. Wow. And then to listen to the game and hear the Rangers lose the game... well, it just broke my heart.

Alas, I shall push through.

Lester has 24 starts this season and has two complete game shutouts. His 3.23 ERA this season is his best by far. The Sox are 8-2 in his last ten starts. Lester is 6-1 over the same stretch. He has gone 7 innings or more in nine of his last ten starts. He has given 10 HRs in 153.1 innings. He started a game against the Rangers back on April 19th and grabbed the win after pitching 6.1 innings. He gave up three runs off of 10 hits and two walks. He gave up a solo HR to Josh Hamilton in that game. He has given up more than 4 earned runs twice this season (Astros and Twins).

He has two career starts against the Rangers and has no record with a 5.06 ERA and a 1.97 WHIP. The Rangers hit a .326 batting average on him. He could get slapped again today, however, I am still doubtful. I mean, the Ranger have only 34 runs scored in the last two games and amassed 40 hits over that time. WOW. Byrd has 9 hits over the last two games.

The current roster is batting a healthy .321 on Lester.

Mendoza doesn't have as good a numbers as Lester. He has one start against Boston, going 0-1 with a 21.00 ERA. He gave up 7 runs on 5 hits and 3 walks. One of the hits happened to be a dinger. Boston hits him for a .357 batting average. Batters hit him for a .324 batting average this season, so things are not looking up for the Rangers in this game. Ortiz is 1-2 with a HR and 4 RBIs. The current roster is 4-12 with 2 doubles, 1 HR and 5 RBIs.

Forecast: Mendoza gets slapped around... maybe for the last time this season - prompting a "send down to work things out"... and someone else gets called up to start. I don't think it will be a repeat of yesterday's sloppiness, but it could still be ugly. Boston over-runs the Rangers with a 8-1. Johnny Out.

Home Plate