SB Nation Dallas - Rangers Beat Jered Weaver, Win Crucial Angels Serieshttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48887/dallas-fave.png2011-08-28T22:37:09-05:00http://dallas.sbnation.com/rss/stream/21500032011-08-28T22:37:09-05:002011-08-28T22:37:09-05:00Rangers 9, Angels 5 - Graph, Chart, Poll
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<p><b>Magic Number:</b> 26</p>
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<th class="td-left"> <span>Final - 8.28.2011 </span> </th> <th> 1 </th> <th> 2 </th> <th> 3 </th> <th> 4 </th> <th> 5 </th> <th> 6 </th> <th> 7 </th> <th> 8 </th> <th> 9 </th> <th>R</th>
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<td class="td-name"><span class="loss"> <a href="https://www.halosheaven.com/">Los Angeles Angels</a> </span></td>
<td>1</td>
<td>1</td>
<td>2</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>1</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>0</td>
<td class="highlight">5</td>
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<td class="td-name"><span class="win"> <a href="https://www.lonestarball.com/">Texas Rangers</a> </span></td>
<td>0</td>
<td>1</td>
<td>3</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>4</td>
<td>1</td>
<td>X</td>
<td class="highlight">9</td>
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<p>Always nice when a big game goes from tight and stressful to a comfortable victory. And very nice to see the Angels' short-rest gamble with Weaver fail horribly.<br><br>Please be okay, Nelson Cruz.</p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://www.fangraphs.com/livewins.aspx?date=2011-08-28&team=Rangers&dh=0&season=2011">FanGraphs Win Expectancy</a></p>
<p><a href="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/698871/wpa.png" target="_blank"><img alt="Wpa_medium" class="photo" src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/698871/wpa_medium.png"></a></p>
<p><b>Biggest Contributions</b> (<a target="_blank" href="http://www.fangraphs.com/library/index.php/misc/wpa/">What is this, I don't even. . . ?</a>)</p>
<ol>
<li>
<span>Josh Hamilton</span> 30%</li>
<li>
<span>Elvis Andrus</span> 19%</li>
<li>
<span>Ian Kinsler</span> 15%</li>
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<p><a target="_blank" href="http://www.brooksbaseball.net/pfxVB/zoneTrack.php?month=8&day=28&year=2011&game=gid_2011_08_28_anamlb_texmlb_1%2F&prevDate=828">Jim Wolf's Strikezone from Brooks Baseball</a></p>
<p><a href="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/698879/strikezone.png" target="_blank"><img alt="Strikezone_medium" class="photo" src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/698879/strikezone_medium.png"></a> <br id="1314588847195"></p>
https://dallas.sbnation.com/texas-rangers/2011/8/28/2390451/rangers-9-angels-5-graph-chart-pollRobbie Griffin2011-08-28T11:49:50-05:002011-08-28T11:49:50-05:00Rangers Take On Angels, Jered Weaver In Rubber Match
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<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.lonestarball.com/">Texas Rangers</a> and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.halosheaven.com/">Los Angeles Angels</a> are set to conclude a three game series on Sunday night after splitting the first two games. Texas pounded one of Los Angeles' two aces, <span>Dan Haren</span>, on Friday night en route to an 11-7 victory. On Saturday, though, the Angels had their revenge, beating up on <span>C.J. Wilson</span> as the Angels won 8-4. Now on Sunday night, the Rangers will have to face another ace - this time in the form of <span>Jered Weaver</span>.</p>
<p>Weaver will be making the start on Sunday night on only three days rest - the first time in his career he's pitched on short rest. To date, Weaver has been one of the very best pitchers in baseball, with a 15-6 record to go along with a microscopic 2.03 ERA and .97 WHIP. Weaver has held opposing hitters to an average of .206 while only issuing 44 walks in 195.1 innings on the season. </p>
<p>Weaver has made four starts against Texas this year and has gone 2-1 with a 1.86 ERA in 29 innings, striking out 25 and walking just four.</p>
<p><span>Colby Lewis</span> will start for Texas on Sunday night, looking to keep the ball in the park. In Saturday's win over Texas, the Angels belted five home runs. Lewis' downfall this year has been home runs, as he's surrendered 30 in 165.2 innings on the season, including two in his most recent start against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.overthemonster.com/">Red Sox</a>.</p>
<p>Still, Lewis' numbers remain respectable on the season: his ERA sits at 4.07 and his WHIP is a cool 1.20. </p>
<p>With a win, the Rangers would pull three games ahead of the Angels in the standings, two up in the loss column. If Texas loses, though, the teams will be even in the loss column with Texas holding an official one game edge in the standings.</p>
<p>First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. CDT from Rangers Ballpark in Arlington. </p>
https://dallas.sbnation.com/texas-rangers/2011/8/28/2389651/rangers-take-on-angels-jered-weaver-in-rubber-matchJP Starkey2011-08-26T23:32:55-05:002011-08-26T23:32:55-05:00Nelson Cruz Leaves Stamp On Pennant Race
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<p><b>Magic Number:</b> 28</p>
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<th class="td-left"> <span>Final - 8.26.2011 </span> </th> <th> 1 </th> <th> 2 </th> <th> 3 </th> <th> 4 </th> <th> 5 </th> <th> 6 </th> <th> 7 </th> <th> 8 </th> <th> 9 </th> <th>R</th> <th>H</th> <th>E</th>
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<td class="td-name"><span class="loss"> <a href="https://www.halosheaven.com/">Los Angeles Angels</a> </span></td>
<td>0</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>1</td>
<td>4</td>
<td>2</td>
<td class="highlight">7</td>
<td class="highlight">14</td>
<td class="highlight">1</td>
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<td class="td-name"><span class="win"> <a href="https://www.lonestarball.com/">Texas Rangers</a> </span></td>
<td>0</td>
<td>2</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>1</td>
<td>4</td>
<td>4</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>X</td>
<td class="highlight">11</td>
<td class="highlight">18</td>
<td class="highlight">0</td>
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<td colspan="13">WP: <span>Derek Holland</span> (12 - 5) <br> LP: <span>Dan Haren</span> (13 - 7)</td>
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<p>With all the stress that has been born out of the collapse in the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.overthemonster.com/">Red Sox</a> series, the Angels' white hot run, and the AL West race becoming somewhat close again, there has always been one reason Rangers fans could rest a little easily: they root for the better team, and tonight Texas -- led by Nellie Cruz -- served notice of that.</p>
<p>The Angels' are rolling with the strategy that starting their three best pitchers this series -- even if two are on short rest -- is what they need to win the division, and so far it is not working out. Dan Haren, the pitcher not on short rest, lasted only in to the fifth inning, surrendering a staggering 11 hits and seven runs. That means the Rangers have now scored 16 runs in 16 and a third innings against Haren this year, making the absurdly one-sided trade the Angels pulled to get him a little easier to stomach.</p>
<p>On the subject of absurdity was the evening Nelson Cruz had. He began the scoring in the second inning by doubling home <span>Mitch Moreland</span> and <span>Mike Napoli</span>, then added the third run with a solo shot that nearly found its way all the way to the top of Green's Hill. An infield single in the fifth loaded the bases, setting up a <span>David Murphy</span> grand slam that opened the game up, and a three-run blast in the sixth capped off the scoring. Only one scoring play -- a Mitch Moreland double to score <span>Michael Young</span> -- did not involve Nelson Cruz at all. In short, he was the bright and shiny star of this big game.</p>
<p>Credit should also go to Murphy, who took a break from his awful year to produce the shot that made it a blow out as one of his three hits, and Derek Holland, who showed up as Good Dutch Friday. Holland struggled a tad finding the zone, which produced a couple of walks, but had the stuff to make up for it with eight swinging strikes, six strikeouts, and eight scattered hits which were rarely well hit. He wore down some in the seventh, allowing a few well hit balls to break up his then-shut out, but by then it was 11-1 with two outs in the seventh, and he had done his job well.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, the silver cloud needed a black lining, and that came from the Texas bullpen. In the eighth, there was <span>Yoshinori Tateyama</span> allowing four singles, including a three-run shot by Russel Branyan. In the ninth, then, <span>Mark Lowe</span> surrendered a two-run blast to <span>Howie Kendrick</span>. A win is a win, and a four run victory is still a more-than-solid win, but finishing there after being seven outs from an 11 run victory leaves a bad taste in the mouth. Even more so when it comes with another Rangers' bullpen disaster; though, it should be pointed out, both Lowe and Tateyama have been decent relievers in '11.</p>
<p>Four runs or 11 runs, the Rangers stretched the division lead back up to three with only 29 games to go, and knocked two games off the magic number. There are five more games to go with the Angels, but the better team has a not-too-small lead for this late in the season.</p>
<h4>GAME CHARTS</h4>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://www.fangraphs.com/livewins.aspx?date=2011-08-26&team=Rangers&dh=0&season=2011">FanGraphs Win Expectancy</a></p>
<p><a href="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/697402/wpa.png" target="_blank"><img alt="Wpa_medium" class="photo" src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/697402/wpa_medium.png"></a> <br id="1314419397274"></p>
<p><b>Biggest Contributions</b> (<a target="_blank" href="http://www.fangraphs.com/library/index.php/misc/wpa/">What is this, I don't even. . . ?</a>)</p>
<ol>
<li>Derek Holland 27%</li>
<li>Nelson Cruz 19%</li>
<li>David Murphy 5%</li>
</ol>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://www.brooksbaseball.net/pfxVB/zoneTrack.php?month=8&day=26&year=2011&game=gid_2011_08_26_anamlb_texmlb_1%2F&prevDate=826">Ron Kulpa's Strikezone from Brooks Baseball</a></p>
<p><a href="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/697398/strikezone.png" target="_blank"><img alt="Strikezone_medium" class="photo" src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/697398/strikezone_medium.png"></a></p>
<h3><a target="_blank" href="http://dallas.sbnation.com/texas-rangers/2011/8/26/2387426/rangers-11-angels-7-player-of-the-game">VOTE FOR THE PLAYER OF THE GAME!</a></h3>
https://dallas.sbnation.com/texas-rangers/2011/8/26/2387406/nelson-cruz-leaves-stamp-on-pennant-raceRobbie Griffin2011-08-26T22:29:50-05:002011-08-26T22:29:50-05:00Rangers 11, Angels 7 - Player Of The Game
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<p></p>↵<hr class="widget_boundry_marker">↵<div class="pane sports_data_widget record clearfix">↵<div class="pane-body clearfix">↵<div class="col sdw-rec-score">↵<p><span> 75 - 58 </span></p>↵</div>↵<div class="col sdw-rec-details">↵<p class="gamesback"><label>Games Back:</label> 0</p>↵<p class="streak"><label>Streak:</label> Won 1</p>↵<p class="gamesleft"><label>Games Left:</label> 29</p>↵</div>↵</div>↵</div>↵<hr class="widget_boundry_marker">↵↵<p><br id="1314415625107"> The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.lonestarball.com/">Rangers</a> extended their AL West lead back to three games, while knocking two off the magic number, on the strength of a strong <span>Derek Holland</span> start and two Cruz Missiles. Vote for the player of the game!</p>↵
https://dallas.sbnation.com/texas-rangers/2011/8/26/2387426/rangers-11-angels-7-player-of-the-gameRobbie Griffin2011-08-26T09:04:07-05:002011-08-26T09:04:07-05:00Rangers Vs. Angels: Texas Takes On Haren, Looks To Snap Skid
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<p>Dan Haren starts for the Angels on Friday night as the Rangers look to snap their losing skid and extend their AL West lead.</p> <p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.lonestarball.com/">Texas Rangers</a> open up a pivotal three game series with the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.halosheaven.com/">Los Angeles Angels</a> on Friday as the Rangers look to extend their AL West lead and snap a three game losing streak. </p>
<p>Los Angeles has cut Texas' lead in the AL West to just two games - and only one in the loss column. The Angels are on a six game winning streak, starting with <span>Mark Trumbo</span>'s walk off home run off of <span>Mike Adams</span> last week. Since then, the Rangers have dropped five of their last seven games as well, losing two of three to the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.southsidesox.com/">White Sox</a> over the weekend before losing three of four to the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.overthemonster.com/">Red Sox</a> to begin a homestand.</p>
<p>The Angels will send <span>Dan Haren</span> to the mound as they look to draw even in the loss column with the Rangers. Haren has been among the very best pitchers in baseball this season, with the sixth highest WAR among starting pitchers this year. Only <span>Roy Halladay</span>, <span>Justin Verlander</span>, <span>CC Sabathia</span>, <span>Clayton Kershaw</span> and teammate <span>Jered Weaver</span> have posted higher WARs to date. </p>
<p>Haren takes a 13-6 record into Friday's contest, with a 2.98 ERA and .98 WHIP to go along with it. Amazingly, Haren has only walked 26 batters in 190.1 innings of work this season, while striking out 156.</p>
<p>Texas will need the good <span>Derek Holland</span> to show up on Friday, as he opposes Haren. Holland was rocked in his last start, allowing five runs on eight hits while walking two in just three and a third innings of work. On the year, Holland has a 4.42 ERA, .275 BAA and 1.43 WHIP headed into Friday's showdown against the Angels.</p>
<p>First pitch from Rangers Ballpark in Arlington is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. CDT.</p>
https://dallas.sbnation.com/texas-rangers/2011/8/26/2385844/rangers-vs-angels-texas-takes-on-haren-looks-to-snap-skidJP Starkey