SB Nation Dallas - Rangers Vs. Blue Jays: Texas Sweeps Toronto With 12-6 Win On Sundayhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48887/dallas-fave.png2012-05-27T18:44:43-05:00http://dallas.sbnation.com/rss/stream/28085522012-05-27T18:44:43-05:002012-05-27T18:44:43-05:00Yu Darvish Dealing With Stiff Back
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<p>Despite coming away with the win on Sunday, <a href="https://www.lonestarball.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Texas Rangers</a> starting pitcher <span>Yu Darvish</span> looked shaky. Darvish walked another three batters in just five innings of work, and only struck out three batters in the contest, marking the lowest amount of strikeouts he's amassed in any game as a Ranger.</p>
<p>Turns out, Darvish wasn't feeling 100% on Sunday. Darvish was dealing with a stiff back, and <a target="_blank" href="http://espn.go.com/blog/dallas/texas-rangers/post/_/id/4884314/rangers-injury-update-yu-darvish-back-ogando-hand">complained about it after the fifth inning</a>. Unsurprisingly, Darvish was lifted after complaining about the stiffness, which was likely for the best. Darvish wasn't effective, and there's no need to continue to trot him out there on a hot afternoon -- especially since he had already thrown 93 pitches through five innings.</p>
<p>Darvish is set to square off again against <span>C.J. Wilson</span> this weekend in Anaheim -- assuming Wilson can make the start. <a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/billplunkettocr/status/206869379412017154">Wilson was removed from his start today</a> because of a blister on his left pitching hand.</p>
https://dallas.sbnation.com/texas-rangers/2012/5/27/3047255/texas-rangers-yu-darvish-dealing-with-stiff-backJP Starkey2012-05-27T17:07:54-05:002012-05-27T17:07:54-05:00Rangers Vs. Blue Jays Final Score: Texas Completes Sweep With 12-6 Win
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<p>A seven run second inning propelled the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.lonestarball.com/">Texas Rangers</a> to a 12-6 win over the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bluebirdbanter.com/">Toronto Blue Jays</a> in the finale of a three game set on Sunday. </p>
<p>Things went south for Toronto starter <span>Kyle Drabek</span> in the second. The Rangers scored their first run on a bases loaded walk to <span>Mitch Moreland</span> to make the score 1-0. <span>Ian Kinsler</span> and <span>Elvis Andrus</span> followed with doubles to extend the lead to 5-0. <span>Adrian Beltre</span> then sent a homer into the left centerfield stands to make the score 7-0.</p>
<p>The Blue Jays came back with a single run in the third but a two run homer by Ian Kinsler sent Kyle Drabek to the showers and extended the Rangers lead to 9-1. </p>
<p><span>Michael Young</span> went 3 for 4 for the Rangers while Kinsler, Andrus and <span>Mike Napoli</span> all had two hits each. Kinsler finished with four RBIs. <span>Colby Rasmus</span> added three hits for Toronto. </p>
<p><span>Yu Darvish</span> gets his seventh win of the season pitching five innings while allowing five hits and three runs. He struck out three and walked three while throwing 93 pitches. Drabek takes the loss after getting hammered for eight hits and nine runs in just three innings. </p>
<p><i style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'Liberation Sans', FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 17px;">For more on the Rangers, be sure to check back here throughout the summer at <a style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #c82527; font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.dallas.sbnation.com/" target="_blank">SB Nation Dallas</a>, as well as <a style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #c82527; font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.lonestarball.com/" target="_blank">Lone Star Ball, SB Nation's Rangers Blog</a>.</i></p>
https://dallas.sbnation.com/texas-rangers/2012/5/27/3047123/rangers-vs-blue-jays-final-scoreKris Willis2012-05-27T12:41:30-05:002012-05-27T12:41:30-05:00Rangers Vs. Blue Jays: Mike Napoli Returns To The Texas Lineup
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<p>John Farrell and Ron Washington have announced their lineups for Sunday's series finale between the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bluebirdbanter.com/">Toronto Blue Jays</a> and the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.lonestarball.com/">Texas Rangers</a>. <span>Mike Napoli</span> will start for the Rangers after missing the previous two games with a stomach ailment. </p>
<p>Pitching on the mound for both teams will be <span>Yu Darvish</span> (6-2, 3.05 ERA) for the Rangers and <span>Kyle Drabek</span> (4-4, 3.27 ERA) for the Blue Jays. </p>
<p><b>Toronto Blue Jays Lineup</b></p>
<p>1. <span>Yunel Escobar</span> (R) SS<br>2. <span>Colby Rasmus</span> (L) CF<br>3. <span>Jose Bautista</span> (R) RF<br>4. <span>Edwin Encarnacion</span> (R) DH<br>5. <span>J.P. Arencibia</span> (R) C<br>6. <span>Eric Thames</span> (L) LF<br>7. <span>Brett Lawrie</span> (R) 3B<br>8. <span>David Cooper</span> (L) 1B<br>9. <span>Omar Vizquel</span> (S) 2B</p>
<p><b>Texas Rangers Lineup</b></p>
<p>1. <span>Ian Kinsler</span> (R) DH<br>2. <span>Elvis Andrus</span> (R) SS<br>3. <span>Josh Hamilton</span> (L) CF<br>4. <span>Adrian Beltre</span> (R) 3B<br>5. <span>Michael Young</span> (R) 2B<br>6. <span>David Murphy</span> (L) LF<br>7. Nelson Cruz (R) RF<br>8. Mike Napoli (R) C<br>9. <span>Mitch Moreland</span> (L) 1B</p>
<p><i style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'Liberation Sans', FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 17px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">For more on the Rangers, be sure to check back here throughout the summer at <a style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: #c82527; font-weight: bold; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;" target="_blank" href="http://www.dallas.sbnation.com/">SB Nation Dallas</a>, as well as <a style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: #c82527; font-weight: bold; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;" target="_blank" href="http://www.lonestarball.com/">Lone Star Ball, SB Nation's Rangers Blog</a>.</i></p>
https://dallas.sbnation.com/texas-rangers/2012/5/27/3046756/rangers-vs-blue-jays-mike-napoli-returns-to-the-texas-lineupEddie Maisonet2012-05-27T08:01:05-05:002012-05-27T08:01:05-05:00Rangers Vs. Blue Jays Time, TV, Radio Info And More
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<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.lonestarball.com/">Texas Rangers</a> outlasted the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bluebirdbanter.com/">Toronto Blue Jays</a> on Saturday and will go for a sweep of the three-game series on Sunday. The Rangers will send <span>Yu Darvish</span> (6-2, 3.05 ERA) to the mound and the Blue Jays will counter with right hander <span>Kyle Drabek</span> (4-4, 3.27 ERA).</p>
<p>Darvish is coming off one of his worst starts of the season and has been battling control issues. Darvish has walked 32 batters this season which is the fifth most in the American League. In his only previous meeting against the Blue Jays, Darvish allowed one run and four hits while striking out nine in a 4-1 Texas win. </p>
<p><b>Game Date/Time: </b>Sunday, May 27, 2:05 p.m. CT</p>
<p><b>Location:</b> Rangers Ballpark in Arlington, Arlington, Texas</p>
<p><b>TV: </b>Fox Sports Southwest</p>
<p><b>Radio: </b>103.3 FM</p>
<p><b>Online Streaming: </b>MLB.tv</p>
<p><i style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'Liberation Sans', FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">For more on the Rangers, be sure to check back here throughout the summer at <a style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: #c82527; font-weight: bold; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;" target="_blank" href="http://www.dallas.sbnation.com/">SB Nation Dallas</a>, as well as <a style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: #c82527; font-weight: bold; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;" target="_blank" href="http://www.lonestarball.com/">Lone Star Ball, SB Nation's Rangers Blog</a>.</i></p>
https://dallas.sbnation.com/texas-rangers/2012/5/27/3046410/rangers-vs-blue-jays-time-tv-radio-info-and-moreKris Willis2012-05-27T06:49:39-05:002012-05-27T06:49:39-05:00The Rangers' Frustrating Saturday Failures
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<p>73%. Those are the chances of winning when you get the lead runner on in the bottom of the ninth of a tied game, which is what the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.lonestarball.com/">Rangers</a> did in yesterday's game against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bluebirdbanter.com/">Blue Jays</a>. They also failed to end it that inning, of course. Bunting, by the way, lowers the chances to 72%, <a target="_blank" href="http://dallas.sbnation.com/texas-rangers/2012/5/26/3045652/ron-washingtons-bunting-strategy-doesnt-go-over-well-on-twitter">if you wanted more fuel for that fire</a>.</p>
<p>The Rangers would see those exact expectations for victory -- 73% -- three more times, with the lead-off runner reaching first. Four straight innings, one of the best offenses in baseball failed in a situation where an average offense can expect to fail in only about one out of every four attempts. When <span>Ian Kinsler</span> reached third in the 11th, their chances got as high as 84% without ending the game.</p>
<p>Yesterday's game was set up to be one of the most frustrating games a fan can possibly be expected to watch. Of course, we now know the Rangers failed repeatedly just so they could set up something extraordinary.</p>
<p>Their chances of victory dropped as low as 11% in the 13th, before opening the inning at 12%. A fifth straight inning of the lead-off hitter reaching first resulted only in a 22% chance this time, but <span>Elvis Andrus's</span> double brought it up to 48%, and <a target="_blank" href="http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2012_05_26_tormlb_texmlb_1&mode=wrap#gid=2012_05_26_tormlb_texmlb_1&mode=video">the next hit</a>, obviously, took it all the way to 100%.</p>
<p>Beautiful percentages. The chart after the jump probably looks like your heart felt, but isn't all that frustration worth it if you get to see that brand of incredible?</p>
<p><iframe src="http://www.fangraphs.com/graphframe.aspx?config=0&static=158132&type=livewins&num=0&h=450&w=450&date=2012-05-26&team=Rangers&dh=0" style="border:1px solid black;" frameborder="0" height="450" scrolling="no" width="450"></iframe><br><span style="font-size:9pt;">Source: <a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/livewins.aspx?date=2012-05-26&team=Rangers&dh=0&season=2012">FanGraphs</a></span></p>
https://dallas.sbnation.com/texas-rangers/2012/5/27/3046359/josh-hamilton-walk-off-home-run-texas-rangers-toronto-blue-jays-odds-wpa-comeback-buntingRobbie Griffin2012-05-26T19:21:05-05:002012-05-26T19:21:05-05:00Josh Hamilton Saves The Day In Bottom Of The 13th
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<p>The legend of Hambino only grew on Saturday, as his heroics overshadowed a series of questionable tactical decisions by Ron Washington in the extra innings of the Rangers 8-7 victory over the Blue Jays.</p> <p>At this point, is there anything <span>Josh Hamilton</span> can't do?</p>
<p>After the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.lonestarball.com/">Texas Rangers</a> defense gave up two unearned runs in the top of the 13th inning to give the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bluebirdbanter.com/">Toronto Blue Jays</a> a 7-5 lead, <span>Elvis Andrus</span> drove in <span>Ian Kinsler</span> to give Hamilton a chance to drive in the winning run.</p>
<p><span>Jason Frasor</span>, facing his first batter of the game, wasn't up to the challenge. On a 1-2 count, he served up a hanging change-upon the outside part of the plate. Hamilton, timing the ball perfectly, crushed the ball over the center-field fence to give Texas a dramatic 8-7 victory.</p>
<p>Hamilton's heroics will likely overshadow some controversial decisions by Ron Washington in extra innings. The two previous times through the order in the same situation, Washington called for a sacrifice bunt from Andrus, moving Kinsler over and leaving Toronto an open base to pitch to the Rangers' MVP candidate.</p>
<p>The dramatic finish in the bottom of the 13th wouldn't have been possible without Andrus' double, a scenario that Washington ensured couldn't happen in either the 9th or the 11th. Andrus, now in his fourth MLB season, is no longer a defensive specialist. His .303/.384/.404 stat-line doesn't exactly scream a guy who should be giving up outs in the extra innings.</p>
<p>Washington's aggressive, small-ball approach on the base-paths has long had its detractors. While sabermetricians have preached the importance of sacrificing outs, Washington has always preferred a more aggressive, small-ball approach to manufacturing runs late in games.</p>
<p>As a 60-year old manager whose been employed in some capacity in baseball since 1970, he seems pretty much set in his ways, particularly when it comes to his philosophy of how to play the game. Come October, his philosophy could be a huge storyline, one way or the other.</p>
<p>There were several other interesting story-lines tucked away in the longest game of the Rangers regular season so far: three consecutive solo HR's from <span>Adrian Beltre</span>, <span>Yorvit Torrealba</span> and <span>Mitch Moreland</span> in the 6th inning, five scoreless innings from the bullpen and Washington pinch-hitting for Moreland in the 10th inning for the slumping <span>Mike Napoli</span>.</p>
<p>But, at the end of the day, Hamilton's towering walk-off HR will be the only thing people will remember from this game. These are the things Texas fans will tell their grandchildren about: the best player in baseball, and one of the most talented players to ever play the game, regularly producing Herculean efforts for the best team in baseball.</p>
<p>We got to watch <span>Ivan Rodriguez</span> and <span>Alex Rodriguez</span> in their prime, but they never played for a group as deep and as talented as the one behind Josh Hamilton. We're watching history folks. Enjoy it.</p>
https://dallas.sbnation.com/texas-rangers/2012/5/26/3045588/rangers-vs-blue-jays-josh-hamiltonJonathan Tjarks2012-05-26T18:23:03-05:002012-05-26T18:23:03-05:00Ron Washington's Bunting Strategy Doesn't Go Over Well On Twitter
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<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.lonestarball.com/">Texas Rangers</a> have put the lead-off man on in the bottom of the 9th-12th innings of their game against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bluebirdbanter.com/">Toronto Blue Jays</a>, but they stranded the winning run in scoring position in each of those four innings.</p>↵<p>In three of those four innings, Ron Washington called for a sacrifice bunt, which the sabermetric revolution has made a rather controversial tactic:</p>↵<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">↵<p><a href="https://twitter.com/search/%2523smrtbaseball">#smrtbaseball</a> "@<a href="https://twitter.com/el_cassidy">el_cassidy</a>: @<a href="https://twitter.com/keithlaw">keithlaw</a> elvis sac bunt in 9th & 11th. in related story they didnt score either time"</p>↵— keithlaw (@keithlaw) <a href="https://twitter.com/keithlaw/status/206522690851438594" data-datetime="2012-05-26T23:10:21+00:00">May 26, 2012</a>
</blockquote>↵<p>When <span>Elvis Andrus</span> sacrificed <span>Ian Kinsler</span> over to second in both innings, it gave the Blue Jays a free base to walk <span>Josh Hamilton</span>, which they used in the ninth but surprisingly did not the second time through.</p>↵<p>Washington, as old-school a baseball man as they come, has never been shy of playing small-ball. In this case, not only did he sacrifice an out, but he also took the bat out of his best hitter's hands with the game on the line.</p>
https://dallas.sbnation.com/texas-rangers/2012/5/26/3045652/ron-washingtons-bunting-strategy-doesnt-go-over-well-on-twitterJonathan Tjarks2012-05-26T10:58:49-05:002012-05-26T10:58:49-05:00Rangers Vs. Blue Jays: Mike Napoli Out Of Lineup Again
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<p>Ron Washington announced his lineup for Saturday afternoon's contest against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bluebirdbanter.com/">Toronto Blue Jays</a>, and once again, Texas' slugging catcher is out of the lineup. <span>Mike Napoli</span> missed Friday's game because of a stomach bug, and he'll be sitting out Saturday as well. </p>
<p>While Toronto's lineup has yet to be announced, here's who the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.lonestarball.com/">Rangers</a> will be sending out on the field on Saturday afternoon against <span>Henderson Alvarez</span>:</p>
<p>2B <span>Ian Kinsler</span><br>SS <span>Elvis Andrus</span><br>CF <span>Josh Hamilton</span><br>3B <span>Adrian Beltre</span><br>DH <span>Michael Young</span><br>LF <span>David Murphy</span><br>RF Nelson Cruz<br> C <span>Yorvit Torrealba</span><br>1B <span>Mitch Moreland</span></p>
<p>SP, <span>Colby Lewis</span></p>
<p>If the Rangers have an offensive outburst even half as strong as Friday night's, when they scored 14 against Toronto, then the Rangers shouldn't even miss Napoli one bit while he recovers from his stomach bug. As we mentioned earlier here at SB Nation Dallas, Alvarez' K/9 is a measly 2.70, so Texas should have no problem putting the ball in play on Saturday afternoon.</p>
<p><i>For more on the Rangers, be sure to check back here throughout the summer at <a href="http://www.dallas.sbnation.com" target="_blank">SB Nation Dallas</a>, as well as <a href="http://www.lonestarball.com" target="_blank">Lone Star Ball, SB Nation's Rangers Blog</a>.</i></p>
https://dallas.sbnation.com/texas-rangers/2012/5/26/3045037/texas-rangers-toronto-blue-jays-mike-napoli-out-of-lineup-againJP Starkey