Ranger Rowdy Report - July 8, 2008
Chris Lee Moore
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With this being the biggest series of the year so far, the guys really didn't need an injury replacement starting the first game. But that's what we got, as Luis Mendoza took the mound Monday night against the Angels. 
And he got eaten alive. First, Chone Figgins did what he does, walking, stealing second, going to third on Max Ramirez's throwing error and letting Casey Kotchman bring him home. It went downhill from there. Mendoza needed a bases-loaded double play to get out of the first inning only down 2-0. Then the longballs came in the second. First, the number nine guy, Jeff Mathis, hits a two-run shot. Then Vlad Guerrero does it AGAIN to the Rangers with a three-run job that almost clears the bleachers. That one's immediately followed by a shot from Torii Hunter - the guy who didn't sign with the Rangers because his kid told him not to. Mendoza's gone, and its 8-0 before we even get to bat twice.
Alan actually took his time getting to the park because of what happened. He was also in a bad mood because Milwaukee got C.C. Sabathia from the Indians for a lot less than what people thought he would cost.
They did try to come back off Ervin Santana. Down 8-1 in the fifth, a three-run homer by Murphy and a two-run blast by Davis made it 8-6. But Hunter tagged another one in the seventh, and the Angels' bullpen applied the lockdown in the eighth for the 9-6 final.
The other good sign was Dustin Nippert. Nippert, who was sent down to the minors in April and then pitched a perfect game down there, came back and threw seven innings in relief. That made people wonder why he didn't start the game.
So now the best the Rangers can hope for is reaching five and a half games by the end of this series. And Matt Harrison is making his major league debut tonight. Here's hoping for the best.
And he got eaten alive. First, Chone Figgins did what he does, walking, stealing second, going to third on Max Ramirez's throwing error and letting Casey Kotchman bring him home. It went downhill from there. Mendoza needed a bases-loaded double play to get out of the first inning only down 2-0. Then the longballs came in the second. First, the number nine guy, Jeff Mathis, hits a two-run shot. Then Vlad Guerrero does it AGAIN to the Rangers with a three-run job that almost clears the bleachers. That one's immediately followed by a shot from Torii Hunter - the guy who didn't sign with the Rangers because his kid told him not to. Mendoza's gone, and its 8-0 before we even get to bat twice.
Alan actually took his time getting to the park because of what happened. He was also in a bad mood because Milwaukee got C.C. Sabathia from the Indians for a lot less than what people thought he would cost.
They did try to come back off Ervin Santana. Down 8-1 in the fifth, a three-run homer by Murphy and a two-run blast by Davis made it 8-6. But Hunter tagged another one in the seventh, and the Angels' bullpen applied the lockdown in the eighth for the 9-6 final.
The other good sign was Dustin Nippert. Nippert, who was sent down to the minors in April and then pitched a perfect game down there, came back and threw seven innings in relief. That made people wonder why he didn't start the game.
So now the best the Rangers can hope for is reaching five and a half games by the end of this series. And Matt Harrison is making his major league debut tonight. Here's hoping for the best.