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Rout for Rudy? Jaramillo visits, Rangers rock Rays
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Friday, April 21, 2006
Subject: Rout for Rudy? Jaramillo visits, Rangers rock Rays
Time: 11:53:00 PM CDT
Author: lrpatton
Rangers shortstop Michael Young cleared the bases with a two-out double in the third inning. He had three doubles among his five hits and totaled five RBIs - setting or equaling three career highs.
ARLINGTON – Was it coincidence that the Rangers set season highs for runs and hits hours after hitting coach Rudy Jaramillo visited his batters for the first time since having prostate cancer surgery last month?
Maybe.
But there's no doubt it was fitting that hours after Jaramillo said hello to players and announced that he plans to return in three weeks, the Rangers ripped the ball all over Ameriquest Field for 18 hits in a 13-7 win over Tampa Bay on Friday. And they did it despite returning from a long trip in the wee hours Friday and without batting practice.
Michael Young and Kevin Mench led the offensive outburst, driving in five runs each. Young tied a career high with five hits, including three doubles – all to left field. Mench pounded his second-career grand slam and erased a four-run deficit with one out in the first inning.
For Young, Friday was a breakout game for what has already been a solid start to the season. The defending American League batting champion is once again the team's most consistent hitter with a .394 average. He has 12 RBIs, second on the club to Phil Nevin, and a league-leading 10 doubles.
"The offense is there, we just needed to find a rhythm," said Young, who batted .242 and was hitless in four of his eight games against Tampa Bay in 2005. "It took awhile to get it where we wanted it, but the offense is coming around."
Mench has a lot to do with that now that he's driving in runs. His 12 ½ -size spikes may have as much to do with it as anything. He's missed five games because of right foot problems, including turf toe, and was told by a foot specialist that his size 12 shoes were a half-size too small. He made the change during the road trip and had his first two RBIs of the season Thursday in Seattle. He continued that trend Friday with five.
"We've yet to put something together in back-to-back games," Mench said. "We were able to drive in runs and that was difference. We need to keep doing that."
The Rangers won despite the shortest and least productive start of Kameron Loe's career. He lasted just three innings and allowed six runs, including a four-run first inning thanks in part to back-to-back Devil Rays home runs.
The Rangers supplied Loe enough run support to give him a no-decision. Maybe that's only fair considering Loe pitched well enough in two previous start to get wins and didn't.
JOHN F. RHODES/DMN
Rangers shortstop Michael Young cleared the bases with a two-out double in the third inning. He had three doubles among his five hits and totaled five RBIs - setting or equaling three career highs. Loe's sinker wasn't consistent and he said he wasn't as aggressive as he should have been, leaving some pitches up in the zone. C.J. Wilson relieved Loe to start the fourth inning and pitched three good innings, allowing no runs and one hit with three strikeouts and two walks to get the win. It was important for Wilson to pitch well after giving up the winning home run in the ninth on Wednesday to Carl Everett in Seattle.
But Friday was about finding an offense at home that was, for the most part, silent the first seven games at Ameriquest Field. It didn't hurt that Jaramillo, the man who is overseeing the Rangers' potent lineup for the 12th season, provided some motivation.
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Subject: Rout for Rudy? Jaramillo visits, Rangers rock Rays
Time: 11:53:00 PM CDT
Author: lrpatton
Rangers shortstop Michael Young cleared the bases with a two-out double in the third inning. He had three doubles among his five hits and totaled five RBIs - setting or equaling three career highs.
ARLINGTON – Was it coincidence that the Rangers set season highs for runs and hits hours after hitting coach Rudy Jaramillo visited his batters for the first time since having prostate cancer surgery last month?
Maybe.
But there's no doubt it was fitting that hours after Jaramillo said hello to players and announced that he plans to return in three weeks, the Rangers ripped the ball all over Ameriquest Field for 18 hits in a 13-7 win over Tampa Bay on Friday. And they did it despite returning from a long trip in the wee hours Friday and without batting practice.
Michael Young and Kevin Mench led the offensive outburst, driving in five runs each. Young tied a career high with five hits, including three doubles – all to left field. Mench pounded his second-career grand slam and erased a four-run deficit with one out in the first inning.
For Young, Friday was a breakout game for what has already been a solid start to the season. The defending American League batting champion is once again the team's most consistent hitter with a .394 average. He has 12 RBIs, second on the club to Phil Nevin, and a league-leading 10 doubles.
"The offense is there, we just needed to find a rhythm," said Young, who batted .242 and was hitless in four of his eight games against Tampa Bay in 2005. "It took awhile to get it where we wanted it, but the offense is coming around."
Mench has a lot to do with that now that he's driving in runs. His 12 ½ -size spikes may have as much to do with it as anything. He's missed five games because of right foot problems, including turf toe, and was told by a foot specialist that his size 12 shoes were a half-size too small. He made the change during the road trip and had his first two RBIs of the season Thursday in Seattle. He continued that trend Friday with five.
"We've yet to put something together in back-to-back games," Mench said. "We were able to drive in runs and that was difference. We need to keep doing that."
The Rangers won despite the shortest and least productive start of Kameron Loe's career. He lasted just three innings and allowed six runs, including a four-run first inning thanks in part to back-to-back Devil Rays home runs.
The Rangers supplied Loe enough run support to give him a no-decision. Maybe that's only fair considering Loe pitched well enough in two previous start to get wins and didn't.
JOHN F. RHODES/DMN
Rangers shortstop Michael Young cleared the bases with a two-out double in the third inning. He had three doubles among his five hits and totaled five RBIs - setting or equaling three career highs. Loe's sinker wasn't consistent and he said he wasn't as aggressive as he should have been, leaving some pitches up in the zone. C.J. Wilson relieved Loe to start the fourth inning and pitched three good innings, allowing no runs and one hit with three strikeouts and two walks to get the win. It was important for Wilson to pitch well after giving up the winning home run in the ninth on Wednesday to Carl Everett in Seattle.
But Friday was about finding an offense at home that was, for the most part, silent the first seven games at Ameriquest Field. It didn't hurt that Jaramillo, the man who is overseeing the Rangers' potent lineup for the 12th season, provided some motivation.
Written by lrpatton Blog about this entry |
Add to del.icio.us | digg this
