Texas Rangers

Rangers will see real Angels

Texas' pitchers will see the Angels top lineup early on. Chone Figgins, Gary Matthews Jr., Vladimir Guerrero, Torii Hunter, Garret Anderson, Howie Kendrick, Casey Kotchman, Bobby Wilson and Maicer Izturis are all scheduled to start.

- Anthony Andro

The Thursday lineup is in

Ian Kinsler begins what could be a common sight this year as the Rangers leadoff hitter. Both Kinsler and Frank Catalanotto are in the starting lineup. Here's who is playing against the Los Angeles Angels today in a 3:05 Arizona time game.

1. Ian Kinsler/German Duran

2. Josh Hamilton/Julio Borbon

3. Michael Young/Elvis Andrus

4. Hank Blalock/Travis Metcalf

5. Marlon Byrd/Brandon Boggs

6. Ben Broussard/Chris Davis

7. Frank Catalanotto/Joaquin Arias

8. David Murphy/John Mayberry

9. Jarrod Saltalamacchia/Aaron Melhuse

- Anthony Andro

Rangers win plus bonus baseball

Texas finished off a 6-1 victory and then fans were treated to three bonus outs. Julio Borbon, Fort Worth's German Duran and Elvis Andrus each got at-bats in the bottom of the ninth despite the lead. None of the three got hits. The good news for them is that they didn't count as official at-bats.

- Anthony Andro

Speed kills

Jason Botts got a chance to show off the wheels Wednesday. He scored from second on an infield single by Kevin Mench. He beat the throw home from shortstop, sliding under the tag attempt. It's now 5-1 as the Rangers have three hits off new Royals pitcher Yasuhiko Yabuta.

- Anthony Andro

In case you're wondering

It's the bottom of the seventh and former Rangers pitcher Ron Mahay is now pitching for the Royals. Texas leads 3-1. Gerald Laird isn't quite at full speed and it showed on his fifth-inning double. Laird said he "tweaked" his right ankle before camp. We have also just had our first homer of the spring and it's from a native Texas. Taylor Teagarden, who hails from Carrollton Creekeview and Texas, has just gone deep to center off Mahay to put Texas up 4-1.

- Anthony Andro

Hamilton just misses homer

Rangers centerfielder Josh Hamilton just missed an opposite-field homer off Brian Lawrence in the bottom of the fifth. Hamilton's double hit off the wall and scored a pair of runs to put the Rangers up 3-1.

- Anthony Andro

Fort Worth's finest

Okay, so Kansas City pitcher Luke Hochevar isn't from Fort Worth but he did make a few starts last year for the Fort Worth Cats. Hochevar, Kansas City's top pick last year, retired all six Rangers he faced Wednesday. The Royals tied the game at 1 in the top of the fifth as they managed three hits off Frank Francisco.

- Anthony Andro

The no hitter is gone but.....

Luis Mendoza looked good in his two innings of work. He allowed just one ball out of the infield - Alex Gordon's two-out single to center in the fourth. Gordon didn't stick around long though as he was easily thrown out by Gerald Laird trying to steal second. It's still 1-0 going into the bottom of the fourth.

- Anthony Andro

We have a score

David Murphy has given the Rangers a 1-0 lead with a double to center in the bottom of the second inning off John Bale. Murphy's double scored Marlon Byrd, who led off with a double to left. A.J. Murray pitched two hitless innings, walking two and striking out two.

- Anthony Andro

Big brother is watching

Sitting right behind manager Ron Washington during Wednesday's game was team owner Tom Hicks, his son and Rangers general manager Jon Daniels. If you're scoring at home, the first Texas walk was issued by A.J. Murray to the game's first batter. The first Texas error came a batter later as Ian Kinsler's attempt to double up Esteban German sailed into the Texas dugout. The first strikeout came on the next batter as Murray struck out Mark Teahen looking.

- Anthony Andro