Texas Rangers

The whole tooth

Josh Hamilton's tooth update: He visited a dentist before the game and received a "mini-root canal" for his tooth abscess. Hamilton told a club official that he feels much. He should try to eat something solid before making any further proclamations of good health.

-- Jeff Wilson

Nifty stuff by Harrison

The Royals had runners at second and third with no outs, but they didn't score thanks to some good work by Matt Harrison. He got Miguel Olivo to fly out to shallow right, and the strong arm of Nelson Cruz kept Jose Guillen at third base. The next batter, Ross Gload, sent a grounder up the middle that Harrison snared, and the lefty caught Guillen in a rundown. Mark Teahan ended the inning when he grounded out to shortstop. It's 1-1 in the fifth.

-- Jeff Wilson

Bad tooth does in Hamilton

A tooth abscess that will require a root canal next week forced Josh Hamilton out of tonight's lineup. His replacement, Brandon Boggs, just hit a solo home run to tie the game 1-1 in the fourth.

-- Jeff Wilson

Hamilton a late scratch

Josh Hamilton won't be in center field, apparently, though no official word has come from team officials. Brandon Boggs came to the plate as the second batter in the first, not Michael Young. He batted third, the spot Hamilton occupied in the original lineup. Milton Bradley was in the on-deck circle in case Young had reached.

Marlon Byrd is jogging out to center field in place of Hamilton, and Boggs is in left.

-- Jeff Wilson

Padilla out for Friday

Right-hander Vicente Padilla did not throw his bullpen Wednesday and will not be the Rangers' starting pitcher Friday at Anaheim. Dustin Nippert will come out of the bullpen to make the start, and Luis Mendoza might be recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma to be the long man out of the bullpen for the weekend. Padilla will be skipped in the rotation with the idea that he will be able to start next Wednesday against Seattle.

-- Jeff Wilson

Tonight's lineup

Gerald Laird gets a day off before heading to Anaheim and playing in front of his family and friends, and Chris Davis is back at third base after a day off.

Joaquin Arias, 2b

Michael Young, ss

Josh Hamilton, cf

Milton Bradley, dh

Hank Blalock, 1b

Marlon Byrd, lf

Nelson Cruz, rf

Chris Davis, 3b

Jarrod Saltalamacchia, c

Big news! (Not really)

Outfielder Jason Ellison, designated for assignment Monday to make room for Nelson Cruz, has cleared outright waivers and accepted an assignment to Triple-A Oklahoma. Ellison is a good guy to keep in the system. He can play all three outfield spots well, he has value as a pinch-runner and he's been around a few years.

-- Jeff Wilson

Rangers 2, Royals 1

Kevin Millwood was all the Rangers needed to beat Kansas City. He threw a complete game, his second straight, and got Esteban German to chase a slider and bounce into a game-ending fielder's choice with runners at first and second. He said afterward that he is as confident as he has been in a while, and his stuff Tuesday wasn't as good as in his previous start.

-- Jeff Wilson

Rangers missed chance

Gerald Laird led off the seventh with a double and went to third on a sacrifice-turned-bunt single by Ramon Vazquez. But Laird was cut down trying to score from third on a grounder to shortstop, and Michael Young and Josh Hamilton both came up empty to end the inning.

The good news: Kevin Millwood is still breezing through the Kansas City lineup. He's through seven innings, and the game is tied 1-1.

-- Jeff Wilson

Gathright robs Blalock

Joey Gathright, the man who jumps cars and Japanese pitchers just ran and jumped to take a double away from Hank Blalock. For those who haven't seen Gathright's leaping abilities, check this out.

-- Jeff Wilson