Texas Rangers

Going to the bottom of the 11th

The Rangers had a nice opportunity to pull into a lead in the 11th but couldn't get Omar Vizquel home from third. The shortstop walked with one out, advanced to second on a wild pitch and moved to third as catcher Miguel Montero's throw sailed into center field.

Michael Young hit a line drive to right field that Justin Upton charged and fired back into the infield. Vizquel tagged and started toward home but stopped. He probably would have scored, though, as Upton's throw was wide of home.

Pinch-hitter Hank Blalock popped out to end the inning.

Eddie Guardado is on to face the bottom of the Diamondbacks' order.

-- Jeff Wilson

Going to the bottom of the 10th

The Diamondbacks got a two-run homer from Mark Reynolds in the eighth off Frank Francisco to complete a comeback from a 6-3 deficit. David Murphy just struck out to end the 10th with a runner on second base.

Jason Grilli got the last out of the ninth and is back out to start the 10th. The Rangers have already used Darren O'Day, Francisco and C.J. Wilson. That leaves Eddie Guardado, Jason Jennings and Doug Mathis should the game go into the 11th and beyond.

-- Jeff Wilson

Rangers 5, Diamondback 3 (6)

Andruw Jones hit a two-run homer in the fifth inning, the Rangers scored three times in the third, and Scott Feldman is through six innings with a 5-3 lead. All three Arizona runs have come with two outs, and Feldman might be finished for the night after throwing 92 pitches and developing a blister.

-- Jeff Wilson

Vizquel makes history

Shortstop Omar Vizquel singled in the first inning off Jon Garland for his 2,678th career hit, moving him past Luis Aparicio for the all-time hits record by a native of Venezuela. Vizquel entered with a .311 average at Chase Field and a .269 average against Garland.

-- Jeff Wilson

Hamilton says he might be ready next week

In two days, center fielder Josh Hamilton has gone from perhaps not being ready for the All-Star Game to possibly being ready to return to the Texas Rangers' lineup by next week and play in the Midsummer Classic.

Hamilton hit with the rest of the team during batting practice, launching a home run deep into center field on his last swing, and will run the bases the next two days in Arlington. He will be evaluated after that and possibly could head out on a rehab assignment as early as Sunday or Monday.

He believes he could be back for the Tampa Bay series next weekend. Manager Ron Washington said the seven-game road trip preceded the All-Star break is more realistic. Washington and general manager Jon Daniels have thrown their support behind Hamilton to play in the All-Star Game if he is voted in by the fans.

-- Jeff Wilson

Tonight's lineups

Michael Jackson blared from the clubhouse sound system Thursday, a tribute to the King of Pop who died at age 50. Eddie Guardado and Michael Young are two of the biggest Jackson fans, and his music has played often this season from Guardado's iPod.

As for the lineup, Omar Vizquel indeed gets another crack at a hit that would make him the all-time hits leader for a Venezuela native. Andruw Jones will bat fourth and play left field.

Rangers lineup

Ian Kinsler, 2b

Omar Vizquel, ss

Michael Young, 3b

Andruw Jones, lf

Marlon Byrd, cf

Nelson Cruz, rf

Jarrod Saltalamacchia, c

Chris Davis, 1b

Scott Feldman, p

Diamondbacks lineup

Felipe Lopez, 2b

Stephen Drew, ss

Justin Upton, rf

Mark Reynolds, 1b

Gerardo Parra, cf

Miguel Montero, c

Eric Byrnes, lf

Augie Ojeda, 3b

Jon Garland, p

-- Jeff Wilson

Feliz selected for Futures Game

Top prospect Neftali Feliz has been selected to the World team for the Futures Game next month in St. Louis. The game features the top prospects in baseball, domestic and international. Feliz, who will pitch out of the bullpen for the first time tonight at Triple-A Oklahoma City, is definitely one of them.

-- Jeff Wilson

Hamilton could return before All-Star break, participate in All-Star Game

General manager Jon Daniels just sent word that, while it's too early to target a date, it's entirely possible that Josh Hamilton could return from the disabled list before the All-Star break and particpate in the All-Star Game if elected and with the Rangers' full support.

Hamilton said on Wednesday that he hasn't ruled out participating in the All-Star Game. On Tuesday, he said that the best thing to do might be to give up the his spot on the All-Star team and sit it out. If he does make the team, he would likely sit out the Home Run Derby.

"There’s a reasonable chance Josh returns before the All-Star break," Daniels said. "I know he’d like to participate in the All-Star Game if elected and the club would support him if he’s back healthy."

-- Jeff Wilson

NSF would "never certify a Victor Conte product"

That's the word that was passed along from an NSF International spokesperson upon reading a Foul Territory blog post about Marlon Byrd opting to use supplements from Victor Conte, who provided illegal performance-enhacing drugs to athletes through his former company, BALCO.

"Manufacturers, finished product companies or ingredient suppliers that manufacture a steroid or steroid precursor or any other substance on the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), NFL/NFLPA and MLB/MLBPA prohibitive substances lists are excluded from participating in the program," said Greta Houlahan, NSF communications manager.

Byrd said he uses only NSF-approved products. Indeed, none of the products listed on the Web site for Conte's new company appear on the NSF list of certified products.

The Byrd-Conte relationship was first reported by Yahoo Sports. In the story, Conte says NSF is a marketing tool and believes that baseball and football players aren't getting a complete list of supplements that could help them from NSF.

Is Conte using ingredients of NSF-approved products in his supplements and getting the OK from MLB? Maybe (awaiting clarification on the process from NSF). Whatever the procedure is, Byrd hasn't tested positive for a banned substance since he hooked up with Conte 18 months ago.

-- Jeff Wilson

 

 

Bad Judgment by Marlon Byrd

Marlon Byrd taking any supplements supplied, recommended, suggested or even hinted at by Victor Conte, a central figure in the BALCO steroids scandal is a blatant cast of bad judgment and if the Rangers haven't told him to cease and desist immediately, then they're just as wrong as he is.

Hiding heads in the sand is what got baseball into this mess in the first place, remember?

It's not about whether the supplements are approved by MLB, whether Conte has turned over a new leaf or anything like that. It's not even whether anyone really suspects or believes that Byrd is or would take performance enhancing drugs -- I don't, by the way.

But in today's environment, even a hint of scandal is too much and appearances do matter. One of the things baseball teams have urged their players to be is smart. This just isn't smart, either for Byrd or the Rangers.

Byrd is a good guy and, I always thought, a smart guy. This is a mistake and he needs to rectify it. And if he won't, then the team needs to strongly suggest and show its disapproval. Publicly.

   -- Jim Reeves