Texas Rangers

Blue Jays Brandon Morrow vs. Rangers

Toronto will look to take the series against the Rangers Thursday behind right-hander Brandon Morrow. Morrow has had some success vs. the Rangers, going 3-4. He has made just one start this season, losing it but striking out 10 in 5 1/3 innings.

Here's how the Rangers have done against him.

Elvis Andrus 2 for 4

Adrian Beltre 0 for 4

Andres Blanco 0 for 2

Julio Borbon 2 for 5 with a homer

Nelson Cruz 1 for 10 with four strikeouts

Chris Davis 2 for 3 with a double and homer

Ian Kinsler 4 for 13 with two doubles

David Murphy 2 for 8

Mike Napoli 1 for 8

Michael Young 4 for 10 with a homer

- Anthony Andro

Rangers Ogando vs. Blue Jays

Alexi Ogando has never faced the Blue Jays in his brief major-league career, but he does have some experience against some of their hitters. Here's a look at how he's fared.

Rajai Davis 2 for 4

Jayson Nix 1 for 2

Corey Patterson 1 for 1

Juan Rivera 0 for 2

- Anthony Andro

A costly win for Rangers Eppley?

Cody Eppley's first major-league victory could end up costing him when the Rangers return from the road trip. Eppley allowed a homer which tied the game and denied Derek Holland the victory. That's the same Holland who will be Eppley's landlord when the Rangers come back from their West Coast swing.

"I didn't want to snake a win from Holland," Eppley said. "We'll have to discuss some of the ground rules for his apartment. We'll have to figure it out."

Holland joked that he was going to take away the egg crate on Eppley's inflatable bed or up his rent.

While Eppley didn't want to deny Holland a victory, he's still proud of his first big-league win.

"To be able to accomplish something like this it was always a dream growing up to win a major league game," said Eppley, who allowed one run on one hit in his two innings. "To actually be able to accomplish it is awesome."

- Anthony Andro

 

 

The ninth didn't have to be so dramatic for Rangers

At least not in Texas outfielder David Murphy's eyes. Murphy thinks he caught the one-out single to left that Juan Rivera hit with two outs to put runners on the corners.

Murphy said he watched the replay, and the ball landed in his glove, which was sliding across the ground.The one problem is that Murphy didn't have time to sell the catch because that could have allowed pitcher John McDonald to score.

"I think I caught it," he said. "I kind of turned my head and looked way. But if  try to sell it and they don't go for it, the guys are running. What do I do then?"

The good news for the Rangers is that it turned out not to matter as Darren Oliver struck out the game's next batter - Edwin Encarnacion - to end the game.

- Anthony Andro

Rangers 7, Blue Jays 6 (F)

ARLINGTON - Mitch Moreland's solo homer to centerfield to lead off the seventh inning proved to be the difference as Texas rallied to beat Toronto 7-6.

Moreland's homer broke a 6-6 tie and allowed the Rangers to snap a two-game slide.

Texas trailed 2-0 before scoring six times in the bottom of the third to take a 6-2 lead. The Blue Jays chipped away though, scoring three times in the fourth off Derek Holland and then tying the game in the seventh on a Juan Rivera homer.

Moreland's homer off Octavio Dotel went 411 feet and made a winner out of rookie Cody Eppley, who allowed the Rivera homer. The bullpen duo of Arthur Rhodes and Darren Oliver finished the game, with Oliver recording his second save.

Oliver allowed a pair of two-out singles, but struck out Edwin Encarnacion to end the game.

The Rangers sent 10 batters to the plate in the third, with Michael Young's two-run double the big blow that put the Rangers up. Mike Napoli capped the scoring in that inning with another two-run double.

- Anthony Andro

Rangers prospect suspended following incident

Frisco outfielder Engel Beltre, who is on the Rangers 40-man roster, has been suspended indefinitely by the Texas League following an incident after the Roughriders game in San Antonio yesterday.

The Roughriders had a three-run homer overturned in the 6-5 loss and Frisco manager Steve Buechele was ejected along with pitching coach Jeff Andrews. Frisco players and fans at the game exchanged words and accoding to a report, a trash can was thrown out of the Frisco dugout.

Beltre was the only player suspended by the league.

- Anthony Andro

Tonight's Blue Jays-Rangers lineups

A left-hander is pitching for Toronto, which means that Mike Napoli returns to the lineup at first base. There are other dominos that fall when a lefty is pitching. Mitch Moreland will play right field, David Murphy will be in center and Nelson Cruz will play left field.

Blue Jays lineup vs. LHP Derek Holland: Yunel Escobar, ss; Mike McCoy, 2b; Jose Bautista, rf; Adam Lind, 1b; Juan Rivera, dh; Edwin Encarnacion, 3b; Travis Snider, lf; J.P. Arencibia, c; Corey Patterson, cf.

Rangers lineup vs. LHP Jo-Jo Reyes: Ian Kinsler, dh; Elvis Andrus, ss; Michael Young, 2b; Adrian Beltre, 3b; Nelson Cruz, lf; Mike Napoli, 1b; David Murphy, cf; Yorvit Torrealba, c; Mitch Moreland, rf.

-- Jeff Wilson

Rangers put O'Day on 60-day DL

Texas right-hander Darren O'Day has been put on the 60 day disabled list with a partial tear of the labrum in his left hip. O'Day went to Nashville Wednesday to visit with a hip specialist. The Rangers have purchased the contract of right-hander Ryan Tucker to take O'Day's roster spot.

The injury was confirmed by Tennessee Titans doctor Dr. Tom Byrd, who will perform surgery on O'Day Thursday in Nashville.

O'Day had been bothered by the hip over the weekend, but was able to pitch a scoreless ninth Tuesday against Toronto.

- Anthony Andro

Rangers Mailbag final call

The Rangers Mailbag is pretty much filled up for Volume 2, but there's room for more. The good news is there's still time to get questions submitted. The deadline is Thursday, as in tomorrow. Please e-mail questions to jwilson@star-telegram.com and please include your name and hometown.

-- Jeff Wilson

Rangers Darren O'Day says he's going on DL

There's no word from the Rangers on this. O'Day said after his outing last night that his left hip was fine.

Today on Facebook he said otherwise.

Here's his post.

Headed to the DL for a torn labrum in my left hip. Beyond that, I dont know much. Hopefully recovery will be quick, and I'll be back on the mound in no time.