Texas Rangers

Wrapping up Rangers 4-1 victory over the Blue Jays

Yu Darvish didn't disappoint in his encore performance.

In his start following his 8 1/3 shutout innings against the Yankees, Darvish mixed his pitches and worked out of jams to carry the Rangers to a 4-1 victory.

It was a game the Rangers could have mailed in, as they didn't get to their hotel until 5:30 a.m. and were playing on the artificial surface of the Rogers Centre. But they didn't, and remain the only team in baseball without consecutive losses.

Here are a few post-game notes:

* Yu Darvish allowed one run on four hits with two walks and nine strikeouts over seven innings. His lone mistake came against Edwin Encarnacion, who swatted a slider over the left-field fence. It was the first home run Darvish has given up in the big leagues.

* Manager Ron Washington doesn't know if Adrian Beltre will play on Tuesday. Beltre went 3 for 5 on Monday, but the turf is tough on hamstrings and Beltre missed three games from April 21-23 with mild inflammation in his left hamstring area. "I don't know yet," Washington said. "We will see."

* Mitch Moreland belted his second career home run off a left-hander (Evan Crawford). Craig Gentry also took Crawford deep for his first over-the-fence blast. It was the third time this season the Rangers went back-to-back.

* The Rangers are now 17-6, the best record in baseball. It matches the team's best 23-game stretch (1989).

-- Drew Davison

Final: Rangers 4, Blue Jays 1 (Yu Darvish improves to 4-0)

TORONTO -- The Toronto Blue Jays were widely regarded as the runner ups in the Yu Darvish sweepstakes this winter. They got a first-hand look at what might have been.

Darvish dazzled again in leading the Texas Rangers to a 4-1 victory over the Blue Jays on Monday night at the Rogers Centre. The victory keeps the Rangers as the only team in baseball that has not lost two consecutive games.

Darvish allowed one run on four hits with two walks and nine strikeouts over seven innings. He improved to 4-0 on the season with a 2.18 ERA.

Mike Adams worked a perfect eighth, and Joe Nathan closed out the ninth for his sixth save.

Offensively, the Rangers had a unique pair go deep in consecutive at-bats. Facing Blue Jays lefty Evan Crawford, Mitch Moreland roped an opposite field homer to left – his second career homer off a left-hander. Craig Gentry then followed with his first big league home run to clear the fence. He had an inside-the-park home run last year.

The Rangers scored single runs in the second and third on RBI doubles by Nelson Cruz and Elvis Andrus.

-- Drew Davison

Tonight's lineups: Rangers at Blue Jays

Josh Hamilton is out of the lineup. Adrian Beltre is at designated hitter to keep him off the AstroTurf. And Mike Napoli is at catcher for Yu Darvish's start tonight.

The fans in Toronto are anxious to see Darvish, as it was believed to be the runner-up in the Darvish sweepstakes this winter. But don't expect the Rangers to issue any apologies.

"I don't feel any pain for Toronto," manager Ron Washington said, smiling.

Here are the lineups:

Texas -- 1. Ian Kinsler (2B); 2. Elvis Andrus (SS); 3. Michael Young (3B); 4. Adrian Beltre (DH); 5. David Murphy (LF); 6. Nelson Cruz (RF); 7. Mike Napoli (C); 8. Mitch Moreland (1B); 9. Craig Gentry (CF).

Pitcher -- Yu Darvish (3-0, 2.42)

Toronto -- 1. Yunel Escobar (SS); 2. Kelly Johnson (2B); 3. Jose Bautista (RF); 4. Adam Lind (1B); 5. Edwin Encarnacion (DH); 6. Eric Thames (LF); 7. Brfett Lawrie (3B); 8. Colby Rasmus (CF); 9. J.P. Arencibia (C).

-- Drew Davison

Monday's Rangers notes: Hamilton out of lineup; Beltre at DH

Josh Hamilton still feels the tightness in his back that forced him out of Sunday night's game against Tampa Bay, and is not in the lineup tonight against Toronto. Hamilton said the tightness isn't as severe as it was but the team is taking a precautionary approach.

"Why push it?" Hamilton said. "We're 20 games into the season. ... I'm going to have a spa day."

Here are a few other notes from Monday:

* Adrian Beltre is the designated hitter. The Rangers want to limit the number of games Beltre will play on the Rogers Centre AstroTurf. Beltre said his hamstring felt good but agreed with manager Ron Washington's decision. Washington wouldn't speculate whether Beltre would DH the entire series or not, saying it'd be a day-of decision.

* Catcher Mike Napoli knows that he could have called Rogers Centre home. The Angels traded Napoli to the Blue Jays prior to the 2011 season. Toronto then dealt him to Texas. "It was pretty crazy, but thankfully I'm a Texas Ranger," Napoli said.

* The Rangers got to their Toronto hotel at 5:30 a.m. ET on Monday. Reliever Mike Adams said players never get used to the grueling travel schedule, but deal with it.

-- Drew Davison

Week that was, week that is for Rangers

Coming to you from Toronto, a look back and a look ahead on the Texas Rangers' week that included Josh Hamilton exiting Sunday's game with back stiffness and manager Ron Washington getting ejected for the first time this season.

The Rangers sold out all six games of the home stand, setting a franchise record for most consecutive sellout games.

April 23-25 vs. New York: The Rangers took two of three from the Yankees, winning their franchise-best sixth consecutive series to open the season. After falling 7-4 on Monday, Yu Darvish had his best start to date with 8 1/3 shutout innings in a 2-0 victory on Tuesday. The Rangers then capped it off with a 7-3 victory Wednesday.

April 27-29 vs. Tampa Bay: In a rematch of the past two American League Division Series, Tampa Bay took two of three. Texas had its sloppiest game to date on Friday, committing uncharacteristic errors and making poor base-running decisions. Still, the Rangers were one swing away from tying it but eventually fell 8-4. Texas bounced back on Saturday with a 7-2 victory, as Colby Lewis turned in another impressive start. On Sunday, Derek Holland showed signs of 2011 although he managed to go seven innings in a 5-2 loss. Manager Ron Washington was ejected from the game, but the biggest news was Josh Hamilton leaving early with back stiffness. Hamilton is listed day to day.

April 30-May 2 at Toronto: Last season, the Rangers won only four of 10 games against the Blue Jays and went 1-2 against them at the Rogers Centre. They had a late-night flight to Canada following Sunday's game, but today's starter -- Yu Darvish -- flew ahead of the team. Darvish is looking to build on his last start in which he threw 8 1/3 scoreless innings against the Yankees. Neftali Feliz returns to the rotation on Tuesday after having his weekend start skipped. He made a relief appearance on Wednesday, allowing one run in one inning. And, on a day game Wednesday, Matt Harrison will start following his worst outing to date. Harrison gave up seven runs on 14 hits Friday, the most hits he's allowed in his career.

May 4-6 at Cleveland: The Rangers have an off day on Thursday before taking on the Indians. Texas played well against Cleveland last season, winning nine of 10 games -- including all four at Progressive Field. Colby Lewis will get the start to open the series followed by Derek Holland and Yu Darvish.

-- Drew Davison

Wrapping up Rangers' 5-2 loss: Josh Hamilton expects to play Monday

The Rangers lost 5-2 to a Tampa Bay team that clearly is the best outfit the Rangers have played this season. The Rays won 2 of 3 in the series to end the Rangers club-record streak of consecutive series victories to start a season at six.

The most important news Sunday came after the game, when Josh Hamilton said that his back stiffness should not prevent him from playing Monday at Toronto. He said that he has experienced similar spasms in the past, and they have gone away in 12 hours.

The spasm started after he singled to center field to drive in the first run of the game. He stayed in the game, but didn't feel like he could rotate his torso the way he would need to the rest of the game.

"I made contact, and about the third or fourth step out of the box I felt my mid-back tighten up on me," Hamilton said. "I've had it happen before. It usually takes about 12 hours or so, and then it releases."

Derek Holland said that he left too many pitches up to Tampa Bay in the second and third innings as they scored four of their five runs. He also said that he doesn't think he has pitched too poorly in his past two starts even though he has allowed 12 runs in 18 hits in 13 innings.

"I caught too much plate," Holland said. "I was trying to make the pitches I wanted, but you’ve got to give them credit. They’re a good hitting team. And they made sure I paid for my mistakes."

The Rangers are expecting to leave for Toronto a little after midnight and land at Pearson International around 4. Depending on how friendly customs officials are, the Rangers could be in their hotel rooms by 5:30.

Ron Washington was ejected at the end of the seventh inning after coming to the defense of Ian Kinsler, who was arguing a called third strike. It was the 13th ejection of Washington's tenure with the Rangers.

-- Jeff Wilson

Rays 5, Rangers 2 (F)

ARLINGTON -- Derek Holland allowed five runs in seven innings, and Josh Hamilton had to exit in the second inning with a stiff back as Tampa Bay beat the Rangers 5-2 and sent them to their first series loss of the season.

The Rangers had won a club-record six straight series to open the season, but five different Rays drove in runs against an inconsistent Holland.

Holland made the Rays looked overmatched in a 1-2-3 first inning that included an infield popup and two strikeouts. But he was exceedingly hittable in the second, an inning that started with four straight hits.

None was a cheap one, either, as Ben Zobrist tripled, Jeff Keppinger singled, and BJ. Upton and Luke Scott doubled. Even the first out, a sacrifice fly by Sean Rodriguez, took Nelson Cruz to the right-field wall.

The Rays would add another run in the third on two more hits before Holland settled down. He issued only two singles over the next three innings before Tampa Bay got him again in the seventh on a two-out double by Desmond Jennings.

Hamilton exited shortly after delivering an RBI single in the first. He felt discomfort exiting the batters box, but stayed in the game through the end of the second.

The Rangers trailed 4-2 after Elvis Andrus drove in a run in the fifth with an groundout, but David Price pitched into the seventh in beating the Rangers for the first time in his career.

Manager Ron Washington was ejected after the seventh inning as he came to the defense of second baseman Ian Kinsler, who had argued a called third strike.

The Rangers loaded the bases in the ninth inning with two outs, but Ian Kinsler lined out to the pitcher to end the game.

-- Jeff Wilson

Josh Hamilton makes early exit from Rays-Rangers finale

Outfielder Josh Hamilton lasted only two innings Sunday night before having to leave the homestand finale against Tampa Bay with back stiffness.

Hamilton, the front-runner for American League Player of the Month, singled in the first inning for his league-leading 25th RBI, but was seen trying to stretch his back at first base. After sliding into second base in an unsuccessful attempt to beat a force out, he was grabbing at the back while heading into the dugout.

He returned to left field in the second inning, and had to give chase to a B.J. Upton double. He finished the inning but was replaced by David Murphy to start the third.

Manager Ron Washington said that Hamilton was injured while exiting the batter's box, and the Rangers announced that Hamilton was day-to-day. But he's questionable for the Toronto series. Those three games will be played on artificial surface, which manager Ron Washington believes is not forgiving and can actually make injuries worse.

Hamilton has dealt with a sore back in the past. He missed much of September in 2009 because of back pain and had been nursing a sore back early last season before breaking a bone in his arm at Detroit.

-- Jeff Wilson

Tonight's Rays-Rangers lineups

A pair of left-handers are on the mound tonight, which means plenty of lineup changes for both sides. The Rangers are facing David Price, who has never beaten them, and have taken David Murphy and Mitch Moreland out of the lineup. Craig Gentry is in there, playing center field, and Mike Napoli is at first base. Yorvit Torrealba catches, giving the Rangers eight right-handed hitters against Price.

Rays lineup vs. LHP Derek Holland: Desmond Jennings, lf; Carlos Pena, 1b; Evan Longoria, 3b; Ben Zobrist, rf; Jeff Keppinger, 2b; B.J. Upton, cf; Luke Scott, dh; Sean Rodriguez, ss; Chris Gimenez, c.


Rangers lineup vs. LHP David Price: Ian Kinsler, 2b; Elvis Andrus, ss; Josh Hamilton, lf; Adrian Beltre, 3b; Michael Young, dh; Nelson Cruz, rf; Mike Napoli, 1b; Yorvit Torrealba, c; Craig Gentry, cf.

-- Jeff Wilson

Ron Washington celebrates 60 with new friends from Japan

Manager Ron Washington turned 60 today, and the Japanese media was ready.

A 60th birthday is a big deal in Japan, and the folks covering Yu Darvish presented Washington with a cake and also a traditional celebration called Kanreki, the donning of a red vest and a red hat that looks like a flat chef's hat. Washington played along, and later was incredible grateful.

"That was awesome," Washington said. "I guess they like me, huh? I can't put into words how I feel about what they just did. I've never gotten a cake."

Washington said that his wife, Gerry, has made him simple cakes in the past, but he can't recall receiving a cake that was as done-up as the one he received today. It had white frosting with red icing, and was decorated with "Happy Birthday, Ron."

"If you reach 60 years old, we celebrate with a red hat and red jacket," said Masashi "Carlos" Yamazaki of Tokyo Sports Press. "That's it. It's simple. One of the big deals is 60. Also 77 and 88. We have a lot of traditions."

-- Jeff Wilson