MVN - Most Valuable Network

No Millwood? No Problem - Rangers Win Fifth Straight Game, Series

One streak was unceremoniously ended on Saturday. The other still perseveres.

And the Texas Rangers, for all their innumerable early-season struggles, continue their improbable and unforeseen resurgence back into contention - this time with a crisp 6-4 victory over the Oakland Athletics, simultaneously marking their 10th victory in 13 games and their fifth consecutive series win.

This ballclub is utterly confusing right now. And I like it.

Though it’s obviously not a good thing that Kevin Millwood - whose “ace” status is being heartily challenged by fellow right-hander Vicente Padilla - was removed from Saturday evening’s contest after just 12 pitches due to a strained right groin muscle (which will be re-evaluated on Sunday to determine whether a stint on the 15-day disabled list will be necessary), I have to openly wonder if his untimely departure wasn’t something of a blessing in disguise.

After notching quality starts in four of his first five outings of the 2008 season, Millwood had been shelled to the tune of 17 earned runs on 24 hits and six walks (including four home runs) in his last three starts going into Saturday, spanning just 15.1 innings. Opposing batters had lit him up to the tune of an Albert Pujols-esque .338/.397/.592 line during that same time frame.

It’s possible that Millwood’s recent failings have been the result of a mechanical kink in his delivery leading to poor movement and/or command, a problematic mental roadblock, or just plain terrible luck. It’s also possible that his injury isn’t new, and that he’s actually been dealing with this issue for some length of time.

Whatever the case may be, Kevin had arguably not made a positive contribution to the starting rotation since mid-April, and it’s far better that he takes a momentary breather, works through whatever is currently ailing him and comes back firing on all cylinders than if he were to continue struggling through critical innings at the big league level.

Josh Rupe, the Rangers’ emergency replacement of choice once it became painfully obvious that Millwood would not be able to continue, certainly could have pitched better. And yet, I find it difficult to overly fault him for the two runs (one earned) credited to his ledger that finally snapped the pitching staff’s scoreless streak at 33 innings; he did, after all, successfully bridge that perilous gap between the early innings and middle relief, and securing a win is far more important than snapping an ancient franchise record.

Frankie Francisco, who relieved Rupe with two outs in the fourth inning, hasn’t looked that ridiculously dominant since 2004.

The Rangers’ #1 through #4 hitters collectively went 9-for-16 at the dish on Saturday evening. The rest of the lineup? A putrid 1-for-16.

But in an odd twist of fate, all six runs scored by Texas came with two outs, including a Milton Bradley laser to the left-center wall that plated Josh Hamilton in the first inning, and a two-run special to Greene’s Hill in straightaway center field during the third inning. Miscellaneous RBI base hits from Hamilton, German Duran and Ian Kinsler accounted for the remainder of the Rangers’ run production.

.500 or bust, baby.

Quick Hits: With the Rangers’ bullpen thoroughly depleted after throwing 8.1 innings on Saturday, Texas will likely recall a reliever from Triple-A Oklahoma before Sunday afternoon’s series finale against the Oakland Athletics…right-hander Luis Mendoza (sore shoulder) tossed 45 pitches in a simulated game with no problems on Saturday…third baseman Hank Blalock (torn left hamstring) participated in batting practice on Saturday for the first time since landing on the disabled list…RedHawks infielder Joaquin Arias played at shortstop on Friday for the first time since undergoing shoulder surgery last summer.

This entry was posted on Sunday, May 11th, 2008 at 1:15 am and is filed under The Season. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.