Saturday, June 21, 2008

Washington Nationals 4, Texas Rangers 3 (14 innings)

By Pegasus News wire

The Texas Rangers' long-awaited return to their former city was surprisingly punchless, as Texas went down 4-3 in a 14-inning snoozefest in Washington. The loss dropped the Rangers back to one game under .500, at 37-38.

Photo not provided by the Washington Nationals, Clinton '08

Former Senators generally fare well when they return to Washington

The Rangers are quickly becoming the best in the league at maintaining mediocrity, as they are now 3-15 in games where they are at .500. Previous to 1971, the Texas Rangers franchise was then the storied Washington Senators. This was the first time the Rangers had come to Washington since the Expos moved from Montreal and became the Nationals.

All of the Rangers runs came in the top of the second, when a handful of Nationals mistakes led to a big play from the top of the lineup. After Marlon Byrd was caught and tagged running between third and home, Nationals pitcher Tim Redding walked third baseman Ramón Vázquez in order to face Rangers starter Kevin Millwood, who had not collected a hit since 2004.

After Redding somehow managed to walk Millwood as well, Ian Kinsler smacked a bases-clearing two-out double that accounted for all of Texas' three runs.

Texas scored nothing the rest of the way, and only managed a single hit after the fourth inning. The Nationals were equally inept offensively until the bottom of the 14th, when right fielder Elijah Dukes singled in Felipe López for the win. Dukes went 5-for-6 with a home run, two runs scored, two RBI and a pair of stolen bases.

Rangers starter Kevin Millwood had an excellent if ultimately unproductive day on the mound, pitching eight innings and giving up just three runs off seven hits. Millwood walked three and struck out four in his longest outing since April.

Millwood was relieved by four Rangers pitchers, including Josh Rupe, who kept the Rangers alive by pitching the first three extra innings near-perfectly. Rupe allowed just three hits and no walks in those three tense innings.

Posted by Todd M.

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