[外電] Rangers' rout makes for May history
Rangers' rout makes for May history
Texas collects club-record 20th victory for month
By T.R. Sullivan / MLB.com
05/30/09 11:59 PM ET
ARLINGTON -- The Rangers have only one more day to enjoy one of the best
months in club history.
This month has been so good, in fact, for the Rangers that it has even
exceeded what they accomplished last year in May. That's saying something.
The Rangers pushed this month into new heights of historical standing when
they pounded the Oakland Athletics, 14-1, before a near-sellout crowd of
45,325 fans at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington on Saturday.
Brandon McCarthy survived a near-disastrous first inning to earn his fifth
victory, most on the staff, and the Rangers have won 14 of their past 19
games. They are also now 20-8 for the month of May, their most victories ever
in that month in club history. It's only the second time in Rangers history
that they've won 20 games in a month, one short of the record of 21-10 set in
September 1978.
"A refreshing victory," Rangers manager Ron Washington said. "We're having
fun and it's easy to have fun when you're doing the things we're doing. We're
pitching pretty good, catching the ball pretty good and doing enough to put
runs on the board. Tonight we broke out a little bit."
The Rangers were 19-10 in May last season on their way to a 79-83 record for
the season. That 19-10 record came after a 10-18 April and left them four
games behind the Angels in the American League West when the month was over.
This season, after going 10-11 in April, the Rangers have now been sitting in
first place in the AL West for 25 straight days. That's their longest
continuous stretch sitting in first place since 1999 when they won their last
division title by spending 139 straight days atop the AL West.
There have been only four seasons in which the Rangers have enjoyed their
current lead of 5 1/2 games -- 1994, '96, '98 and '99. They finished in first
place in all four seasons.
"It all starts with pitching and defense," said third baseman Michael Young,
who had three hits. "I know that sounds like a broken record around here, but
that's why we're having so much fun."
The Rangers' offense joined in the fun with 17 hits, second most in a game
this season, and five walks. The Rangers, who came into the game with the
third fewest walks in the American League, have 24 walks in their past five
games. Ian Kinsler had two walks and scored after both.
"If you're generating walks, you're having good at-bats and not swinging at
bad pitches," Kinsler said. "That's what we need all up and down the lineup,
just tough at-bats. Swing at strikes and take balls. If we can be consistent
in that, our offense will be much better."
McCarthy was the one issuing walks early in a strange first inning. He threw
22 pitches and only seven of them were strikes. He walked the first two
batters and three of the first four, and still escaped with just one run
scored.
After McCarthy walked the first two hitters, he fell behind 2-0 to Matt
Holliday. Pitching coach Mike Maddux made a quick visit to the mound and
McCarthy responded immediately to what he said. He threw a four-seam fastback
and Holliday hit it right at second baseman Kinsler for a double play.
"I don't even remember what [Maddux] said," McCarthy said. "I was searching
all over the place trying to find something. It was probably the same message
he always says: 'Go after them ... you have good stuff ... now find it.'"
McCarthy then walked Jason Giambi and got a break when Kurt Suzuki's double
deep into the right-center field gap ricocheted into the Rangers' bullpen.
That kept a second run from scoring and McCarthy then wiggled out of the
inning by getting Ryan Sweeney on a pop to third base.
Sweeney's popout started a complete turnaround for McCarthy. Sweeney was the
first of 12 straight hitters McCarthy retired. McCarthy also retired 16 of 18
hitters before leaving after six innings. By then, the Rangers were sitting
on a 10-1 lead.
"I really have no answer," McCarthy said. "I just settled in and got back to
getting into a groove."
The Rangers as a team have been in one for most of May. They've also been
doing pretty good against the AL West.
The Rangers need one more victory against the Athletics on Sunday to sweep
the four-game series. If so, it would be their third straight sweep of an AL
West opponent after taking a pair of three-game series on the last homestand
against the Mariners and Angels. They are 13-2 against the AL West so far
this season.
"I've always said that you want to play well within your division,"
Washington said. "If you win a lot within your division, the opportunity to
be successful is much greater. We're winning in our division and we hope it
continues."
T.R. Sullivan is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the
approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
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