By: Mike Rose
8/21/2006 3:07:36 PM
The Rangers just put forth one of their greatest three game stretches of the season by taking it to Detroit over the weekend and winning three of four.
Texas is really starting to heat up now, and that may have coincided with the way it's started to heat up in Texas. The Ranger bats love hot weather, and they've really started to erupt ever since last weeks home stand where they outscored their opposition by a 52-31 count in just six games.
The same can't be said about Tampa though whose once again going through a pathetic season, and they've lost 11 of their L/13 overall. Tonight's game pits Adam Eaton versus Jamey Shields. The D'Rays have lost eight of his L/9 starts overall, and he's not fooling anybody as his opposition is batting .297 off of him. On the other hand, Eaton has been a godsend since coming off the DL and his put forth a pair of solid efforts in each of his last two starts. He has a 2.77 ERA and has held opponents to a .174 batting average over his last two outings and is as sharp as any pitcher in the league.
Texas has won 10 of 12 and has not lost to the D-Rays this year. Don't look for them to break that streak tonight as the Rangers are in the thick of the AL West and Wild Card race. This is a series they must sweep, or at the very least win. Don't expect them to suffer a letdown after taking it to the first place Tigers in Motown. Jamey Shields should get rocked tonight after the Rangers hitters get their first look at him. Texas has been a better road team all season long.
Don't look for that trend to flop tonight or for the rest of this series.
8/21/2006 3:07:36 PM
The Rangers just put forth one of their greatest three game stretches of the season by taking it to Detroit over the weekend and winning three of four.
Texas is really starting to heat up now, and that may have coincided with the way it's started to heat up in Texas. The Ranger bats love hot weather, and they've really started to erupt ever since last weeks home stand where they outscored their opposition by a 52-31 count in just six games.
The same can't be said about Tampa though whose once again going through a pathetic season, and they've lost 11 of their L/13 overall. Tonight's game pits Adam Eaton versus Jamey Shields. The D'Rays have lost eight of his L/9 starts overall, and he's not fooling anybody as his opposition is batting .297 off of him. On the other hand, Eaton has been a godsend since coming off the DL and his put forth a pair of solid efforts in each of his last two starts. He has a 2.77 ERA and has held opponents to a .174 batting average over his last two outings and is as sharp as any pitcher in the league.
Texas has won 10 of 12 and has not lost to the D-Rays this year. Don't look for them to break that streak tonight as the Rangers are in the thick of the AL West and Wild Card race. This is a series they must sweep, or at the very least win. Don't expect them to suffer a letdown after taking it to the first place Tigers in Motown. Jamey Shields should get rocked tonight after the Rangers hitters get their first look at him. Texas has been a better road team all season long.
Don't look for that trend to flop tonight or for the rest of this series.
