First of Six!

Hello Friday! Birthday wishes to George Brett, Emmitt Smith, and Joe Maurer!

Yesterday was as perfect an afternoon as you could ask for. A sunny day, not too hot. A baseball game that is completed in a little over 2 hours. Two pitchers tossing goose eggs, timely hitting, and some 9th inning magic! As if Wednesday night's finish could not be topped! Alas, I am wrong.

Matt Harrison for eight innings appeared to be the recipient of hard luck. Much like the result Kevin Millwood suffered in a complete game loss to Zack Greinke on April 18th, Harrison's scoreless streak ended in the 4th with 2 runs. He allowed 5 hits while fanning seven. His opponent Felix Hernandez bamboozled the Rangers for seven innings. It remained 2-0 until the last of the 9th.

Hank Blalock if he stays the course (and can remain healthy) might very well get the call for Comeback Player of the Year. Less than 15 hours after a dramatic walk-off double, he would hammer a Brandon Morrow pitch deep into the home run porch to cut the deficit to 2-1. There was a roar and you began to wonder...

If there is a pet peeve I have in the latter part of a game, it's first pitch swinging. Makes me crazy! I prefer you work the count. After a first pitch popout by Marlon Byrd, David Murphy battled Morrow for a double. Up walked Chris Davis.

You may recall that Davis began the year mired in an 0 for 17 slump before busting out. I was with my boys Cody and Erik. We all agreed that because of the way Matt Harrison threw this would be a game to be rewarded for persevering. The Rangers of 2009 do not carry swagger, only confidence. I had a gut feeling...

Chris Davis took a few pitches before getting his swing. Brandon Morrow throws heat! Although recently removed from the DL, he would throw a pitch a little too good.

THWACK! There is a certain trajectory a baseball takes when you hit it that you KNOW it's gone the moment the horsehide is cracked. We knew. The Mariners knew, and the crowd of 21,000 erupted in joy and noise! Crush Davis with a walk off homer! A 3-2 Ranger win, a sweep of the Mariners. Texas now 5-0 against Seattle. The guy I felt bad for was Felix Hernandez. Next to Greinke, that was the best performance I've seen by an opposing pitcher.

If the Red Sox knew how to keep a lead, Texas might be enjoying a 3.5 game lead in the West. Alas, it is only 1.5 . If the Rangers can take 2 of 3 from the Angels this weekend, I predict there will be a buzz that begins to emanate from the so-called media pundits and the fair-weathered bandwagoners.

Matt Harrison now 4-2. I love the chutzpah this young man possesses! If this were a Broadway play, I'd be singing, 'I'm Just Wild About Harry!'

The benefit of pitching and defense is that you have games that fly by! I love a pitchers duel played in 2 hours! That's Heaven, baby! First place Rangers is really starting to have a nice ring to it. They will maintain that mantle for at least a little while longer. When a team is playing on all cylinders, it's kind of like that first date that feels go comfortable you never want the moment to end. That's Baseball!

Time for a walk!

Over and out in Big D

Mr Will