The Drive For Five!

On any given night there is a possibility that you'll see history made or equaled when you go to catch a sporting event.

If baseball happens to be the game you go watch there's always a list of things you hope to see happen.

1.Perfect Game

2.No hitter

3.Shutout

4.Complete Game

5.Four Hit Game

6.Five Hit Game

7.Three Homer Game

8.Hit For The Cycle

9.Six Hit Game

10.Ten RBI game for one particular batter.

This night the Cleveland Indians were in Arlington to complete a four game series. As luck would have the fates of bad luck would continue to hold down the Rangers at home as the Tribe would dominate  in convincing fashion in convincing fashion 17-7.

Nick Martinez had a rough go of things as he didn't get past the second inning. Texas had to go deep into the bullpen this disappointing night.

"Nick just couldn't command his fastball tonight," Rangers manager Ron Washington said. "When he did throw it over the plate, they hit it. At least he found his breaking ball and changeup. They just came out and swung the bat, no matter what we put out there."

"I was just nibbling a lot and trying to be too fine on my fastball and put myself in the hole," Martinez said. "Mentally, you've just go to go out and attack your hitters. You have a night like tonight and you're kind of nibbling and not really pounding the strike zone."

Seven homers were hit at Globe Life Park. Five by Cleveland, and three by Lonnie Chisenhall as he became only the 4th ballplayer since 1914 to have five hits (triple shy of the cycle), three homers, nine RBIs and put forth the greatest performance of any Indians ballplayer since 1900!

"I'm enjoying it as much as I can," said Chisenhall. "I don't know the history of it -- who's done it in the past. They told me it's a short list and I'm proud to be any part of a short list."

Lonnie's bat is also keeping him in the starting lineup for now.

"He's played himself into getting more responsibility," Francona said. "I think we always hoped he would. I'm not sure he quite always understood that. I think he's starting to now and he's realizing that, by playing the game the right way, you gain trust and you're accountable."

The last time a ballplayer did what Mr. Chisenhall did was June 18th 1975 when Fred Lynn had a three homer and ten rbi night at Detroit. Gil Hodges turned the trick as a Brooklyn Dodger August 31st 1950, and also Walker Cooper for the Cincinnati Reds July 6th 1949.

Nick Martinez allowed the first tater to Lonnie while Scott Baker worked long relief and allowed the next two blasts to the lefty swinger.

"I just felt like I could get the barrel on most pitches tonight," said Chisenhall, who now has seven homers this year. "It was just a contagious night for everybody. Everybody was swinging the bat well. It was a good thing to be a part of."

Scott Baker wanted no part of history. Not since a Doug Davis appearance in 1999 has a Ranger allowed nine runs on 11 hits in long relief.

"The job of a long man, especially tonight, is to at least kind of keep the game where it was and allow the team to go out and score some runs, which we did, but I didn't quite do that tonight," Baker said. "I don't care about numbers. It's just about giving our team the innings that they need and keeping the game where it was."

Miami rolls into town for two before the Rangers take to the road for a nine game trip against the Mariners, Athletics, and Angels before coming home to play the 1st place Detroit Tigers June 24th-26th.

I can now add five hit three homer and nine RBI night without getting an out on my list of things to watch for when coming to the ballpark, any ballpark.

Well done Lonnie baseball! Take that-Johnny Football!

Over and out in Big D.

Mr. Will