Detroit Tigers (41-32) at Texas Rangers (35-41) RHP Anibal Sanchez (4-2, 2.33) Vs
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Detroit Tigers (41-32) at Texas Rangers (35-41) RHP Anibal Sanchez (4-2, 2.33) vs. LHP Joe Saunders (0-3, 4.11) Game #77 • Home #37 (16-20) • Wed., June 25, 2014 • Globe Life Park in Arlington • 7:05 p.m. CDT • FSSW / ESPN / 103.3 FM / 1540 AM WINS AND LOSSES: The Rangers have lost a season-high 6 straight af- MILESTONE FOR BELTRE: Adrian Beltre had 4 hits last night, the first of ter last night’s 8-2 defeat and are 0-1 on this 6-game homestand against which was career hit no. 2500…he became just the 6th player to spend a Detroit (0-1) and Baltimore (3 G)…the current 6-game slide is longest ac- majority of his career as a 3rd baseman with at least 2500 career hits (since tive streak in MLB, longest by the Rangers since a 7-game drought from 1900)…the others: 3154--George Brett; 3010--Wade Boggs; 2848--Brooks 9/9-16/13…club has lost 7 of 8 and is 7-13 in June, 21-33 since 4/25…club Robinson; 2726--Chipper Jones; 2514--Buddy Bell…he is the 86th player is season-high 6 games under .500 for first time since a 76-82 record on in the modern era of MLB (since 1900) to amass at least 2500 hits, one of 9/23/08…have not been 7-under since 9/22/08 (75-82)…this marks Rang- 4 active players to reach that figure…the others: Derek Jeter (3387), Alex ers’ fewest wins thru 76 games since 2007 (31-45/32-45 after 77 games)… Rodriguez (2939), and Ichiro Suzuki (2787). club has been at .500 or below for 16 straight days since last winning mark • Last night was Beltre’s 30th career game with 4+ hits, first since 7/9/13 on 6/6 at 31-30…has been season-high 6 games over .500 twice…club is at BAL…it was the 8th time he’s had a 4-hit game without an extra-base 1-5-1 in its last 7 series, winning 2 of 3 in SEA, 6/13-15 for lone series win knock, first since he was with Seattle on 8/6/09 at KC. in that span. • Beltre has gone 6-for-8 the past 2 games to rise from .306 to .321, 5th in the A.L…he now has multiple hits in 26 of his 62 games this season LUCKY NOW: Entering tonight, the Rangers are the only MLB team that (41.9%), and ranks 10th in the league in multi-hit contests. has yet to see a delay or postponement in 2014…Rangers have not seen a delay (home or road) since last Aug. 14 vs. MIL (0:37 due to rain) and were FOUR HITS: Adrian Beltre’s 4-hit game last night was the 4th by a Rang- last postponed on May 29, 2013 vs. ARI (field conditions). er this season, the last 3 of which have come against the Tigers…Chris Gimenez (5/22) and Rougned Odor (5/24) had 4-hit games in the clubs’ STANDINGS: Texas has been in 4th place for 9 straight and 21 of the last earlier series at Comerica…Beltre became the first Ranger with a hit in 22 days beginning 6/3…the club has not been as low as 4th place this late every plate appearance in a game, all being singles, since Hank Blalock in the season since the end of 2007 (4th)…the Rangers have dropped 4.5 singled in all 4 PA’s on 5/8/06 vs. MIN. games in the standings the last 8 days to go from 7.0 to a season-high 11.5 games behind the division-leading A’s (4 straight days w/ 11.5-game CARRYING THE LOAD: Beltre had 4 of the Rangers’ 9 hits last night… deficit)…this is the team’s largest deficit at any point in a season since it was just the 2nd time since the start of 2009 for a Texas batter to have the end of 2008 (21.0 GB)…Texas had not previously trailed by as many a 4+ hit game with the team’s overall hit total in single digits…only other as 11.5 games this early in a season since 2007 (11.5 GB through 49 G). instance came June 30, 2010 in Anaheim, when former Angel Vladimir Guerrero was a one-man show in going 4-for-4 with 2 HR, a double, and AT HOME: Rangers’ 16-20 (.457) home record began day as 2nd-lowest 5 RBI in the Rangers’ 6-4 victory…club had 9 hits in that game as well. winning pct. in A.L., ahead of only TB (.419, 18-25), 4th-lowest in MLB… • Last night marked the first time for Texas to lose a game in which one of the 16 wins are T2nd-fewest ever through 36 games in a season at Globe its players had 4+ hits since Sept. 7, 2011 at TB, a 5-4 walk-off defeat in Life Park (1994-2014)…only years with as few as 16 home wins at this which Mike Napoli went 4-for-5…club had not dropped a game in Arling- point at this park were 2001 (14-22) and 2003 (16-20)…club has dropped ton when a Ranger had 4 hits since Sept. 20, 2008 vs. LAA, when Hank 5 of 6 and 12 of last 18 at home, and are 7-17 last 24 home games after Blalock was 4-for-4 with a walk in a 7-3 defeat. opening season with a 9-3 mark in Arlington…Rangers won first 4 series here in ‘14, but are 0-5-3 last 8 home series entering tonight. THE CLOSER: Joakim Soria pitched last night for the first time since June • Rangers are slated to play 13 of last 20 in the first “half” in Arlington be- 14 at SEA and retired both batters faced…he has worked 8.1 scoreless ginning with this homestand. innings with 7 saves in his last 9 games and has a 0.44 ERA (1 ER/20.2 IP) in his last 22 appearances to drop season ERA from 7.20 to 1.75…he VS. DETROIT: Rangers have a 3-2 lead in 2014 and this 3-game set is 15-for-16 in save chances, converting the last 7 since blown save on will wrap up the season series…Rangers have taken season series in 2 5/27 at MIN… straight and 3 of last 4 years, needing to win one of these final 2 meetings • Soria vs. Tigers since start of 2008: 28 G, 1-0, 15-for-16 in save opp., to add another season series victory…Rangers have won 2 of 3, 9 of 14 0.64 ERA (2 ER/28.0 IP) w/ 4 BB, 33 SO, and .180 (18-100) opp. avg. and 11 of last 17 meetings overall dating to 2012…Rangers are 15-8 vs. Tigers in reg. season since 8/4/11…in Arlington, Rangers have won 2 of 3, SAUNDERS SEEKING WIN COLUMN: Entering tonight, the Rangers 5 of 7, and 7 of 10, going 17-10 at home beginning 8/20/08…Tigers lead have 15 players with at least one victory this season, most in the A.L. and all-time series 235-221, with Texas leading 121-104 in Arlington and 56-39 tied with the Mets for most in MLB…Joe Saunders is still seeking his first at Globe Life Park…Rangers also won the 6-game 2011 ALCS vs. Tigers. win in a Texas uniform and could be the MLB-high 16th Ranger to record a victory in 2014. UNDER THE LIGHTS: Texas has gone 13-10 (.565) in day games this season, 5th-best mark in the A.L., but has a 22-31 (.415) record in night LEONYS MARTIN has 5 hits in his last 3 games and 4 of them have been tilts, the 4th-lowest night winning pct. in MLB…have dropped 5 in a row doubles…Martin has 9 doubles this season, with 4 coming in a 4-game under the lights, and are 12-26 at night beginning April 25 after opening the span from May 28-31, and 4 coming over the past 3 contests…he enters season with a 10-5 record at night…9 of the Rangers’ 22 night wins this tonight with hits in 4 of his last 5 plate appearances. season have been shutouts. BOTTOM’S UP: Rougned Odor went 1-for-3 with a hit by pitch last night, PLAY ON: Carlos Pena’s first appearance with the Rangers last night as Texas 9th-place hitters are batting .299 (20-67) over 20 games in June made him the club’s MLB-high 42nd player used in 2014, one more than 5 with 2 HR, 6 RBI, and 10 runs scored…for the season, Rangers’ 9-hole other clubs (LAA, NYM, NYY, PHI, TOR)…of the 41, Texas has employed has produced a .266/.300/.367 slash line, ranking among MLB leaders in 23 pitchers (including Mitch Moreland), 2nd behind NYY (24)…Rangers order’s last slot in OBP (3rd), average (4th), SLG (4th), OPS (4th)…club’s have also used 11 rookies…in 2013, the Rangers used 46 players, 24 35 RBI from 9-hole lead majors and are just 5 less than the team-high 40 pitchers, and 13 rookies over the entire season.