Seattle Mariners (3-3) at Texas Rangers (4-1) RHP Kevin Millwood (0-0, ––) vs. RHP Colby Lewis (1-0, 3.00) Game #6 • Home #6 • Wed., April 11, 2012 • Rangers Ballpark in Arlington • 7:05 p.m. (CDT) • FSSW / ESPN 103.3 FM / 1540 AM WINS AND LOSSES: The Rangers beat Seattle last night, 1-0, and have KINSLER SIGNED THROUGH 2017: The Rangers formally announced won season-best 3 straight…team has won 4 of 5 to begin the year in a today that 2B Ian Kinsler has signed a five-year contract extension that 7-game, 7-day homestand against Chicago-AL (2-1) and Seattle (2- covers 2013 through 2017 with a club option for 2018…Kinsler, 29, has 0)…this is only the 2nd time in the last 16 seasons (1997-2011) for Texas opened the 2012 season by reaching safely via hit or walk in each of the to win at least 4 of its first 5, the other a 6-0 start in 2011…since 1994, first 5 games…he has a career .275 average with 126 home runs, 399 only years that Rangers went 5-1 or better thru 6 games were 1996 and RBI, and 563 runs scored in 778 games…more info on Kinsler can be 2011 (both 6-0), as club will attempt to join that list with a win tonight… found on a separate release. SEEKING ANOTHER SERIES WIN: Texas could secure another series ANOTHER SHUTOUT: The Rangers are the first team in the majors with win by beating the M’s either tonight or tomorrow…the 2011 season (won 2 shutouts this season, having blanked opponents in 2 of the year’s first first 3 series) marked first time since 1996 to win first 2 series in a cam- 5 games…it marks just the 2nd time in club history with 2 shutouts in paign…the only years the Rangers have ever won more than the first 2 team’s first 5 contests in a season (also 1979)…Texas is just the 4th team series of a season (excluding one-gamers) were 1989 (won first 5), 1993 in the last 16 years (1997-2012) to pull the trick, joining the 2002 Yankees, (won first 4), and 2011 (won first 3). 2002 Giants, and 2007 Mariners…since the DH was added in ‘73, this year’s club is just the 5th A.L. team with multiple shutouts in the first 5 1-0 GAMES AT THE BALLPARK: Last night’s 1-0 game marked just the games of a season. 10th such contest ever at Rangers Ballpark (1994-2012)…the Rangers AMERICAN LEAGUE TEAMS WITH MULTIPLE SHUTOUTS are 6-4 in those contests, having won 4 straight…this was the earliest IN FIRST 5 GAMES OF A SEASON, 1980-2012 date ever in a season for a 1-0 game at this facility…it was just the 4th 1- Year Team SHO first 5 0 game in the majors in 2012…the others (winner listed first): April 5 NYM 1978 Oakland A’s 2 1979 Texas Rangers 2 vs. ATL; April 5 PHI at PIT; April 9 OAK vs. KC. 2002 New York Yankees 3 1-0 GAMES AT RANGERS BALLPARK, 1994-2012 (10) 2007 Seattle Mariners 2 Date Winning Team (Opp.) 2012 Texas Rangers 2 April 28, 1994 Texas (Toronto) July 27, 1994 Minnesota PITCHING AND DEFENSE: Entering today’s game, the Rangers had the May 19, 1995 Milwaukee lowest ERA in the A.L. (2.20), 2nd-lowest figure in the majors to only the June 23, 1997* Anaheim Aug. 25, 2000 Texas (Toronto) Pirates (1.50)…team’s .204 opp. avg. ranked 2nd in A.L. (Toronto-.186) June 27, 2004 Houston and 4th in the majors…club has allowed just 2 HR, one of 5 ML teams to Sept. 3, 2008 Texas (Seattle) permit 2-or-less so far…pitching staff’s 1.04 WHIP figure ranks 2nd in A.L. June 11, 2009 Texas (Toronto) (CWS-0.96) and 4th in the majors…the bullpen’s 0.63 ERA (1 ER/14.1 IP) July 23, 2010* Texas (LA of Anaheim) is best in the majors, 8.1 consecutive scoreless innings entering tonight. April 10, 2012 Texas (Seattle) Team has errors in just one of the first 5 games, errors by David Murphy * - Solo HR in game and Derek Holland in the club’s lone loss on Saturday vs. Chicago- AL…the infield is still perfect with 88 errorless chances, and catchers IT’S A START: Neftali Feliz won in his first major league start with 7.0 have combined for 43 chances without a miscue…Elvis Andrus is perfect shutout innings last night…a look below at some of the highlights… in 24 chances to begin the year…dating to ‘11 reg. season, Andrus has • Became just the 3rd Texas pitcher ever with at least 7.0 shutout innings gone 38 games and 162 TC without an error, longest streak of his career. in his first big league start, the others Brian Sikorski (8/16/00 vs. NYY - 7.0 SHO IP) and Steve Comer (7/17/78 at BAL - 9.0 SHO IP)…Sikorski’s VS. SEATTLE: Texas has won 7 straight against Seattle dating to last effort came in his ML debut. season, and club is 10-1 in Arlington vs. M’s since beginning of 2011…the • Was first pitcher overall with at least 7.0 shutout innings in his first ML 7-game win streak matches the 3rd-longest in series history for the start since Colorado's Jhoulys Chacin on May 2, 2010 at San Francisco Rangers…Texas went 15-4 (.789) against Seattle in 2011…it was the (7.0 SHO IP), first to do it in the A.L. since Minnesota's Anthony Swarzak, most wins ever by Texas against any opponent in a single season, the 7.0 SHO IP on May 23, 2009 vs. Milwaukee. most by any team over another since Boston was 16-2 vs. Baltimore in • It was his longest professional start, surpassing a 6.2-inning outing with 2009…last year was the 4th consecutive season that Texas has posted at Low-A Clinton on April 5, 2008 vs. Cedar Rapids. least 10 victories vs. the M’s with the club having a 49-27 advantage in that span…Rangers lead all-time series 266-258, including 143-123 in ELIAS SAYS: Feliz began his career with Mariners batters going 0-for- Arlington and 87-66 at Rangers Ballpark. their-first-58 against him…according to the Elias Sports Bureau, the 58 at- LONGEST WIN STREAKS BY TEXAS VS. SEATTLE, ALL-TIME bats before allowing a hit is the longest streak to start a career against one G Dates team in the expansion era (since 1961)…the record was previously held 10 May 27-Oct. 1, 1978 by Billy Wagner, who held the Pittsburgh Pirates hitless in their first 48 at- 8 Sept. 27, 1980-May 24, 1981 bats from 1996 to 2001. 7 April 23-June 28, 2004 7 Sept. 17, 2011-current MORE ELIAS: Feliz had 7.0 shutout innings in his first career start last night after 154 relief appearances…according to Elias Sports Bureau, VS. A.L. WEST: This series marks first of 57 scheduled meetings with A.L. Feliz is the second pitcher in major league history to throw 7.0+ scoreless West opponents in 2012, Rangers’ only games versus the division over innings in his first career start after at least 150 relief team’s first 32 contests…Rangers have won 8 straight, 15 of 18, and 36 appearances…Oakland’s Bob Lacey threw a 7-hit shutout for the A's on of last 45 games against the division, the latter stretch beginning May 15, Oct. 4, 1980 at Milwaukee on the next to last day of that season. 2011. ONE AND DONE: Feliz became the first pitcher in Rangers history to win AT HOME: Texas has won 11 of 12 in Arlington dating to last season, as his first big league start in a 1-0 game…the last pitcher overall to pull the club has also won 6 consecutive series and gone 11-1-1 in last 13 series trick was Toronto’s Luis Perez (6.0 SHO IP) on Aug. 21, 2011 at Oakland, at Rangers Ballpark…the only home series loss in that span was dropping a 1-0 win on a Jose Bautista solo HR. 3 of 4 to Boston, Aug. 22-25…Rangers have not lost a 3-game series at home since July 1-3 vs. Florida. ANOTHER FORMER RANGER: The Rangers face Kevin Millwood tonight, the 3rd time in the team’s first 6 games that the opposing starter MISCELLANEOUS: Rangers have trailed at the end of just 4 of 45 had been in the Texas organization at one point…Millwood ranks among innings this season…David Murphy has 5 XBH, just 9th time in club all-time Rangers Ballpark leaders in starts (4th, 61) and innings (5th, history for a player to have 5 XBH in first 5 team games…others: Cruz (6 365.1)…Texas has already pinned losses on John Danks (4/6) and Blake in 2010), Sierra (6 in 1992), Palmeiro (5 in 1991), Palmer (5 in both 1993 Beavan (last night). and 1995), Gonzalez (5 in 1998), Pudge (5 in 2000), Velarde (5 in 2001). UPCOMING PROBABLES, TIMES & BROADCASTS Date Opponent Pitchers - Texas vs. Opponent Time (CDT) Radio/TV Thursday, April 12 vs.