Pudge Back in Starting Lineup for Texas Rangers

Ivan Rodriguez is the starting lineup for the Texas Rangers, a day after rejoining his old team in a trade with Houston.

The popular catcher nicknamed “Pudge” will hit eighth in Wednesday night’s game against the Minnesota Twins. It’ll be his first start for Texas since 2002.

Rodriguez won 10 Gold Gloves during 11 seasons with the Rangers. He also hit over .300 in his last eight seasons with the Rangers.

The 14-time All-Star hit his 300th home run while with the Astros in May. He takes a .299 career batting average into Wednesday night’s game. The Rangers plan to use Rodriguez as a backup to Taylor Teagarden.

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Texas Rangers Proving They’re Here To Stay

Going into a weekend where all the talks revolved around the Red Sox-Yankees series in Yankee Stadium, the other side of the country saw the Texas Rangers making a statement of their own.

The Rangers were set for a trip to visit the Los Angeles Angels in a series that could make or break their season. A team that was viewed as being a few years away from contending going into the season, the Rangers have proven they are a team of the present.

When Baseball America came out with their prospect handbook this offseason, Texas held many of the top prospects, and, more importantly, it held the No. 1 farm system. With many of their blue-chip prospects playing important roles for the ’09 team, the Rangers are showing that their future is now.

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Michael Young Powers Rangers to Win, 6-3

Young led off the sixth with his third hit, a homer to left that tied the game

Hank Blalock(notes) then had an RBI single before scoring on Murphy’s homer. Pitching coach John Farrell visited the mound, but Saltalamacchia hit the next pitch onto the grassy hill in straightaway center and Smoltz was done—after giving up three homers in an inning for only the second time in his 21-year career.

“The two-run homer was the backbreaker for me. I’m frustrated. I’m pleased with the way I’m throwing the baseball, but the results have been awful. They haven’t matched the effort,” Smoltz said. “I’ll have a hard time sleeping tonight.”

The Red Sox have lost three straight, the latest loss allowing the New York Yankees to tie them for the AL East lead. Boston has scored only six runs in those losses.

“We’re certainly not hitting on all cylinders. Sometimes this game can frustrate you a little bit,” manager Terry Francona said. “We’ve got to keep fighting because sometimes it’s not as easy as you want it to be.”

Texas trailed 2-1 when Kevin Millwood(notes) (9-7) threw his last pitch to end the top of the sixth. But the Rangers finally got to Smoltz, who hadn’t allowed a home run in 25 innings this season until Young’s homer.

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Rangers beat Angels 8-5

Rangers battle Angels to Stay Close in Division Race

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP)—Michael Young(notes) created an opening with his speed. Andruw Jones(notes) and the rest of the Texas Rangers lineup took over from there.

Jones hit a three-run homer off John Lackey(notes) after Young reached on a two-out infield single, leading to a big fifth inning in the Rangers’ 8-5 victory over the Los Angeles Angels on Tuesday night.

Hank Blalock(notes) scored on a wild pitch and Jarrod Saltalamacchia(notes) added a two-run single in the inning, when Texas erased the Angels’ 3-0 lead. All the runs came with two out.

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Rangers win 14-1

McCarthy, Blalock, Byrd lead Rangers past A’s

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP)—The Oakland Athletics had Brandon McCarthy(notes) on the ropes in the first inning before the Texas Rangers right-hander executed a great escape.

McCarthy went on to pitch six strong innings, Hank Blalock(notes) and Marlon Byrd(notes) hit back-to-back homers, and the Rangers routed the A’s 14-1 on Saturday night

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