If you watched tonight’s Rangers-Orioles game you saw history. It’s happened fewer times than there have been perfect games in Major League Baseball. Four homers by Josh Hamilton. Lots of other accolades from his performance tonight, surely being espoused elsewhere. I wanted to take some time to point out some other positives from this great night. All four of Josh’s homers, Elvis Andrus was on base. Elvis looks more dialed in at the plate than I have seen him since he came up. Nelson Cruz took the positives from last night’s two infield singles and turned them into the harder hit variety. Biggest thing tonight? Neffi Feliz. He is still struggling getting everything under control, but tonight it was a little different. He knew his fastball was working and dabbled with his other pitches until he got them where he wanted them. It was a conscious effort from Feliz and I am so impressed with the mental makeup of our pitchers. Robbie Ross had some issues, but let’s face it…he was due for mortality.
Tomorrow, game three of this four game set and it’s important that we don’t look ahead to the series with the Angels this weekend. Ok , they can’t, but I can. As bad as the Angels have been, save for when CJ or Weaver are pitching, I know they will be “ON” for this series, if for no other reason, that they are sick of hearing how good we are and how bad they are. This isn’t a new rivalry. I remember a game back in 1983. It was a weird night too. Early in the game a bunch of lights went out causing a delay. It was hot. Tempers were high and later in the game there was a fight between our second baseman Wayne Tolleson, who was a base runner and their second baseman Bobby Grinch- er Grich. It was the bench clearing variety too. C.J. will square off against Yu this weekend too. Should be good.
As for tomorrow? Colby Lewis takes on Wei-Yin Chen. He’s been good, but Boston tapped him for 4 runs in 5 innings his last start. Would love for the chip on the Angels shoulder to be even bigger because we are red-hot when we get home.
Bring it.
No Pepper 