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Tigers-Rangers
Preview
The Texas Rangers showed signs of
breaking out of their surprising offensive
slump in their latest game, but suffered
yet another defeat.
Losing for the 10th time in 12 games,
though, was hardly the worst thing
to happen to the Rangers on Monday.
Texas will try to move on without
leading hitter Ian Kinsler, who may
miss the rest of the season with a
sports hernia, as it continues its
three-game home set Tuesday with the
Detroit Tigers. |
Kinsler made his first
All-Star team in 2008, and had a major league-leading
165 hits and 102 runs scored as of Monday,
when the Rangers announced he'd be going
on the 15-day disabled list.
An MRI revealed the problem on the left
side of his groin. If he needs surgery,
Kinsler will miss at least eight weeks.
"This obviously hurts. We can't replace
(Kinsler)," second baseman Michael
Young, one of the Rangers' other three All-Stars,
told the team's official Web site. "We'll
just have to pick up the pieces and claw
our way through this."
Kinsler's production -- he was hitting .319
with 18 homers and 71 RBIs -- will be missed
even more considering the slump the Rangers
(62-64) have been in a funk offensively.
The majors' most productive offense has
been woeful recently as Texas began its
series with Detroit (61-64).
The Rangers came in having scored 11 runs
in their last five games, and they'd been
shut out four times in their previous 10
contests.
The offense broke through somewhat on Monday,
but Texas' beleaguered pitching staff --
the worst in baseball -- cost the team again
in an 8-7 loss. Tigers slugger Gary Sheffield
hit his 493rd career homer, which tied him
for 25th all-time with Hall of Famer Lou
Gehrig and Fred McGriff.
Already at a disadvantage without Kinsler,
things won't get any easier for the Rangers
as Armando Galarraga (11-4, 3.11 ERA) will
be on the mound looking to win his fifth
consecutive decision for the Tigers.
Detroit's pitching has been a disappointment,
but Galarraga has been good by any standards.
The rookie right-hander made his major league
debut with the Rangers in September, but
was dealt to the Tigers in February in exchange
for minor leaguer Michael Hernandez, who
has since been released by Texas.
The Rangers could certainly use Galarraga
now, but Detroit has been happy to reap
the benefits. Opposing batters are hitting
a mere .217 off the right-hander, the third-lowest
average in the majors.
Tigers manager Jim Leyland just wants Galarraga
to concentrate on pitching rather than facing
the team that traded him.
"It would be the biggest mistake of
his life if he goes on the mound hoping
to show the Rangers something," Leyland
said. "That's high school (stuff)."
He's also coming off what may have been
his best start of the season on Wednesday
against Toronto. Galarraga gave up a run
and six hits over eight innings -- striking
out six -- in a 5-1 victory.
Galarraga will be opposed by Vicente Padilla
(12-6, 4.85), whose turn in the rotation
was pushed back from Sunday after the right-hander
experienced inflammation in his neck.
"I started to feel it right before
the All-Star game," he said, "...but
thank God my arm is OK. It's just my neck."
Padilla, who gave up six runs in four innings
in a loss to Baltimore on Aug. 9, was hit
hard in his lone start against Detroit this
season. He gave up seven runs in only three
innings on May 22 in a 10-2 loss.
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