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Trumbo trouble Eight innings of exquisitely played baseball was ruined when Mark Trumbo parked a Mike Adams cutter into the southern California evening. The California Angels staved off a home sweep at the hands of the Texas Rangers, 2-1.
At the end of the day, you completely go to Chicago happy at winning three of four and leaving the door only slightly ajar for the Angels to climb back into things.
Still, that's two pretty depressing losses for the Rangers against the Angels this season. Two you should have had.
I don't think Ron Washington handles the bullpen very well. But, then again, this is also the manager that's taken the Rangers to the World Series and has them winning their division for the second straight year. He does something right.
I hate that Neftali Feliz works in non-save situations. I tend to hate that a lot of Rangers' relievers -- like Koji Uehara, Mike Adams -- work with four-run leads and whatnot.
Feliz was not going to pitch last night because he'd gone in four of five nights. This, despite telling coaches he was ready. Mike Adams knew he was the closer, if needed. All of this according to a Jeff Wilson tweet.
Of course, did Feliz need to go into those games? Doesn't Washington and his staff understand that if you work guys one night, they might not be available the next?
Mind you, Feliz pitched on Aug. 17 (Wednesday) and Aug. 16 (Tuesday). He'd thrown a total of 14 pitches in those two outings.
On Tuesday, he threw three pitches in a 7-3 win. Why was he out there? Especially if you thought you might need him Wednesday or Thursday? Why can't Yoshi Tateyama or Mark Lowe finish off a four-run lead?
I'm pretty sure that Washington wanted Adams to close another game and using Feliz two straight nights gave him the opportunity to do that last night or tonight in Chicago.
Bottomline is that it's not Wash's fault. Adams needed three outs. He didn't get one.
But ... Wash needs to decide right now who the closer is, use them as such and quit getting cute. He doesn't have to use quality arms while leading by four or more runs. So quit doing it.
****
The loss overshadows the brilliance of Colby Lewis. It's well regarded that Lewis hasn't thrown as good as he has the last two starts since last October. He went seven shutout frames allowing six baserunners. His ERA dipped to 3.83.
Lewis' last three:
20.2 IP - 12 hits - 4 runs - 1 home run - 3 BBs - 18 Ks.
Lewis hasn't allowed a home run in two straight starts. Only the second time this season. He hasn't gone three straight starts yet.
Lewis is also a messy 11-9 this year with five no-decisions. Clearly, last night he was robbed. His numbers in those five no-decisions:
33.1 IP - 24 hits - 14 runs - 2 home runs - 9 BBs - 30 Ks.
Essentially, 11 of his 14 runs in those five games have come in two starts. He's leading the universe in homers allowed, yet, in those five starts he's allowed just two in 33 innings.
In two of those no-decisions, he's allowed no runs in at least seven innings.
Notes:
1. Mark Lowe continues his run. Insanely good eighth inning last night.
2. It's not the runs that concern me about Adams, it's the baserunners. Posting a 1.56 WHIP as a Ranger. Only twice has he failed to disallow a baserunner.
3. Yorvit Torrealba managed a hit. He's failed to register a hit in just SEVEN games in July-August. Once in August.
4. Endy Chavez had a miserable series: Seven strikeouts, two hits in three games.
5. Elvis Andrus has four more doubles and 10 more RBI than he did all of last year. He owns Jered Weaver, too.
6. Weaver against the Rangers: 1.86 ERA this year. He has a 1.09 ERA against Seattle.
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