Poor Pitching, Fundamentals Cost Texas Another One

Last night simply was not Vicente Padilla's night. The Baltimore Orioles came to town with an offense that looks to be one of the more potent in the American League and proceeded to hit virtually everything Padilla threw in their general direction. In his first start of the season, Vicente had location issues, battling for 5 2/3 and picking up the victory again Detroit. But last night, location was the least of his worries. Padilla just didn't have the same type of velocity on his fastball that he usually has, barely hitting 90 on the radar gun when we're used to seeing 93 and 94 out of him. The Orioles jumped all over him, to the tune of seven runs on eleven hits (including five in a row that ran him out of the game) in 3 1/3 innings.

"There are no excuses for that. I threw all my pitches today, and they hit everything. I threw a split finger. I threw fastballs. I threw curveballs. I threw changeups. They hit everything," said Padilla after the 10-9 loss.



In a trend which is appearing more ominous with each game, the bullpen offered zero relief as Scott Feldman looked no better, surrending three runs in 2 2/3 innings.

The Rangers offense was again the lone bright spot, pounding Baltimore pitching for nine runs on eleven hits and five walks, with several player showing a great deal of patience at the plate. Included in this list onf players is Chris Davis, who was set to have the day off until Hank Blalock woke up with a stiff neck. Davis took advantage of the change, going 2 for 3 and clubbing his first homerun of the year into the right field upper deck. The homerun came after Davis had worked a full count against pitcher Koji Uehara, showing patience he hadn't shown in the first six games of the year.

Andruw Jones continued his hot hitting as well, going 2 for 3 with a homerun and 3 rbi. He appears to have found his stroke, hopefully leading to a return to the all-star form he's shown for most of his career.

Mike Young added a 2-run homer and almost tied the game with another big hit until Orioles right fielder Nick Markakis made a great catch up against the wall to rob him of an rbi in the bottom of the ninth. This play proved to be very controversial as Ian Kinsler, who had been standing on 2nd base, chose to take off running (rather than tag up) assuming the ball wouldn't be caught. When it was, Kinsler was forced to hurry back to 2nd, costing Texas a base. After Josh Hamilton flew out to left center, Andruw Jones walked and was pitch run for by David Murphy. Murphy and Kinsler then got away with a double steal (Murphy appeared to out by a foot), before Marlon Byrd struck out to end the game.

Despite all the poor pitching, Texas went into the bottom of the ninth with a chance to win. But once again poor fundamentals (something Ron Washinton has suppossedly been preaching since becoming manager 3 seasons ago) play a role in costing the Rangers another win.

This is a young team but the question has to be asked: when will these guys start playing and thinking like Major League players?