Padilla went to the mound today and was admittedly without his best stuff. But something is different about Padilla this year. In previous years when he would get into trouble, he would just pull back and throw harder. Now, Padilla seems to understand that he has to maintain focus and pitch, not throw his way out of jams. Despite getting himself into trouble in both the 1st and 4th innings, Padilla kept his focus and, despite giving up 10 hits, gave Texas 8 innings.
"I think it was a good game anyway," said Padilla. "In the first innings, I was a little bit lost with my control. In the last innings, I was getting more control, throwing more strikes, and they were swinging more."
Padilla's pitching counterpart, John Lackey, making his first start of the season since returning from the disabled list, didn't fare quite as well. His first pitch of the season sailed behind the back of Ian Kinsler. His second pitch hit Kinsler in the side. Home plate umpire Bob Davidson immediately tossed Lackey from the game, prompting a heated exchange between the umpire and Angels Manager Mike Scioscia.
"I haven't pitched in six weeks, man," Lackey said. "I was obviously trying to come in on him. There was no intention whatsoever to throw behind him or hit him."
Ian Kinsler didn't see things the same way.
"I don’t know what that was all about, and I don’t know what he was trying to prove," Kinsler said. "I go to first base, steal a base and score a run. That’s what I do. The umpire, I thought he handled it very well."
Jarrod Saltalamacchia put Texas ahead 3-2 when he drove in a couple of runs in the second with a single.
Josh Hamilton drove in a couple as well with two sacrifice flies, both in the 1st and 4th innings. Hamilton has been showing more patience at the plate since returning from the disabled list. Michael Young like that Texas has been doing the job pushing runs across the plate.
"Those are the things we need to do to win ballgames," said Young. "We're not going to hit four home runs every night, so we have to manufacture runs. We take pride in being a versatile offense."
Defensively, Texas didn't commit an error for the seventh time in eight games, including a great play from both Ian Kinsler and Chris Davis to get the last out of the game. Despite the play, Kinsler wanted to turn the spotlight back onto the quality of pitching the Rangers are getting from their starters.
"We're getting pitching -- that's the biggest thing," Kinsler said. "Padilla pitched an unbelievable game. We're getting to the point where we expect it every day."
Michael Young echoed Kinsler's praise of Padilla.
"He [Padilla] has a good breaking ball and a good split working, and he’s throwing strikes with his fastball," Young said. "Combine that with the fact that he’s been throwing well and working late in the game, that’s a good recipe for success."
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