<?xml version="1.0" encoding="iso-8859-1"?>
<rss version="2.0">
	<channel>		<title>RUWT? News</title>
		<link>http://areyouwatchingthis.com</link>
		<description>RUWT? News for Los Angeles Angels vs. Texas Rangers 7/1/2009</description>
		<language>en-us</language>
		<copyright>Copyright 2006-2007 areyouwatchingthis.com</copyright>
		<lastBuildDate>Sun, 22 Nov 2009 16:20:28 GMT</lastBuildDate>
		<pubDate>Sun, 22 Nov 2009 16:20:28 GMT</pubDate>
		<generator>RUWT?</generator>

		
			<item>
				<title><![CDATA[Blalock's blast gives Rangers 9-7 victory]]></title>
				<description><![CDATA[By DAVID JIMENEZ
Associated Press Writer

ARLINGTON, Texas(AP) -- With their offense hitting the skids in
June, the Texas Rangers were dropping fast in the division
standings.

Texas broke out of its monthlong slumber in time to keep things
interesting in the American League West.

Hank Blalock's second homer of the game, a two-run shot with two
outs in the ninth inning, gave Texas a 9-7 victory Wednesday
night and moved the Rangers within a half game of the
first-place Los Angeles Angels in the division.

Texas was hitting .221 in June before breaking out with five
home runs in a 9-5 victory Tuesday over Los Angeles.

The Rangers played small ball early to get a 7-1 lead, then used
Blalock's blast to hold off the Angels.

"There will be times when things don't go right, and that was
one of those times," Texas manager Ron Washington said. "Those
guys never dropped their heads. We try to play the game the way
it's presented to us."

Michael Young singled off Justin Speier (3-2) leading off the
Texas ninth. David Murphy dropped down a sacrifice bunt to move
Young to second and Marlon Byrd struck out.

Blalock, who homered in the fourth, hit the first pitch into the
grassy area beyond the fence in center field.

"I tried to throw a backdoor slider," Speier said. "That was not
the right pitch."

Texas, who took two of three from the Angels, improved to 5-1
against Los Angeles this season. The teams meet again for a
three-game set next week in California.

"I don't know if it's a statement," said Rangers starter Kevin
Millwood, who allowed four runs in 6 1-3 innings. "I think the
statement is that our offense looks like it's back to where it's
been in the past."

The Angels rallied from their six-run deficit by scoring three
runs in both the seventh and ninth. Juan Rivera's three-run
homer with two outs in the top of the ninth off Frank Francisco
(2-1) tied the game at 7.

Los Angeles squandered other chances by having four runners
thrown out on the bases, including Chone Figgins getting thrown
out trying to leg out a triple leading off the ninth.

"We did things that were out of character," Angels center
fielder Torii Hunter said. "We all made mistakes."

Yankees 4, Mariners 2=

At New York, Alex Rodriguez hit a tiebreaking homer and Andy
Pettitte pitched seven strong innings in New York's seventh
straight victory.

Johnny Damon and Melky Cabrera also went deep for the Yankees,
who overcame Ken Griffey Jr.'s 621st home run to win their 10th
straight home game against Seattle since Sept. 4, 2007.

Mariano Rivera saved his third consecutive game, increasing his
career total to 502 and getting his 20th in 21 chances this
season.

Pettitte (8-3) outpitched fellow lefty Jarrod Washburn (4-6) in
a game that took just 2 hours, 17 minutes. The Yankees (45-32)
are a season-high 13 games over .500.

White Sox 6, Indians 2=

At Cleveland, Jose Contreras got a rare road win, pitching eight
superb innings as Chicago won its fifth straight.

Contreras (3-7) improved to 3-2 with a 2.17 ERA since being
recalled from Triple-A Charlotte after a monthlong demotion. The
right-hander, who was 1-6 in his previous 10 road starts,
allowed two runs and five hits with eight strikeouts.

Cleveland has dropped five straight and 13 of 15.

Ramon Castro hit a three-run homer off Jeremy Sowers (2-6) in a
four-run sixth as the White Sox improved to 12-4 since June
13.

Red Sox 6, Orioles 5, 11 innings=

At Baltimore, Boston used a four-run ninth inning to pull even,
Julio Lugo singled in the tiebreaking run in the 11th and
Jonathan Papelbon became the franchise's career saves leader.

Papelbon got three outs in the 11th for his 20th save this
season and 133rd with the Red Sox, breaking the team record held
by Bob Stanley. Less than 24 hours earlier, Papelbon yielded the
key hit in the eighth inning of a game in which Boston blew a
10-1 lead before losing 11-10.

Ramon Ramirez (5-2) worked the 10th for the visiting Red Sox,
who took two of three from Baltimore for their seventh straight
series win.

Danys Baez (4-2) was the loser.

Blue Jays 5, Rays 0=

At Toronto, Ricky Romero pitched four-hit ball over eight
innings, Rod Barajas, Adam Lind and Scott Rolen each homered and
the Blue Jays ended Tampa Bay's seven-game winning streak.

Romero (6-3) matched the longest outing of his career in winning
his third straight start. He walked four, struck out seven and
lowered his ERA to 2.85. Romero allowed just two hits through
the first six innings.

Toronto snapped a four-game losing streak with a trio of solo
home runs off James Shields (6-6).

Twins 5, Royals 1=

At Kansas City, Mo., Joe Mauer went 3 for 3, raising his average
to .392 and backing pitcher Glen Perkins in Minnesota's victory.

After walking in the first inning, Mauer stroked three
consecutive singles, driving in one run and scoring another as
the Twins completed a 6-3 trip that began in Milwaukee and St.
Louis. He was walked intentionally in the eighth.

Perkins (4-4) allowed one run for the second straight start,
allowing 10 hits in seven innings. Joe Nathan got the final out
for his 21st save in 23 opportunities.

Gil Meche (4-8), whose "dead arm" the previous two starts had
created concern among the Royals, gave up three runs - two
earned - six hits and five walks in six innings.

Athletics 5, Tigers 1=

At Oakland, Calif., Jason Giambi and Jack Cust broke out of
funks with two-run homers, and Oakland's Dallas Braden ended a
four-start winless stretch.

Giambi's drive in the sixth off Detroit's Justin Verlander (8-4)
was career homer No. 407, tying him with Duke Snider for 43rd
place.

Braden (6-7) pitched seven strong innings to win for the first
time in five starts since beating Baltimore on June 5.]]></description>
				<category><![CDATA[mlb]]></category>
				<link>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/mlb/news/105087-Blalocks-blast-gives-Rangers-9-7-victory</link>
				<guid>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/mlb/news/105087-Blalocks-blast-gives-Rangers-9-7-victory</guid>
				<pubDate>Thu, 02 Jul 2009 07:35:11 GMT</pubDate>
			</item>
		
			<item>
				<title><![CDATA[Angels-Rangers Preview]]></title>
				<description><![CDATA[By MIKE LIPKA
STATS Writer

Los Angeles (42-32) at Texas (40-35), 8:05 p.m. EDT

Improved pitching has helped the Texas Rangers remain contenders
in the AL West this year, but it was an older formula that
enabled them to end the Los Angeles Angels' six-game winning
streak on Tuesday.

One night after slugging five home runs to even their series
with the division leaders, the Rangers can pull within one-half
game of Los Angeles on Wednesday with another victory as the
clubs decide their three-game set.

Before Tuesday's game, Texas (41-35) had dropped eight of 11 to
surrender first place in the West to the Angels, who extended
the Rangers' offensive slump and opened a 2 1/2-game lead by
winning 5-2 in Monday's series opener.

That was the sixth time in their previous nine games that the
Rangers, who led the majors in runs in 2008, had scored two or
fewer runs. Their bats finally awakened Tuesday, however, with
Marlon Byrd hitting two of Texas' five homers and driving in
five runs in a 9-5 win.

"That's something that we needed," said Byrd, who's 5 for 9 with
three homers in the series.

Nelson Cruz and Ian Kinsler each added his 19th homer of the
season, and the Rangers will be getting another big bat back
soon. Josh Hamilton announced Tuesday that he expects to return
from the disabled list this weekend against the Tampa Bay Rays.

"Hopefully, (Tuesday's win) will create some momentum for us,"
said outfielder David Murphy, who had the final home run
Tuesday.

They'll hope to stay hot against Jered Weaver (8-3, 2.65 ERA),
who has looked increasingly vulnerable lately. The right-hander
went 7-2 with a 2.08 ERA in his first 13 starts, capped by a
five-hit shutout against San Diego on June 14.

Weaver, though, has allowed nine runs in 11 1-3 innings in his
last two starts. He still earned a victory against Arizona on
Friday, working six innings in the 12-3 win.

"Weave wasn't as crisp tonight. It was good to get him some runs
and give him a margin of error," Angels manager Mike Scioscia
said.

Los Angeles didn't give him any support when he started against
the Rangers on May 17. He allowed three runs in eight innings,
getting credit for a complete game in a 3-0 loss.

It could be difficult again for the Angels' bats against Kevin
Millwood (8-5, 2.64) as two of the top six AL pitchers in ERA
match up. Millwood is coming off a stellar month of June, during
which he went 4-1 with a 1.30 ERA.

He has anchored a staff with a 4.38 ERA - nearly a run better
than last year, when the Rangers' 5.37 team ERA ranked last in
the majors.

"He's just a leader, and to go out there and lead the pitching
staff like that, it takes the pressure off the offense," Murphy
said of Millwood.

Millwood beat the Angels on May 15, allowing two runs in six
innings of a 10-8 victory during Texas' three-game sweep.

Los Angeles (42-33) had won nine of 11 going into the May
meetings, and the Angels were 13-3 in their last 16 games before
Tuesday's loss snapped their six-game winning streak.

They were also 7-2 at Rangers Ballpark last year, but they
haven't found that success this season, starting 1-4 there.]]></description>
				<category><![CDATA[mlb]]></category>
				<link>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/mlb/news/104915-Angels-Rangers-Preview</link>
				<guid>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/mlb/news/104915-Angels-Rangers-Preview</guid>
				<pubDate>Wed, 01 Jul 2009 05:28:44 GMT</pubDate>
			</item>
		
	
			
	</channel>
</rss>









