Starting Five is our wrapup of the previous day's baseball action, with a nod to what's ahead.You Oughta Know ...
That Rangers second baseman Ian Kinsler had a pretty good night, rolling all sorts of rare feats into one ballgame. The headline is that he hit for the cycle, the first Rangers player to do that since Gary Matthews Jr. on Sept. 13, 2006.
He also had six hits, the first Rangers player to do that since Alfonso Soriano on May 8, 2004, but that was a 10-inning game. So Kinsler is the first in team history to have six knocks in a nine-inning game.
Now, the big one: Kinsler is the first player in major league history to have six hits in a game in which he hit for the cycle.
Oh, he also had two hits in an inning, which by comparison is a rather pedestrian accomplishment.
(Poor Marlon Byrd had five hits in this game, but no one is going to remember.)
From the Trainers' Room ...
Red Sox righty John Smoltz threw in the bullpen, passing a final test before heading to Florida to begin what he called his spring training. Smoltz, who is recovering from shoulder surgery, is hoping to join the Red Sox in about six weeks.
By the Numbers ...
Ken Griffey Jr. hit his 400th homer with the Mariners, his first at home since rejoining the team. With 613 career homers, Griffey is the first player in major league history to hit 400 homers with one team and at least 200 with another. Of course, you probably could have figured that out, since there are only five other players with 600 homers: Barry Bonds (762), Hank Aaron (755), Babe Ruth (714), Willie Mays (660) and Sammy Sosa (609).
In Their Own Words ...
"I felt good, maybe a little too good. It's something I've always fought, where I feel too good and I start throwing, instead of delivering every pitch with a purpose." - Cubs right-hander Rich Harden, who struck out the first four batters of the game and eight in three innings, but that's as far as he made it because he gave up four runs.
Advance Scouting ...
OK, you are probably already tired of hearing about the new Yankee Stadium and they haven't even played their first game there yet. They'll finally play a real game there Thursday (1:05 pm ET), against the Indians, and it would be worth watching even if was played in the parking lot. CC Sabathia, he of the $161 million contract, pitches against Cliff Lee, he of the 9.90 ERA. Both pitchers have some big expectations to meet this year.
