Starting Five is our wrapup of the previous day's action, with a quick nod to what's ahead.You Oughta Know ...
That the American League West is still the Rangers' division, at least for a few more days. After a hot start, the Mariners have cooled off, going 2-8 in their lost 10 games. Texas has gone 8-2 over the same span to take first place in the West.
Lurking in the background are the Angels, suddenly only 1 1/2 games back of the Rangers and preparing to welcome ace John Lackey back into the fold, but Texas got a key player of its own back Tuesday night. Josh Hamilton returned from the disabled list, snapping a 1-1 tie with a home run in the Rangers' 7-1 win over Seattle.
"Anytime you can make a play or hit a home run like that, it gets your confidence up. You breathe a sigh of relief. Everybody in the dugout was hugging me, and I was hugging them," [Hamilton said.]Will their pitching hold up through the long, hot summer? Who knows? With the beleaguered Angels finally getting some help, their run might be nearing an end, but it's hard to fault what the Rangers have done so far.
From the Trainer's Room ...
Ah, the nagging strained oblique. It seems like it has become as much a part of the baseball lexicon these days as the web gem. The latest victim of the injury is Red Sox first baseman Kevin Youkilis, who was put on the disabled list before Boston's 4-3 win over the Angels. The slugger had been out of the lineup since May 5, but the team finally decided to put him on the shelf Tuesday after a batting practice session before the game went poorly.
"There hasn't been a miracle thing yet where I can play," Youkilis said. "You'll know when you see me in the lineup. I'm trying."Numbers Game ...
Things haven't been quite as perfect in 2009 for Phillies closer Brad Lidge as they were in 2008. He nailed down his fifth save of the season Tuesday night in Philadelphia's 5-3 win over the Dodgers, but he once again allowed a run, nudging his ERA on the season up to 8.56. Lidge has allowed a run in seven of his 14 appearances this season. Last year, he went a perfect 48-for-48 in save opportunities, and allowed a run in only 12 appearances all year.
In Their Own Words ...
"We have tried everybody and their cousins, and we still can't get anybody to put a zero up in the eighth and ninth innings. And that's really just killing us." -- Nationals manager Manny Acta after his team blew a two-run lead in the bottom of the ninth inning when the Giants' Pablo Sandoval hit a three-run homer off of Joe Beimel. Washington has blown 10 saves as a team this season, tied for the most in the majors.
Advance Scouting ...
Can the D-Train get rolling again or is it permanently off the rails? We'll get our first hint Wednesday night when Dontrelle Willis makes 2009 debut against the Minnesota Twins at the Metrodome (8:10 PM ET). Willis, who had a 9.38 in seven starts last year, was put on the disabled list in spring training with anxiety disorder. He went 1-2 in four minor-league rehab starts over the last few weeks.
