2/27 Rangers Recap: Chicago White Sox 8, Rangers 4

It's almost like Groundhog Day.  Every day, I sit here and tell you that the Rangers got beaten the day before because of poor pitching and giving up way too many runs in the bullpen.  Every day, I sit here and tell you that it's the first week of Spring Training games, and they will turn it around.  So today, I'll do it again.

Texas gave up 13 hits in their fifth consecutive loss, a 8-4 loss to the White Sox.  Five different pitchers took the hill for the Rangers on Wednesday, two of which will be key contributors in Arlington once the regular season gets started.

Alexi Ogando started the game, pitching two innings and allowing three hits and two runs, both of which were unearned due to an error and a sacrifice fly in the second inning.  Ogando took his first loss of the spring, putting him 0-1, and he now has an 8.10 ERA.  The next guy out of the bullpen after Ogando was Robbie Ross, who last year as a rookie was as good as you could have hoped.  Ross was not terrible on Wednesday, especially considering it was his first action of the spring.  Ross threw three innings, allowing four hits and two runs, including a home run to veteran Paul Konerko.

Colin Balester was next for Texas, pitching one inning and allowing four hits and four runs, including a homer.  Cross his name of the list of guys who we will see in Arlington this April.  Joe Ortiz and Neil Ramirez pitched a perfect inning each to close out the afternoon, with Ortiz striking out three hitters in the 8th inning.

Offensively for the Rangers, there was not a lot to write home about on Wednesday.  Texas totaled eight hits in the game, and only one player (Jeff Baker) had multiple hits.

Leonys Martin, who has been the best player for the Rangers this spring, took an 0-for-3 on Wednesday, striking out once.  Even with that performance, his average is still a whopping .429 for the spring.

Of the other Rangers regulars who saw action on Wednesday, Nelson Cruz started in right field and got one hit in three at-bats with an RBI double in the sixth inning that scored Yangervis Solarte.  That got the scoring started in that sixth inning, as Jeff Baker then doubled home Cruz.  Julio Borbon entered the game as a pinch runner for Baker and then scored on a Brandon Allen double.

The final Rangers run scored in the 8th inning when Julio Borbon plated Jim Adduci on a groundout to second baseman Tyler Saladino.

Leury Garcia, who is making Ron Washington consider him as a utility role with his spring effort, went 0-3 with a strikeout on Wednesday.  Mike Olt and Geovany Soto also went 1-3 at the plate.  Jurickson Profar, who has struggled early on this spring went 0-3.

Next Up: The Rangers will be back at their home complex in Surprise on Thursday, hosting the Cleveland Indians who are 5-2 this spring.  Zach McAllister will take the hill for Cleveland to start things off, making his second start of the spring after throwing two scoreless innings last Sunday against Cincinnati.  Texas will counter with talented lefty Derek Holland.  Holland will also be making his second start of the spring, his final with the Rangers before heads to the World Baseball Classic.  Holland was knocked around in his first start, giving up six hits and a run in three innings against Kansas City last Friday.