3/2 Rangers Recap: Texas 7, Arizona 1

If you are like me, when you see that the Rangers hit three bombs in one game, you expect to see the names Beltre or Cruz, or even Kinsler or Moreland in the box score as having gone deep.  However it's always nice to see the name Elvis Andrus or Craig Gentry there, because when they go deep, it is definitely an added bonus.

Both of those guys took balls deep on Saturday, helping the Rangers rout the Diamondbacks, 7-1.  Texas also got a homer from minor leaguer Brandon Allen, giving them a total of three long balls on the afternoon.  Combine the power display with brilliant pitching from the Rangers staff, and Texas had it all going at once for just the second time this spring.

Matt Harrison started for Texas, pitching three perfect innings for the Rangers, before Jason Frasor, Nate Robertson and Joe Ortiz each pitched scoreless innings.  Nick Tepesch finished the day for Texas, pitching three innings of three hit baseball, striking out two and allowing one run in the eighth inning.

Aside from his home run, Andrus was unable to reach base again, going 1-4 at the plate.  Gentry finished officially 1-1 at the plate with his homer, but he reached base two other times by drawing walks.  Nelson Cruz had multiple hits, going 2-4 at the plate with an RBI single in the first inning that scored Lance Berkman.  Berkman once again was in the lead-off spot in the lineup as the designated hitter.  Berkman finished 0-3 at the plate with a strikeout, but did draw a walk in the first inning before scoring.

Mitch Moreland hit in the third spot of the lineup, going 1-3 as well with a strikeout.  Moreland's spring batting average now sits at .313.  A.J. Pierzynski found his way back into the hit column, going 1-2 with an RBI coming on a sacrifice fly in the first inning that scored Moreland.

Julio Borbon hit in the ninth spot on Saturday, going 1-2 at the plate with two RBI.  Borbon doubled home Craig Gentry in the top of the 4th inning and then scored Gentry again in the 6th inning when he had a sacrifice fly to center field.

As mentioned earlier, Brandon Allen had one at-bat in the game after replacing Lance Berkman, and it was a solo homer in the 7th inning.  Leury Garcia got one at-bat as well for Texas, earning a base hit.  Jeff Baker, who got the start at third base, went 0-3 in the game. His average is at .353 now, but needs to be more consistent if he wants to break camp with the big league team. Mike Olt replaced Baker late in the game at third, and went 0-1 with a strikeout in his lone plate appearance.

Jurickson Profar got the start at second base for the Rangers and went 0-3 in place of Ian Kinsler.  Profar now has a .188 batting average this spring.

Next Up: The Rangers will be back in Surprise on Sunday, taking on the Seattle Mariners for the second time this spring.  Seattle knocked off Texas 8-6 on Friday.  Texas will start Justin Grimm, who is 0-1 with a 13.50 ERA this spring, while Seattle will start Joe Saunders who is sporting an ERA this spring of 18.00.