Rangers in first! Trying to pad lead.

Well, the Rangers won the last two nights. Night before was a tight game that ended in the bottom of the ninth on a Mitch Moreland sacrifice fly. Rangers - 6, Astros - 5.

Last night was the opposite type of game. Martin Perez started for Texas and went seven innings while allowing just one Houston run. Andrew Faulkner came on in relief and stumbled a bit, allowing to Astros to score two more. That was it for Houston as Luke Jackson worked a scoreless ninth for Texas.

While the Rangers pitching staff turned in a respectable game, American League ERA leader Dallas Keuchel took the mound for Houston. I figured it was going to be a long day for Texas batters. It was a long day, but not for the Rangers. They scored six runs off Keuchel in the first inning, one in the third, and two more in the fifth. Dallas left the game after 4.2 innings and nine earned runs. Reliever Michael Feliz finished the game up for Houston and didn't fare much better, five earned runs in the last 3.1 innings of the game. Final: Rangers - 14, Astros - 3.

Of course, there were some big moments for the Rangers bats during the game. Prince Fielder hammered two home runs as he went 3-for-5 with five RBI. Mike Napoli, Rougned Odor, and Bobby Wilson also got in on the fun as they all had one long ball each to bring the Texas home run total to five for the game. Shin-Soo Choo went 3-for-4 with a double and three runs scored to keep his bat hot. Adrian Beltre went 2-for-4 with a RBI and two runs scored. Elvis Andrus also joined in on the fun, going 2-for-5 with a double, a run scored, and a RBI. Most of the rest of the lineup got in on the action as well with Mitch Moreland being the only starter to have an 0-fer night.

The win last night lifts the Rangers to 1.5 games over the Astros in the American League West. It also means that, even if Texas loses the final game of the series tonight, Houston will leave Arlington in second place. Great to see. Of course, a win to start to open the gap would be nice as well.

Unfortunately, I don't have any game-used or autographs of Fielder, Nap, Odor, Wilson, Choo, Beltre, Andrus, or Perez. Since the whole scoring deluge put me in mind of some former Rangers teams and sluggers, I decided to post the 2003 Topps Finest Relics #FRJ-RP card shown above as a substitute. Rafael Palmeiro is one of those guys you expected to see involved in a night like last night.

Centerfield decision.

On May 14th Julio Borbon, seen here on card number 4 of the 2009 Finest set, left a game after a play in centerfield. The Rangers later put him on the Disabled List with a strained left hamstring. At the time Julio was hitting .270 with a .305 on-base percentage.

To replace Borbon Texas called up Endy Chavez. Using Chavez and Craig Gentry in platoon the team has done ok. Julio went though rehab without a problem and swung the bat well.

Before yesterday's game Texas activated Julio off the DL and optioned him to Triple-A Round Rock. Apparently Chavez's .415 average and .455 on-base percentage were too much to let go. The Rangers decided that Borbon would be better off getting regular playing time in Round Rock rather than sitting on the bench waiting for Chavez to stumble.

Chavez may stumble and Gentry may not continue his improvements. Both appear determined to avoid that scenario but it is comforting to know that Texas has a pretty decent center fielder who is probably wanting his spot back waiting in Round Rock.

Cruz joins Hamilton in homecoming.

Tonight's game is currently in a rain delay with pretty severe weather rolling through Arlington in the middle of the fourth inning. Since we have some severe weather here as well I decided to go ahead with today's post before I have to shut down the computer.

Posted too soon last night. Apparently Nelson Cruz, shown here on card number RFM-NC of the 2007 Finest set, didn't want to be left out of the return fireworks. As a follow-up to Josh Hamilton's solo home run in the first inning Nelson launched his own shot in the sixth to add two runs to the Rangers lead.

Meantime starting pitcher Alexi Ogando was masterful. He went nine shutout innings to record his first Major League shutout and complete game. That puts him at 5-0 on the year with a 1.81 ERA. Very nice numbers.