Rangers' Leonys Martin-Dream To Major Leagues Was Realized Tuesday!

Arlington, TX- Rangers' Leonys Martin's dream to be in major leagues, was realized Tuesday night. Leonys Martin was called up from Triple-A Round Rock as an option for the Rangers to use in spot situations, since Nellie Cruz will be out for three weeks. Martin is a highly talented prospect, who defected from Cuba.

The Rangers options in right field position are David Murphy, Endy Chavez, Craig Gentry, and now Leonys Martin. Rangers' Murphy has been spot starting for the Rangers, since Nellie Cruz went on the 15 day disable list. Cruz will be out for three weeks. There has been some talk about getting Lance Berkman from the ST Louis Cardinals, to replace Cruz in right field. It would cost the Rangers $1.33 million for his services for the rest of the season.

Sources said, Berkman is not planning to leave the ST Louis Cardinals, nobody from the Cardinals organization has approached him about going to Texas. Berkman also, made it clear where ever he finishes up the 2011 season he, would want to stay for multiple years. He wants to stay some place for the rest of his career. He played for the Astros his entire career, until he went to the Yankees last year. He signed a one year contract with ST Louis this season. Berkman does not want to be bounced around from team to team for immediate service because of injuries. He wants to end his career with one team.

Prior to the rumors of him going to Texas, Berkman informed everyone that he felt that ST Louis would like to keep him and would extend his contract for multiple years. Berkman applied that he was not interested in going to play in Texas or anywhere else. He's happy in ST Louis.

Which Five Contenders Need Lance Berkman The Most:

1. Cleveland Indians
2. New York Yankees
3. Chicago Whitesox
4. San Francisco Giants
5. Texas Rangers

Rangers Have Options To Consider-For Key Injuries!

Arlington, TX- AL West leading Texas Rangers have experienced key injuries to Adrian Beltre and now Nellie Cruz, with hamstring injuries. With the pennant race with the Los Angeles Angels coming down to the wire, Texas has a couple of options to replace Cruz in right field. The in-house replacements include Murphy, Chavez, and Gentry. The Rangers are bringing up Leonys Martin from Triple-A Round Rock, who has been hitting .263.

However, the Rangers have been eyeing Lance Berkman, who's playing for the ST Louis Cardinals. ST Louis is 10 1/2 games behind the Milwaukee Brewers in NL Central. ST. Louis being so far behind and Berkman only signing a one year contract, could make him available for the Rangers. Texas tried to sign Berkman before the season, he decided to play in ST Louis. Berkman went to ST Louis thinking he had a better chance of winning there. If the Rangers sign Berkman for part time services it would cost them $1.33 million in salary. Berkman has played well this season with ST Louis, hitting .289, 30 homers, and 81 RBI's.

Adrian Beltre is expected to be back with the Rangers as early as Wednesday. Beltre played seven innings at third base, going 1 for 4, striking out twice last night at Double-A Frisco. Beltre has been gone since July 23rd. Beltre has been gone so long, he would be like an extra batter in Texas' lineup. With Beltre coming back it will give Hamilton some protection in the lineup. That could allow Hamilton to really get going offensively down the stretch of the pennant race.

Sources in Major League baseball have said, the Rangers have been having conversations about purchasing Berkman for his services for the rest of the season. By the end of the week Texas could have Beltre and Berkman added to their already potent offense. With Texas moving in that direction to add Berkman to their lineup in place of Cruz, shows the respect they have for the Angels. Also, how important it is to repeat as AL West Champions, so they can defend their American League Championship from a year ago.

Texas' Nellie Cruz will be out for three weeks. Texas' reasoning for adding Berkman to their lineup is to fill their voided spot in the lineup. That will also allow an extra bat in their lineup for the stretch run, even when Nellie comes back. If Berkman becomes a Ranger that could also help them repeat as AL West Champions and help them to defend their only American League Championship in club history.

Rangers Comeback To Take Three Game Lead Over Angels In AL West!

Arlington, TX- The showdown continued on ESPN between the AL West division leading Rangers and the second place Angels. The series has been as exciting as we drew it up to be. No matter how good each teams pitching has been throughout the year. Whoever had the hotter bats, decided the outcome of this thrilling series. Homer after homer, run after run, no starting pitching decided this weekend series.
The Angels took an early lead scoring one run in the first two innings to take a 2-0 lead. Rangers' Torrealba hit a solo homer in the bottom of the second inning to cut the lead to 2-1. Toreallbas' solo homer was his fifth of the season. The Angels added to their lead by scoring two in the top of the third inning. Kendrick was hit by a pitch, was caught stealing second base. Bobby Abreu doubled to left fielder David Murphy, Lewis strikes out Hunter, Trumbo hits a double to left fielder David Murphy to score Abreu to make it 3-1. Vernon Wells singles to center fielder Josh Hamilton to score Trumbo to take a 4-1 lead.
When you thought that the Angels had a commanding lead at 4-1 with Weaver on the mound for the Angels, the Rangers showed why you can never count them out of any game. Ian Kinsler led off the bottom of the third inning with a walk, then Andrus tripled to center fielder Peter Bourjos to score Kinsler to cut the lead to 4-2. Josh Hamilton promptly hits his eighteenth homer of the season in center field to tie the game at four. Angels added one more run in the fifth inning when Kendrick hit his fourteenth homer of the season in the right field bleachers to give the Angels a 5-4 lead.
The Rangers broke the game open in the seventh inning by scoring four runs in the inning to take an 8-5 lead. Mike Adams replaced Darren Oliver, to face the middle of the Angels lineup. Adams had a 1-2-3 inning. Rangers added one more run in the bottom of the eighth inning to preserve a 9-5 win to take a three game lead over the Angels.
Rangers' Lewis pitched six innings giving up eight hits, allowing five runs. Darren Oliver earned his fifth win of the season. While the Angels' ace Jarred Weaver pitched six innings giving up eight hits, allowing seven earned runs losing his seventh game of the season..

Bad News For Ranger Fans!

Arlington, TX- Rangers' Adrian Beltre is continuing to have difficulties with his hamstring injury. Beltre is scheduled to go on a rehab assignment on Monday. The Rangers don't expect the assignment to help his hamstring be 100 percent. Ron Washington said, Beltre is going to have to manage with the injury the best that he can. Washington said, once you have an injury like this it will never be 100 percent for the rest of the season.

"Rangers will help him monitor the hamstring injury." Washington said, once you have a hamstring like this, you have to run under control.

Michael Young has been playing third base in Beltres' absence. Texas is fortunate that they are deep at third base and they can allow Beltre to heal his hamstring the best he can, so he can get back for the playoff run.

Halos Went Long Ball, To Draw Even In Weekend Series!

Arlington, TX- Saturday night the Halos and Rangers went to battle in game two of a three game series. The Halos needed an important win to stay close to the AL West Division leading Rangers. Texas had a chance to widen their lead to four games in the AL West, with a win.

The Rangers went long ball on Friday night, tonight the Halos hit four homers off C.J. Wilson. Wells, Trout, Wilson, and Bourjos hit solo shots. Wilson left the game after five innings pitched dishing out 10 hits and allowing six earned runs. The Rangers were behind 6-2 when Wilson exited the game. Rangers scored two runs in the bottom of the fifth inning, when Cruz singled to right fielder Mike Trout. Santana threw a wild pitch and Cruz moved to second. Murphy then hit his seventh homer of the season, when he deposited it into the right field seats. Halos added two more runs in the top of the seventh inning, when Howie Kendrick homered off Uehara into center field to make it 7-4. Tori Hunter doubled to left fielder Josh Hamilton, Vernon Wells hit a triple up the alley between center fielder Endy Chavez and right fielder Nellie Cruz to score Tori Hunter from second base. Halos went on to defeat the Rangers 8-4 to pull within two games of the Rangers.

The Halos look to draw within one game after the Sundays night show down with the Rangers on ESPN. The Rangers are looking to bounce back when they send Colby Lewis to the mound. The Halos will have their ace pitcher Jared Weaver on the mound. Weaver is going tomorrow night with only three days rest.

Tomorrow Nights Game: Angels vs Rangers 7:05 (CST) On ESPN-HD

Rangers, Halos Weekend Series Continues!

Arlington, TX- The Rangers and Halos will continue their weekend series tonight at 7:05 pm (CST), with Ervin Santana (9-9) with a 3.17 ERA for LAA and C.J. Wilson (13-5) with a 3.08 ERA for Texas. Santana is starting tonights game with only three days rest, just coming off a eight inning outing throwing 115 pitches against the Whitesox. Wilson for the Rangers has been stronger in the second half of the season going 4-2 with a 2.78 ERA. This looks to be an outstanding match-up tonight, one that may be hard for either team to score very many runs.

The Rangers bats finally caught on fire in last nights game, scoring eleven runs in the game. Four runs coming off Murphy's grand slam and three more runs added by Cruz's three run blast. Nellie Cruz had the best game in 2011 season, by delivering 4 hits and 6 runs batted in.

The Halos offense has been hot in their six game winning streak, but stifled by the Texas early in last nights game. However, the Halos put up six runs against Texas' bullpen late in last nights game in their 11-7 loss. With the loss the Halos six game winning streak came to an end, falling three games behind Texas in AL West race.

Halos try to even up the weekend series with Texas to stay close in AL West Divisional race. Rangers will try to win the weekend series with a win tonight, to pull four games in front of the Halos.

Standings

American League West

Team	W	L	PCT	GB
Texas	75	58	.564	-
LA Angels	71	60	.542	3.0
Oakland	60	71	.458	14.0
Seattle	56	74	.431	17.5

Stay tuned for the outcome of Saturday nights AL West Divisional race game.

Murphy, Cruz Homers-Help Holland Cruz Past The Halos!

Arlington, TX- The battle in the AL West weekend started with Holland and the Rangers dominating Halo's early in the game. Derek Holland pitched 6 2/3 innings allowing 8 hits and 1 earned run. The Rangers offense scored three runs in the first three innings. David Murphy opened up the game by hitting a grandslam in the fifth inning to give Texas a 7-0 lead. Texas scored four more runs in the sixth inning, to open up an 11-0 lead. Cruz added a solo homer in the third inning and a three run homer in the sixth inning.

The Halos finally scored their first run in the top of the seventh inning. The game was in control of the game, but the Halos being the Halos they added four runs in the eighth and two more in the ninth. Halos fell short on their come back losing 11-7.

AL West Race Is Now Up For Grabs!

Arlington, TX- The Texas Rangers and the LA Angels are facing in a crucial AL West match-up this weekend. The beginning of this week Texas had a 4 game lead on the Halos, their lead has been wittled down to 2 games. The beginning of a crucial weekend series could set the tone on who will win the AL West. The Angels are coming into Texas with a six game winning streak on the line, and have been very hot. The Rangers just came off a series beating by the Boston Redsox, and the pitching staff has given up a total of 30 runs in the last three games all earned runs. Texas is glad to get the Bosox out of town. The Rangers shutout the Redsox on Monday night 4-0, but no offense sense.

The pitching match-ups for the AL West clash are below:

Dan Haren (13-6) vs Derek Holland (11-5)
Ervin Santana (9-9) vs C.J Wilson (13-5)
Jared Weaver (15-6) vs Colby Lewis (11-9)

Texas has had their way with the Angels thus far this year, but they also had their way with Boston until the four game series this week. Rangers and Angels do match-up well against each other, so tune in and watch the crucial match-up this weekend. If your a die hard baseball fan this series you will want to look in on.

MLB's Contenders Wrap-Up 8-24-11

The races are tightening up in AL West, AL East, and NL West. The other division leaders Detroit (AL Central), Milwaukee (NL Central), and Philadelphia (NL East) are starting to open up their leads in their respective divisions. Here are the run down on last nights action below:

American League:

The AL West leading Texas Rangers faced the AL East leading Boston Redsox in Arlington, TX. The red-hot Boston Redsox pounded out 16 hits, dominating the Texas team who have been struggling the last two games. Boston took charge early scoring 5 runs in the first two innings and never looked back. Boston defeated the AL West leading Rangers 13-2.

The second place Los Angeles Angels played in Anaheim, CA against the Chicago Whitesox. The Angels dominated the Whitesox from the start behind Weavers pitching gem. Angels went on to win 8-0 and pulled within 2 1/2 games behind the Rangers.

The second place Yankees hosted the Oakland A's. Oaklands Coco Crisp homered twice to help lead the A's to a 6-4 win. The A's clinched the series win over the Yankees, to end a 10 straight series loss. Yankees fell a game back to Boston in AL East.

National League:

The NL West leading Arizona Diamondbacks faced the Washington Nationals in DC. Arizonas' Daniel Hudson fell one out short of pitching his first career shutout. Hudson surrendered back-to back homers in the ninth. Arizona defeated Washington 4-2.

The second place San Francisco Giants faced the San Diego Padres. Lincecum pitched 8 solid innings giving up 4 hits and allowing 1 earned run. Stauffer who pitched for the Padres pitched 6 solid innings giving up 2 earned runs and allowing just 6 hits. The Giants were just a little better and won the game by a 2-1 margin.  The win for the Giants kept them within 2 games of the Diamondbacks.

News:

San Francisco signed Heath Bell off waivers from the San Diego Padres.

Tragic News:

Former Cy Young winner Mike Flannagan, who won 167 games over 18 seasons with Baltimore and the Toronto Blue Jays, was found dead outside his home Wednesday afternoon. The reason for his death was not immediately known. Flannagan was 59.

Neal