Most Viewed Stories
Texas MLB Capsules: Wilson shuts down Royals to lead Texas to 3-0 win
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The more familiar C.J. Wilson becomes with teams, the more dominant he is.
Wilson gave up just two hits in 7 2-3 innings Monday night to lift the Texas Rangers to a 3-0 victory over the Kansas City Royals and continue an incredible second-half pitching surge. He is 7-0 with a 1.99 earned run average since the All-Star break and has the most wins in the majors during that span.
Wilson (14-5) credits his second-half roll to the familiarity he has gained in facing hitters throughout the year.
"Game experience against the same teams gives me the advantage," Wilson said. "Every team I'm facing now, I've faced before at some point in the season. I've had the chance to prepare even more."
Wilson allowed only a scratch hit to Willie Bloomquist until the eighth inning when Jai Miller delivered a one-out single to center. The left-hander, who had a complete-game win over the Royals in May, struck out six and walked four.
The Bloomquist single was a big bouncer inside first that Mitch Moreland couldn't field cleanly. Asked if he would have had a problem with the scoring decision had that prevented a no-hitter, Wilson was quick to respond.
"Yes," Wilson said. "That was a real hit that Miller got. The other one was kind of like a bad-hop grounder. I was looking at it like that was a no-hitter for me. But I still had to throw another (five) outs to get it and I didn't throw those outs."
Bloomquist gave credit to Wilson for keeping the Royals down the whole night.
"He's just real deceptive," Bloomquist said.
Bloomquist wasn't about to enter a debate against whether Wilson deserved to take a no-hitter into the eighth.
"That's really not for me to decide," Bloomquist said. "I put the ball in play and try to get to first as fast as I can."
Wilson's outing was the longest scoreless performance by a Texas pitcher while allowing two hits or less since Chris Young on Aug. 17, 2005. Facing Cleveland that night, Young allowed two hits over eight innings.
Neftali Feliz worked the ninth for his 33rd save in 36 opportunities, giving Texas its third win in its last 10 road games in the opener of a 10-game trip.
Kyle Davies (6-9) went 8 1-3 innings, allowing three runs — two earned — on ten hits with six strikeouts and a walk.
"You've got to give credit to C.J.," Davies said. "He pitched a real good ballgame."
The Rangers got the only run they would need in the second. Following a leadoff double by Nelson Cruz in his first at-bat after coming off the disabled list, Davies got David Murphy on a fly to right before Bengie Molina hit a run-scoring single.
Texas added to its lead in the fifth on a triple by former Royals player Andres Blanco, who went 3 for 4. Elvin Andrus added a run-scoring single and Michael Young delivered a sacrifice fly in the ninth.
Wilson issued a couple of walks in the sixth, but got Jason Kendall on a double-play bouncer that ended the threat.
Notes: The Rangers confirmed that LHP Derek Holland will take over the No. 5 spot in the rotation, with Rich Harden moving to the bullpen. Holland will start in Minnesota on Friday. ... Rangers manager Ron Washington originally had Josh Hamilton in center field on Monday, but then shuffled his lineup, with Hamilton serving as the designated hitter. Due to a wearisome schedule in recent weeks, Washington wanted to get Hamilton off his feet. Normal DH Vladimir Guerrero started in right field. . On the night that he was named Texas League Player of the Year, Royals' prospect Mike Moustakas had 11 RBIs for Triple-A Omaha against Round Rock.
Rangers activate OF Nelson Cruz from disabled list
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Texas Rangers have reinstated outfielder Nelson Cruz from the 15-day disabled list and put him into the starting lineup.
Cruz was ready to play Monday night against Kansas City. He's been on the disabled list three times this season with hamstring injuries.
Cruz is hitting .320 with 16 home runs and 64 RBIs in only 77 games for the AL West leaders. He's also second on the team with 15 stolen bases.
Rangers manager Ron Washington says he'll mix-and-match among four outfielders, including Cruz, David Murphy, Julio Borbon and Josh Hamilton.
Texas optioned outfielder Brandon Boggs to Triple-A Oklahoma City.
Rangers extend links with 3 farm clubs
ARLINGTON (AP) — The Texas Rangers have extended their relationships with three of their five farm clubs.
The Rangers agreed to a four-year extension with Double-A Frisco of the Texas League that will extend through the 2014 season. They've also extended their affiliations for two years with Low-A Hickory, N.C., of the South Atlantic League and Short Season A Spokane, Wash., of the Northwest League. Those affiliations will extend through 2012.
Still unresolved is the future of Triple-A Oklahoma City of the Pacific Coast League and High-A Bakersfield of the California League in the Texas farm system. The PCL franchise in Round Rock, Texas, is now affiliated with the Houston Astros but co-owned by Rangers president and new co-owner Nolan Ryan. The Myrtle Beach, S.C., franchise in the High-A Carolina League is now affiliated with the Atlanta Braves but is owned by new Rangers co-owner and chief executive Chuck Greenberg.
Happ throws 2-hitter as Astros shut out Cards 3-0
HOUSTON (AP) — J.A. Happ was determined to pitch better on Monday night than he did in his last outing against the St. Louis Cardinals.
The Houston lefty certainly accomplished his goal.
Happ threw a two-hitter and rookie Brett Wallace had a career-high three hits and drove in a run to help the Astros beat the struggling Cardinals 3-0.
It was a complete turnaround from his last meeting with the Cardinals, when he allowed a career-high seven earned runs in just one-plus innings.
"I wasn't dwelling on it, but certainly that was as bad of a start as I've had maybe in my life and it was tough to take at the time," he said. "I saw looking ahead after that game that I was going to get another chance and you always want to prove to that team that that wasn't you out there. They got me pretty good last time. But this was a different story."
It was another tough loss for the Cardinals, who have dropped six of seven and fallen six games behind Cincinnati in the NL Central race.
"It's not like there's just no hope," St. Louis shortstop Brendan Ryan said. "Even for me, I'm struggling as bad as I have ever struggled, but I still think every day I come to the field I am going to get a couple hits and help the team win. I don't know. It's just very frustrating."
Happ earned his fourth complete game and third shutout of his career. The Astros acquired the 27-year-old in the deal that sent Roy Oswalt to the Phillies last month. His last complete game was Aug. 27, 2009 against the Pirates, and his last shutout was Aug. 5 of the same year against the Rockies.
"It's been a while since I've felt that comfortable throwing first-pitch strikes and had that confidence and I was just kind of feeding off that," Happ said. "They were putting the ball in play and we were making plays."
Cardinals manager Tony La Russa raved about Happ.
"He had everything working tonight," La Russa said. "We saw him pitch against Philadelphia, and he's a talented guy. Everything he threw, nothing over the middle, changed speeds, different breaks. It was an outstanding exhibition of pitching."
Happ (5-2), who hadn't gone longer than 6 1-3 innings this season, struck out four and walked one.
"After his last outing against these guys I think he wanted to come back and really have a good game and he was almost even better than that. He was outstanding," Astros manager Brad Mills said. "I know he wanted to show himself and prove to himself more than anything else and I think he did without a doubt."
The Astros took an early lead when Carlos Lee's bloop single drove in Hunter Pence and made it 1-0 in the first inning.
Wallace, who is batting just .215, hit an RBI-double in the seventh that bounced low off the wall in left center field to score Chris Johnson and push Houston's lead to 2-0. Johnson singled to start the inning.
"I was excited to get a big hit for us," Wallace said. "I knew I probably got it over his head. So it's just exciting to contribute offensively for once."
The Astros added a run later in the inning when Wallace came home on Jason Castro's double-play grounder.
Randy Winn singled with one out in the first inning, but Albert Pujols grounded into a double play to end the inning. Colby Rasmus walked with no outs in the third before Happ retired the next 16 batters. Happ didn't allow another hit until Yadier Molina singled to shallow left field with one out in the eighth.
Wallace showed his defensive skills in the eighth when he caught a fly ball from Rasmus and tagged first for an unassisted double play to end the inning.
Cardinals starter Jake Westbrook (1-3) allowed nine hits and three runs in seven innings in his sixth start since coming to St. Louis as part of a three team trade with Cleveland.
"I'm sure he's not very happy here," La Russa said. "Early on, we didn't support him very well defensively and then we don't score well. He's done a good job. We're really impressed with him."
Lee walked with one out in the fourth and reached third on a single by Wallace with two outs, but Tommy Manzella's fly ball to left field ended the inning.
Notes: The Cardinals activated RHP Jason Motte from the 15-day disabled list and optioned INF/OF Allen Craig to Triple-A Memphis. ... Houston INF Jeff Keppinger (toe) is on a rehabilitation assignment with Double-A Corpus Christi, but could return to the team as soon as Wednesday. ... Astros' reliever Matt Lindstrom, on the disabled list with a back strain, is scheduled to throw one inning and 20-25 pitches for Corpus Christi on Tuesday.
-- Kristie Rieken
