Game Recap #2: Texas Rangers @ San Francisco Giants

With the series on the line in this game, the Texas Rangers needed to bounce back from yesterday's loss. Luckily for them, they did, taking the rubber game with much ease. This win did come at a cost though, with starter Alexi Ogando getting hurt after successfully hitting a bunt single in the fourth inning, at a time where he had been perfect through three innings of work. Ogando's single loaded the bases, putting San Francisco Giants starter Tim Lincecum in another jam. He worked out of a bases-loaded mess in the first inning, needing 30 pitches to get through the opening frame. After a strong second inning in which he struck out the side, Lincecum ran into more trouble in the third, eventually yielding a run as Elvis Andrus got home on an Adrian Beltre double to deep left. He gave up two more runs in the fourth as both Mitch Moreland and Craig Gentry scored on an Ian Kinsler double over in the left field corner, coming just after the Ogando bunt. The Rangers were able to chase him in the sixth inning as Josh Hamilton doubled to right field, which gave time to get reliever Robbie Ross and Andrus safely home. Early in the inning, the pitcher Ross yielded the first San Francisco hit of the game, an Aubrey Huff double down the left field line. Altogether, the Rangers pitching staff yielded just three hits for the game, the other two coming off of Mike Adams in the eighth inning, both singles. Working out of this jam, Adams got Brandon Crawford to ground into a double play, and it was smooth sailing from there. Early reports indicate that Ogando's injury was to a groin while running to first. Texas was let down shortly after that injury when Brandon Belt reached on an error by Kinsler, which broke up the combined perfect game that Ogando and Ross had put together at that time. Additionally, the only Texas starter to not record a hit in today's game was the catcher Mike Napoli. The poor performance by Lincecum, who exited after 5 2/3 innings and nine hits, four walks (one intentional) and five runs, all earned, continued his season long slump, which saw his ERA inflate to 6.00 for the year. His counterpart, Ogando, is scheduled for an MRI tomorrow.