ARLINGTON, Texas — Roy Oswalt might be wondering
what he's getting himself into after the way the Rangers booted around a 10-3
loss to Seattle on Tuesday night.
On the same day the Rangers announced the acquisition of the veteran starter,
they came up with one of their worst performances of the season.
The 10 runs allowed were the second-most given up by the Rangers this season,
and nearly every area of the club contributed to snapping a four-game win
streak.
Two of the most shocking developments were critical errors by third baseman
Adrian Beltre and shortstop Elvis Andrus.
Beltre threw wild to first on a ground ball that would have ended a Mariners
threat in the fifth inning. Instead, two runs scored on the errant throw. Andrus
muffed a bouncer with the bases loaded and the infield drawn in during a
six-run eighth inning.
All six of the runs in the inning were charged to the Texas bullpen, which
hadn't allowed more than four runs in a game this season.
"It happens," Rangers manager Ron Washington said. "I don't
think you'll see again where I have to go out there and get both Mike (Adams)
and (Alexi) Ogando in the same inning. They put the ball in play, found holes,
and just had to get them out of there."
Only two of the four runs allowed by Rangers starter Scott Feldman were earned.
Feldman lasted just 4 2/3 innings in a chance to impress in the fifth starter
spot, the one Oswalt is expected to take over.
Feldman has fallen just short of five innings in his last three starts.
"In the fifth inning he got in trouble, but he made the pitch to get out
of the inning and we made a mistake," Washington said, referring to
Beltre's throwing error. "If he had got out of that fifth inning, and they
wouldn't have put those extra two runs on the board, from that point you never
know, it might have been a different ballgame."
Feldman wasn't placing blame on his defense.
"Adrian and Elvis are probably the two best players at their position,
respectively," Feldman said. "I think maybe if I was working a little
quicker and pumping more strikes … there's always something I can improve
on."
Feldman also wasn't saying much about the Oswalt signing, which in all
likelihood will send him back to the bullpen as the long man.
"I don't really have a feeling about it," Feldman said. "I just
show up here and try and work hard and get ready to do what they ask me to
do."
Washington said the decision on where to insert Oswalt will come when he's back
in game shape. There's also the decision of what to do with Neftali Feliz, the
original fifth starter, once he returns from the disabled list.
While Washington said he didn't lobby to sign Oswalt, he's happy to have
another veteran arm.
"You always feel good when you bring experience on your team, and he has a
ton of it," Washington said. "And he has big-game experience. And
he's been very successful."
The bright spot for the Rangers came from the usual source, slugger Josh
Hamilton, but under unusual circumstances.
It wasn't for sure that Hamilton, suffering from dual sinus and respiratory
infections, would play until he made it through pregame batting practice. A
groggy Hamilton said he wasn't feeling any better after taking a day off
Monday, yet he launched a two-run rocket to center field in the sixth that
brought the Rangers within a run of the lead at 4-3.
"He got us right back in the ballgame, we just couldn't put anything else
on the board," Washington said. "That's Josh Hamilton."
Follow Keith Whitmire on Twitter: @Keith_Whitmire
