Game saver Ogando, I knew, could go through a line-up the first time around and get outs. It was innings four, five, six and seven that I was worried about.
In fact, assuming there were sixth or seventh innings was probably folly. Maybe not. Innings two and three melted into four, five and six.
Ogando allowed two hits, two walks in six scoreless frames, matching wits with Seattle's star prospect, Michael Pineda.
Pineda, by the way, is fantastic. He'll get a good 150 innings in the Majors this season and ripen in 2012.
Ogando came up big on a night when the Rangers offense couldn't figure out the youngster, who might plague them for the next decade. Ogando looked -- as I as in attendance -- looked cool and collected. It's said he wanted to start. It looks it. Seems like he should be there.
Amazingly, in his first pro start, Ogando located his slider in the strike zone over and over. I think he was better with his off-speed stuff than with his fastball, which whipped up to 96 or so. In his final inning, he hit 93. I don't recall anything but sliders and fastballs.
The difference between Ogando and Pineda tonight was offense. The Mariners don't have it (or enough, anyway) and the Rangers (at least for tonight) had just enough.
No home runs tonight. All the streaks are over. Still, there was hitting to be done and it was textbook, run-producing, ol' time baseball.
In the second inning, Nelson Cruz drew a long, two-out walk from Pineda (the Rangers hadn't mustered a thing against him at this point). Then Mitch Moreland followed with an RBI triple.
Move to the sixth: Ian Kinsler singles and is sacrificed to second by Elvis Andrus. Josh Hamilton scorches a ball to centerfield for an RBI double. Mike Young follows with another double.
Home runs are beautiful things. Stringing extra-base hits with walks, sacrifices and singles wins playoff series.
Notes:
1. I'm very worried about Mark Lowe. He was throwing batting practice.
2. Josh Hamilton and Mike Young aren't producing eye-popping numbers, however, each seem to hit the ball well. Both hit their third doubles of the year.
3. It's early, but Adrian Beltre is hitting .100.
4. Beltre makes third base so much better. Julio Borbon with a game-saving catch in the seventh. Mike Young with a sweet snag at first in the ninth.
5. For the first time this year, I was far more intrigued with the pitchers than I was the hitters.
6. After a shaky seventh, Darren Oliver put forth a salty eighth inning. It just stinks that he and Arthur Rhodes will be put to the test in terms of innings. Any thoughts, now, of saving them is out the door.
