After coming off the disabled list back in July, Alexi Ogando wasn't the same pitcher the Texas Rangers had seen over the past 2 1/2 seasons.
Ogando immediately struggled, giving up five earned runs on six hits in three innings of work between two games against the Los Angeles Angels and Chicago White Sox. But since that stinker against the White Sox, Ogando had been back to his former self.
The 28-year-old fireballer had gone 6 2/3 innings of scoreless baseball heading into his appearance on Tuesday night against the New York Yankees. He entered the game in a key spot, with one out in the seventh inning of a scoreless tie.
He quickly gave up a two-run homer to Nick Swisher and a solo shot to Mark Teixeira to put the Yankees up 3-0, the game's final margin.
Rangers manager Ron Washington stuck by his decision to pull Harrison for Ogando, saying he'd do the same thing the next time the situation comes up.
"He came in and didn't get the job done," Washington said. "If I had to do it again, I'll bring Ogando in any one of those situations. Today he ended up giving up two hits and they both happened to be home runs."
Ogando's control was simply off on Tuesday and his fastball — though incredibly fast — had no life to it. They were straight, fat pitches, and when you throw straight, fat pitches to Nick Swisher and Mark Teixeira, especially in Yankee Stadium, they're going to make you pay.
