Sweet Release: Power Surge Leads Texas Over LAA

Texas's offense looked like its old powerful self on Tuesday night, belting five home runs, a 9-5 win over the Angels

By SCOTT M. CRISP

Updated 8:45 AM CST, Wed, Jul 1, 2009

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Winning 9-5 over the Angels on Tuesday night in Arlington, there was a collective exhalation audible anywhere in the Metroplex.

Texas finally won a (relatively) clean game. The offense got back on track to the tune of nine runs on 11 hits, five of which were home runs.

Such a display of power can never be sustained, which might be an alarming thought, considering how heavily Texas relied on the long ball on Tuesday. However, this was not a feast-or-famine performance.

The Rangers displayed a sense of patience at the plate not seen in weeks, going deep into counts and drawing five walks. The team also stole five bases, four of which were the handiwork of Elvis Andrus.

Manager Ron Washington did his part as well, moving Marlon Byrd to the three-spot in the lineup; Byrd responded with a 2-5 performance, with two home runs and five RBIs.

This, however, can not be interpreted as reason for exaltation.

Texas committed two errors in the game, one from Byrd and one from Andrus. Scott Feldman struggled through two innings before settling in and going six. And, of course, the Rangers allowed the Angels to load the bases in the top-half of the ninth.

C.J. Wilson was eventually charged with two earned runs, one inherited from Frank Francisco, who came in with one out and shut it down after allowing the run.

But these are only benign and unknown warning signs at this point. Tuesday night was a huge win for many reasons, not the least of which is the fact that Texas really (really) needed a convincing win.

It doesn’t hurt that it came against not only a division opponent, but the division opponent behind which Texas sits in the standings. They are now 4-1 against Los Angeles, with four of their last 11 games leading into the All-Star break coming against these very Halos.