Rangers Notes: Darvish’s Return Lifts Texas into First Place

Yu Darvish is 2-0 across his first two major-league starts this season, striking out 12 batters while issuing just two free passes.

Backed by a pair of strong starts from a healthy Yu Darvish, the Rangers moved past Seattle in the American League West standings and now hold a three-game division lead over the Mariners following a weekend sweep in Arlington.

Darvish made his first big-league start in nearly two years May 28 against Pittsburgh, scattering three hits and recording seven strikeouts across five innings as Texas cruised to a 5-2 victory.

After he retired the side in the top of the first, Darvish’s teammates gave the three-time All-Star some quick support with three runs off Pirates right-hander Juan Nicasio. Jurickson Profar led off with a single and came around to score before Adrian Beltre launched a two-run homer to center field.

Mitch Moreland took Nicasio deep in the bottom of the fourth to pad the Rangers’ lead, and Darvish allowed his only run on an RBI single from Cole Figueroa in the fifth.

Relievers Tony Barnette, Jake Diekman and Matt Bush followed Darvish on the mound with one scoreless inning apiece, and Sam Dyson permitted one run before retiring Sean Rodriguez to seal the win for Texas.

Pittsburgh had rolled to a 9-1 rout over the Rangers and Cole Hamels the night before, setting up a rubber match Sunday between southpaws Martin Perez and Francisco Liriano.

The Pirates drew first blood against Perez, scoring one run on Andrew McCutchen’s first-inning RBI double and another on David Freese’s solo homer in the third.

In the bottom of the fourth, Prince Fielder hit a towering home run to right field off Liriano – his first long ball in more than a month – before walks to Beltre and Ryan Rua set the table for Moreland’s go-ahead three-run shot.

The Texas bullpen trio of Bush, Barnette and Dyson combined to allow just one hit over three shutout innings as the Rangers took the series with a 6-2 win.

After winning two out of three games at Progressive Field in Cleveland last week (the only defeat courtesy of Yan Gomes’ walk-off single in the 11th inning on Wednesday), Texas returned to Globe Life Park for a weekend matchup against the Mariners.

Darvish was given an early lead with which to work again Friday, retiring the side in order before Beltre hammered a three-run home run off Seattle starter Taijuan Walker in the bottom of the first.

Beltre would later add a two-run double to finish the night with five RBIs, and Darvish was backed up by another solid performance from the bullpen as part of a 7-3 victory for Texas.

On Saturday, Perez scattered six hits and allowed single runs in three different innings, but he was bailed out by a potent Rangers offense that scored early and often against Nathan Karns.

Nomar Mazara’s sacrifice fly brought home the first tally for Texas, and Rua followed with a two-run double down the left-field line. Holding a 5-3 lead in the fifth inning, the Rangers scored four more times to put the game out of reach, with Elvis Andrus’ three-run homer off Vidal Nuno the nail in Seattle’s coffin.

Texas fell behind 2-0 Sunday when Nelson Cruz blasted a two-run shot off former teammate Derek Holland, but the Rangers’ lineup rallied for three runs against Hisashi Iwakuma in the bottom of the fifth.

A single from Rougned Odor and a fielding error by Seattle’s Luis Sardinas set up Jared Hoying’s run-scoring single to put Texas on the board. Andrus came home when Bobby Wilson followed with a sac fly, and Profar provided the go-ahead run on an opposite-field RBI single.

Holland was followed on the hill by shutout performances from Bush, Diekman and Dyson, who tossed a perfect ninth inning to complete the 3-2 win and earn his seventh save of the year.

Young to Join Team Hall of Fame

Former infielder Michael Young was announced as the 20th member of the Texas Rangers Baseball Hall of Fame on Friday, and he will be inducted during a pregame ceremony next month in Arlington.

The seven-time All-Star spent 13 of his 14 major-league seasons with Texas, collecting more total bases (3,286), hits (2,230), runs (1,085), doubles (415) and triples (55) than any player in franchise history.

Young took home the 2005 A.L. batting title with a .331 average and the following year was named MVP of the All-Star Game at Pittsburgh’s PNC Park.

“It means a lot,” he said. “Obviously nowadays it’s rare that a player spends as much time with a team but it was a great time for me … reaching new heights. To be in one place like that for a long time and have the relationship with the fans, it’s very special.”

After splitting his final season between the Phillies and Dodgers, Young returned to Texas and officially retired in a Rangers uniform on Jan. 31, 2014.

Roster Reinforced with Darvish, Profar

When Rougned Odor’s seven-game suspension began on May 27, infielder Jurickson Profar was recalled from Triple-A Round Rock as right-hander Shawn Tolleson was placed on Major League Baseball’s family medical emergency list.

Joey Gallo was optioned back to Triple-A the following day in order to clear an active roster spot for Yu Darvish, and more transactions were needed when Odor and Tolleson re-joined the club a week later.

On Friday, Tolleson was reinstated while left-hander Alex Claudio was optioned to Triple-A, and Hanser Alberto followed Claudio to Round Rock on Saturday when Tom Wilhelmsen was recalled by the Rangers.

In addition, right-handed swingman Nick Tepesch – who had a chance to earn the fifth starter’s role during spring training – requested and was granted his unconditional release Saturday.

Rangers Notes: Offense Shows Signs of Life on Road Trip

Jake Smolinski connected for his first career home run last Tuesday in Oakland, a two-run shot off Athletics starter Scott Kazmir.

The Rangers averaged more than six runs per game on their recent California road trip through Oakland and Anaheim, winning five of six contests on the A.L. West swing (and eight of their last nine overall) to relinquish the worst record in baseball to the Diamondbacks.

Texas currently sits at 62-93, one-half game better than Arizona, and the team can avoid a 100-loss season with a win in any of its final seven games this week.

On the heels of a three-game sweep over Atlanta, the last-place Rangers took Tuesday’s opener at O.co Coliseum by a 6-3 final. Nick Tepesch delivered six quality frames while Texas scored three runs in back-to-back innings against Oakland lefty Scott Kazmir.

Wednesday featured one of the most satisfying victories of the year when the Rangers – trailing 1-0 heading into the top of the ninth – rallied for six runs off relievers Sean Doolittle and Jesse Chavez.

Rougned Odor drove in the tying run with an opposite field double into left-center, and J.P. Arencibia followed one batter later with a three-run homer that proved to be the difference in a 6-1 come-from-behind win.

Texas completed its second consecutive series sweep with a 7-2 victory Thursday afternoon, jumping on starter Sonny Gray for four runs in the first and getting solid performances from Nick Martinez and the bullpen.

The Rangers’ lineup continued to produce early offense on Friday at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, backing Lisalverto Bonilla with a combined seven runs in the first two innings and cruising to a 12-3 blowout over Los Angeles.

The unlikely season-long winning streak was halted after seven games, however, as Texas right-hander Colby Lewis surrendered homers to Mike Trout, Albert Pujols and David Freese in an 8-5 loss on Saturday.

Each team scored a single run in the sixth inning of Sunday afternoon’s rubber match, and Ryan Rua hit his first career home run off Huston Street in the top of the ninth before Neftali Feliz struck out the side to give Texas a 2-1 victory.

Washington Admits to Infidelity

Former manager Ron Washington addressed the media last Thursday for the first time since resigning nearly two weeks earlier, admitting that he had been unfaithful to his wife, Gerry, after 42 years of marriage.

“I was not true to my wife … I broke her trust,” he said in a prepared statement. “I’m here today to own that mistake and apologize to her, and to those I disappointed, and those who have trusted in me, and I let them down.”

Washington unexpectedly stepped down on Sept. 5 from the managerial post he had held since 2007, citing personal reasons but providing no further details at the time. He expressed gratitude Thursday toward the organization that gave him a chance as an untested big-league skipper.

“I was born to be a baseball player. I’m a baseball lifer,” Washington said. “The Rangers gave me a home, and I’m thankful for that. And I’m also thankful for the experience to have the opportunity to manage here in Texas.”

Profar Shut Down with Shoulder Issues

Middle infielder Jurickson Profar has been sidelined since late last winter because of a tear in his right shoulder, and now he won’t play in the Arizona Fall League as expected due to lingering soreness.

The 21-year-old switch-hitter was in place to take over for Ian Kinsler at second base this season, but that job eventually went to Rougned Odor following Profar’s injury.

The immediate future could now be in doubt for Profar, as Odor has exceeded expectations this year and proven himself as a capable everyday second baseman.

Rangers Notes: Texas Stumbles into Break on Long Skid

Robinson Chirinos tries to catch a high relay throw Saturday as David Freese scores below him.

With a roster ravaged by injuries and an everyday lineup representing a shell of what was projected over the winter, the Rangers enter this year’s All-Star Break occupying an unfamiliar spot in the standings – last place.

The team has lost eight games in a row and 22 of its last 25 dating back to mid-June, dropping all seven contests on its just-finished homestand against Houston and Los Angeles.

Texas officially fell behind the Astros in the American League West division last week after Houston completed a three-game sweep at Globe Life Park, and the Rangers currently hold the worst record (38-57) in the major leagues.

Making just his second career start on Monday, right-hander Miles Mikolas was hammered for nine earned runs on 12 hits in less than four innings pitched as the Astros cruised to an easy 12-7 victory.

Houston’s Chris Carter connected for a pair of home runs off the Texas bullpen as part of an 8-3 win on Tuesday, and the Astros wrapped up the sweep Wednesday with six runs on 10 hits against Yu Darvish, taking the finale by an 8-4 margin.

Whereas Mikolas and Darvish were merely rocked in their outings, Colby Lewis was absolutely pummeled in his start Thursday versus the Angels. Lewis allowed four runs in the first inning, six more in the second, and three in the third before he was mercifully removed as part of a 15-6 rout by Los Angeles.

The Rangers did receive a quality start from right-hander Nick Tepesch last Friday in Arlington, but he was outpitched by Angels hurler Garrett Richards in a 3-0 shutout, and Jered Weaver beat Texas the following night, 5-2, to help L.A. clinch the series victory.

The Angels then pulled off the first four-game sweep of the Rangers in club history with a 10-7 win on Sunday afternoon, chasing spot-starter Scott Baker after four innings and adding on at least one run against each of four subsequent Texas relievers.

Prior to their 0-7 homestand, the Rangers had dropped two of three games to the Mets in an interleague series at Citi Field, beginning with a 6-5 loss Friday when Travis d’Arnaud hit a go-ahead two-run double off Jason Frasor in the eighth.

Texas snapped what had been a six-game losing streak on Saturday with a 5-3 victory behind homers from Robinson Chirinos and Adrian Beltre, but New York teed off against Tepesch en route to an 8-4 win in Sunday’s series finale.

Beltre, Darvish Headed to All-Star Game

Beltre, who leads the club with 13 home runs and 51 RBIs at the ceremonial halfway point of the season, will be joined by starting pitcher Yu Darvish as the Rangers’ representatives at this week’s All-Star Game in Minneapolis.

While Oakland’s Josh Donaldson won the fan vote and will therefore start at third base for the American League on Tuesday, Beltre finished first in the players’ vote and joins Buddy Bell as the only Texas third baseman to make as many as three All-Star teams.

As for Darvish, the club leader in most pitching categories, he is heading to his third straight All-Star Game but will be looking to pitch for the first time, having not seen action in 2012 and missing last year’s game due to injury.

Near-Daily Moves Keep Roster in Flux

Injuries and ineffectiveness over the past few weeks have meant a very transitory status for the Rangers’ roster, which underwent no fewer than seven different transactions in recent days.

Last Monday, infielder Donnie Murphy was designated for assignment and Michael Choice was optioned to Triple-A while right-hander Roman Mendez and outfielder Jake Smolinski were both called up from Round Rock.

Right-hander Nick Martinez was placed on the 15-day disabled list Tuesday as Phil Irwin was summoned from Triple-A as a spot-starter, and Donnie Murphy was granted his outright release the following day.

Irwin was then sent back down Friday as reliever Matt West had his contract purchased from Round Rock, and left-hander Aaron Poreda was optioned to Triple-A Saturday in favor of southpaw Ryan Feierabend.

Also on Friday, Texas signed veteran righty Jerome Williams to a minor-league deal and assigned him to the starting rotation at Round Rock.

Soto Arrested on Drug Charges

Catcher Geovany Soto was arrested and charged with misdemeanor possession of marijuana last week in Grapevine, getting released on $500 bail and resuming his rehab assignment with Double-A Frisco.

Soto, who was slated to be the Rangers’ everyday backstop heading into spring training, has been on the disabled list since undergoing surgery in March for a torn meniscus in his right knee, leaving the catching duties to J.P. Arencibia, Robinson Chirinos and Chris Gimenez.

In six rehab games for the RoughRiders, Soto is batting .368 (7-for-19) with two doubles and four runs scored, and he is expected to return to the Texas lineup soon after the All-Star break.

Rangers Notes: Cards Complete Stunning Comeback to Win Title

Texas starter Matt Harrison reacts after giving up a solo home run to Allen Craig at Busch Stadium on Friday. St. Louis won Game 7 by a final of 6-2.

Despite being just a strike away from the first World Series title in franchise history on two separate occasions Thursday, Texas allowed an improbable comeback win by St. Louis before falling to the Cardinals on Friday, 6-2, to lose its second straight Fall Classic.

David Freese was the hero for the Cardinals in Game 6, which was delayed from Wednesday until Thursday by a threat of rain in the St. Louis area. The Rangers broke a 4-4 tie with three runs in the top of the seventh inning – highlighted by consecutive solo homers from Adrian Beltre and Nelson Cruz – only to watch the Cardinals score two in the eighth and one more in the ninth to force extra frames.

With one out in the 10^th, Josh Hamilton put Texas back ahead with a two-run homer off St. Louis reliever Jason Motte, but Darren Oliver and Scott Feldman combined to let that lead slip away as well.

Facing Rangers right-hander Mark Lowe in the bottom of the 11^th, David Freese worked a full count before clubbing a game-winning home run over the center field wall, which gave the Cardinals a 10-9 come-from-behind victory.

Both teams scored a pair of first-inning runs in Friday’s decisive Game 7, but St. Louis went on to add four additional runs while Chris Carpenter and four relievers combined to keep Texas off the board, paving the way for the Cardinals’ 6-2 win and 11^th World Series title in club history.

The Rangers become the first American League team to lose back-to-back World Series since the New York Yankees did so in 1963-64. The only other modern-era A.L. clubs to achieve such infamy were the 1921-22 Yankees and the 1907-09 Detroit Tigers.

Freese was named the World Series MVP after batting .348 (8-for-23) with three doubles, four runs scored and seven RBIs.