Rangers Notes: Lewis Throws First Career Shutout in Chicago

Colby Lewis struck out seven batters across nine scoreless innings in his win over the White Sox.

After beginning the season with a 1-3 record and an earned run average of 6.95, Texas right-hander Colby Lewis has bounced back to produce four quality starts in a row and see his ERA drop to 3.81, and his most recent outing may have been one of the best performances of his life.

Lewis threw the first complete-game shutout of his MLB career on Monday to lead the Rangers to a 4-0 win over the White Sox in Chicago. The Sox managed just five hits off Lewis, who finished with seven strikeouts against one walk and needed just 110 pitches to get the job done.

While Lewis was shutting down Chicago’s lineup, his Texas teammates got to White Sox starter Edwin Jackson for two runs in the top of the third. Outfielder Endy Chavez led off the inning with a single and went to second on a stolen base, then scored the game’s first run when Michael Young doubled into left-center. Two pitches later, Young came home on Adrian Beltre’s RBI single into left field to give the Rangers a 2-0 lead.

Texas went on to score twice more in the top of the sixth against Jackson, who yielded a total of four runs on 11 hits over five-plus innings of work, issuing three walks and committing his first fielding error of the season.

On Tuesday, left-hander Matt Harrison was given an early lead by the Rangers when they scored individual runs in three of the first four innings against Chicago southpaw John Danks, with RBI hits coming from Ian Kinsler, Endy Chavez and Yorvit Torrealba.

After Torrealba’s run-scoring sacrifice fly in the top of the fourth put Texas in front by a score of 3-0, Harrison worked an efficient shutdown inning by retiring Alexei Ramirez, Adam Dunn and Paul Konerko in order. But the bottom of the fifth was a different story, as he issued walks to Carlos Quentin and Alex Rios before surrendering a game-tying home run to 24-year-old Brent Morel, his first long ball of the season.

Rangers right-hander Cody Eppley came on to replace Harrison in the bottom of the eighth, but he promptly issued a walk to the leadoff batter – Gordon Beckham – on just four pitches.

Dallas McPherson’s one-out single advanced Beckham to third base, and he scored the go-ahead run when Eppley uncorked a wild pitch beyond the reach of Torrealba. Sergio Santos tossed a perfect ninth inning to secure the 4-3 comeback win for Chicago and pick up his sixth save of the season.

After earning a two-game split against the White Sox, Texas moved on to Kansas City and did the same thing against the Royals on Wednesday and Thursday at Kauffman Stadium.

Despite going just 2-for-17 with runners in scoring position and stranding a total of 13 men on base Wednesday night, the Rangers were able to hang on for a 5-4 win in extra innings.

Starting pitcher Alexi Ogando gave up two runs on four hits across seven innings of work for Texas, though Kansas City did most of its damage against him during the first trip through the lineup.

After getting through a quick bottom of the first and retiring the first two batters in the second, Ogando allowed a single and a walk before Chris Getz and Alcides Escobar had back-to-back RBI hits to give the Royals a 2-0 lead. Beginning with the final out of the second inning, however, Ogando retired 14 batters in a row before Wilson Betemit’s one-out single in the seventh.

Making his major-league debut for Kansas City, left-hander Danny Duffy worked out of jams in each of the first two innings before allowing one run apiece in the third and fourth.

Veteran Endy Chavez scored the Rangers’ first run on a third-inning fielder’s choice, and Craig Gentry came home on a wild pitch in the top of the fourth to tie the game at 2-2. From there, both bullpens put zeroes on the board until the ninth, when each team scored one run to send the game into extra innings.

Leading off the top of the 11^th, Chavez drew a base on balls against Royals reliever Jeremy Jeffress, who also walked Ian Kinsler and Chris Davis to load the bases with one out for Adrian Beltre. On the second pitch he saw from Jeffress, Beltre lined a single into center field to drive in Chavez and Kinsler with the go-ahead runs.

Kansas City was able to score once against Rangers right-hander Mark Lowe in the bottom of the 11^th, but he recovered to get the final out and earn his first save of the year, while left-hander Arthur Rhodes picked up the win in relief for Texas.

On Thursday, the Royals again scored a ninth-inning run against Rangers closer Neftali Feliz to tie the game and send it into extra frames; but unlike the previous night, they were able to end their five-game losing streak with a 2-1 comeback win in 10 innings.

Chris Davis put the Rangers in front early with a home run against right-hander Luke Hochevar to lead off the second inning, and the 1-0 lead held up until the bottom of the ninth.

Texas starter Derek Holland turned in his best performance of the year, yielding nine scattered singles over eight-plus innings while recording five strikeouts against just one walk. He received his fifth straight no-decision, however, as he was pulled after giving up a leadoff single to Kansas City rookie Eric Hosmer in the bottom of the ninth.

Feliz, who blew his first save of the season Wednesday before the Rangers rallied to win, came on in relief of Holland and immediately allowed a single to Jeff Francoeur. Following two fly ball outs, Mike Aviles ended an 11-pitch at-bat with a single up the middle to score Hosmer with the tying run.

Royals right-hander Greg Holland retired the side in order in the top of the 10^th, which set the stage for a Kansas City comeback in the bottom of the inning.

With one out and left-hander Darren Oliver on the mound for Texas, Melky Cabrera and Eric Hosmer connected for back-to-back singles to put runners at first and third for Jeff Francoeur. Oliver was replaced by sidearmer Cody Eppley, who got two quick strikes before Francoeur delivered the game-winning hit against his former team.

Next up for the Rangers is their first interleague matchup of the year, a three-game weekend series at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, and the scheduled starters for Texas are LHP C.J. Wilson (4-2, 3.38 ERA), RHP Colby Lewis (4-4, 3.81) and LHP Matt Harrison (3-4, 4.27).

Cruz, Hamilton Shift Rehab to Triple-A

Injured outfielders Nelson Cruz and Josh Hamilton, both of whom returned to game action at Double-A Frisco this week, will continue their rehabilitation assignments with the Triple-A Round Rock Express starting on Friday.

Cruz has been on the disabled list since May 7 (retroactive to May 4) with a strained right quadriceps muscle, and he went 2-for-11 in three games at Frisco with a double and a run batted in. Across 30 games for the Rangers this season, Cruz is batting .219 with seven home runs and 18 RBIs.

As for Hamilton, he has been sidelined since Apr. 12 with a non-displaced hairline fracture in his right shoulder, an injury that was sustained when he attempted a headfirst slide into home plate against the Tigers in Detroit. The defending American League MVP, Hamilton hit a home run in his first rehab game for Frisco and ended up going 2-for-7 with three runs batted in.

Cruz is expected to play the outfield in Round Rock’s three games against Colorado Springs this weekend while Hamilton will get his starts as the designated hitter.

Texas Recalls Teagarden from Round Rock

With temperatures heating up and injuries beginning to take their toll, the Rangers on Wednesday optioned right-hander Ryan Tucker to Round Rock and recalled backup catcher Taylor Teagarden to provide depth on the active roster.

This marks Teagarden’s second stint with the big-league club already in 2011, as he went hitless over four at-bats between Apr. 20 and May 5. In his first game back with Triple-A after being sent down earlier this month, Teagarden hammered three home runs while producing half (seven) of his season RBI total (14) on May 8 against Nashville.

Tucker, who had been called up by the Rangers on Apr. 27, allowed four earned runs in five innings pitched across five appearances with Texas, though he had not seen any action since getting rocked for two runs on two walks and two hits – without retiring a single batter – against Oakland on May 9.

Rangers Notes: Starters, Home Runs Lead to Sweep over Royals

Mike Napoli (right) is congratulated by David Murphy after hitting a solo home run in the second inning of Sunday’s 8-7 win over Kansas City.

After losing three series in a row and briefly dropping behind the Angels in the American League West, the Rangers responded with a weekend sweep of the Kansas City Royals and improved their overall record to 14-7 this year.

Texas snapped its two-game losing skid Friday with an 11-6 win over the Royals in Arlington, hitting a season-high five home runs as left-hander Derek Holland went seven innings to earn the victory. Holland was charged with five runs on seven hits, although all five runs came in the fourth inning and he held Kansas City scoreless for the other six frames while recording a total of nine strikeouts.

Mike Napoli hit a two-run homer off Royals starter Jeff Francis in the third inning to extend what had been a 3-0 Rangers’ lead to 5-0, but Kansas City responded with five runs of their own against Holland in the top of the fourth to tie the game.

Second baseman Ian Kinsler put Texas back ahead with a solo home run in the fourth, and the Rangers homered in each of the next three innings – one apiece by David Murphy, Adrian Beltre and Mitch Moreland – to wrap up the scoring as every starter finished with at least one hit.

On Saturday, right-hander Alexi Ogando worked out of jams in each of the first three innings and pitched into the seventh as Texas held on to beat the Royals, 3-2. Making his fourth big-league start, Ogando limited Kansas City batters to just one run on five hits while lowering his season ERA to 2.13.

Murphy scored the first run of the game in the second inning when he reached on a fielding error by Chris Getz and came home on Moreland’s two-out double. Texas pushed its lead to 3-0 with a pair of runs in the third against Royals starter Kyle Davies, one scoring on an Adrian Beltre sacrifice fly and another on a two-out single by Nelson Cruz.

Ogando was pulled in the seventh inning after yielding a leadoff home run to Kila Ka’aihue in to lose his shutout, but right-hander Cody Eppley threw two scoreless frames in his major league debut to preserve the lead for Texas.

The Rangers were powered by three home runs and a six-run fifth inning Sunday as they held off a late charge by Kansas City, completing their three-game sweep with an 8-7 win over the Royals.

Mike Napoli clubbed his fifth home run of the year in the second inning to give Texas a 1-0 lead, but former Ranger Jeff Francoeur hit a solo homer of his own to tie the game in the fourth against left-hander C.J. Wilson. Despite allowing his first two round-trippers of the year, Wilson rebounded to throw seven innings and strike out a season-high 10 batters to pick up the victory.

After Beltre led off the bottom of the fourth with a home run, shortstop Andres Blanco did the same in the fifth, hitting his first long ball since 2009. Texas went on to add five more runs in the inning, capped off by David Murphy’s bases-clearing double with two outs.

The Rangers’ sweep of Kansas City, coupled with a four-game sweep of the Angels by Boston, moved Texas back into first place in the A.L. West division by 2.5 games over Los Angeles. Next up for the Rangers is a four-game series against the Toronto Blue Jays beginning Monday in Arlington.

Feliz Lands on Disabled List

All-Star closer Neftali Feliz was placed on the 15-day disabled list Saturday with inflammation in his throwing shoulder, and right-hander Cody Eppley was called up from Triple-A Round Rock to replace him on the active roster.

Feliz, who recorded 40 saves last season on his way to winning the A.L. Rookie of the Year award, was stretched out as a starter during spring training but eventually moved back into his more familiar bullpen role. Across eight relief appearances so far this year, Feliz has put together a 1.08 earned run average and converted all five of his save opportunities, though he’s also issued six walks (one intentional) along with his six strikeouts.

Eppley, 25, pitched at each of the Rangers’ top three minor league levels last season, posting a record of 5-2 with 16 saves and a composite 2.08 ERA for Bakersfield, Frisco and Oklahoma City.

To make room for Eppley on the 40-man roster, the Rangers transferred right-hander Eric Hurley from the 15- to the 60-day disabled list. Hurley suffered a mild skull fracture and concussion this week when he was hit in the head by a line drive during a Triple-A game in New Orleans.

Rangers Notes: McClung Signed to Minor-League Contract

Seth McClung has put together a 26-34 record with an ERA of 5.46 in seven big-league seasons for the Tampa Bay Rays and the Milwaukee Brewers.

While the Rangers are still hoping to offset the departure of Cliff Lee via a trade or the free agent market, it was announced Saturday that the team had signed right-hander Seth McClung to a minor-league deal with an invitation to big-league camp. According to ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick (via Twitter), “He’ll get a look as a starter in spring training.”

The 29-year-old McClung was released by Florida on March 30 and has not pitched in the majors since 2009, when he went 3-3 with a 4.94 earned run average in 41 appearances for the Brewers. A fifth-round draft pick of the Rays in 1999, McClung has a career record of 26-34 across seven seasons with Tampa Bay and Milwaukee.

Outfielder Endy Chavez and infielder Brian Barden were also signed to minor-league contracts, and both received invitations to major-league spring training camp as well.

Chavez, 32, is working his way back from right knee surgery and spent last season in the Texas minor-league system, seeing limited action for three affiliates in June and July. A career .270 batter across nine seasons, Chavez is currently playing with Magallanes in the Venezuelan Winter League.

Barden, 29, hit .353 with 14 doubles and 23 RBIs last year for Triple-A New Orleans in the Marlins’ organization. In April 2009, Barden was named the National League Rookie of the Month while playing for the St. Louis Cardinals.

Team Adds Three International Players

On Thursday, the Rangers announced the signings of three players from three different countries to minor-league contracts for next season, and each will be in minor-league camp during spring training.

Right-hander Yhency Brazoban, who pitched for the Los Angeles Dodgers from 2004 to 2008, began this season in the Mexican League before being signed by the Mets on Aug. 14, and he finished the year with Triple-A Buffalo. In 2005, Brazoban led the Dodgers with 21 saves in 74 games, but he was limited to 9 and 2/3 innings across 11 big-league appearances over the next three seasons.

Hirotoshi Onaka, a switch-hitting outfielder who has spent the last four years at International Pacific University in Japan, was also signed by Texas to a minor-league deal. In 75 games, the 22-year-old Onaka batted .327 (92-for-281) with five home runs and 36 runs batted in.

The Rangers also signed 18-year-old Dutch middle infielder Nick Urbanus, who is currently playing for the Hoofdklasse club L&D Amsterdam Pirates and is expected to join the team’s rookie-level Arizona Summer League affiliate next June.

Francoeur to Royals; Harden, McCarthy Sign with A’s

Outfielder Jeff Francoeur became the first position player from the 2010 Rangers to sign with a new club when he agreed to a one-year deal with the Kansas City Royals on Monday. In 15 regular-season games with Texas, Francoeur batted .340 with two home runs, nine runs scored and 11 RBIs.

In addition, right-handers Rich Harden and Brandon McCarthy each signed one-year contracts with the Oakland Athletics this week. Harden, who began his career with the A’s, went 5-5 with an earned run average of 5.58 for the Rangers this year, while McCarthy posted a 13-15 record with a 4.68 ERA across parts of three seasons in Texas.

Rangers Notes: Francoeur Elects Free Agency

Jeff Francoeur hit .340 with the Rangers this season, including two home runs and 11 runs batted in.

Less than three months after he was acquired in a late-season trade with the New York Mets, outfielder Jeff Francoeur cleared waivers on Wednesday and declined an outright assignment to the minor leagues, thus making him a free agent. In 15 games with Texas during the regular season, Francoeur batted .340 with two home runs and 11 runs batted in, though his production dropped off considerably in the playoffs and World Series.

It was announced Thursday that designated hitter Vladimir Guerrero and outfielder Josh Hamilton were named Silver Slugger award winners for their respective positions this year, and the Rangers are the only American League team to have multiple recipients. Guerrero hit 29 home runs and led the team with 115 RBIs while Hamilton cracked 32 homers, drove in 100 runs, and led both leagues with a .359 batting average.

Faced with the possibility of losing both Bengie Molina and Matt Treanor to free agency (or retirement, in Molina’s case), the Rangers added depth to the backup catcher position by signing veteran Kevin Cash to a minor-league deal Wednesday. Across parts of eight big-league seasons with five different teams, Cash has recorded 12 home runs, 25 doubles and 58 RBIs.

And to the surprise of nobody, Yankees general manager Brian Cashman made a visit to Arkansas this week to meet personally with free-agent left-hander Cliff Lee and his family. While no immediate contract offer was made, early reports indicate that it could take at least a six-year deal worth $160 million or more to obtain Lee’s services.

Rangers Notes: Lee Shuts Down Rays in Game 1

Cliff Lee set a new Rangers record with 10 strikeouts in a playoff game Wednesday against the Tampa Bay Rays.

Left-hander Cliff Lee allowed just one run on five hits Wednesday as Texas beat Tampa Bay in Game 1 of the American League Division Series, 5-1, giving the Rangers their first playoff victory since Oct. 1, 1996. Lee established a new club record by striking out 10 batters in a single postseason game, one better than Rick Helling’s nine strikeouts against the Yankees in 1998.

Having scored just two runs in their previous six playoff games combined, the Rangers came out swinging with five runs in the first five innings off Rays starter David Price. Outfielder Jeff Francoeur got the scoring started in the second inning with a double to drive home Ian Kinsler, while outfielder Nelson Cruz and catcher Bengie Molina each connected for two-out home runs off Price to pad the Texas lead.

Left-hander Darren Oliver celebrated his 40^th birthday Wednesday with a 2/3 of an inning of scoreless relief against Tampa Bay. Oliver is appearing in his fifth consecutive postseason with his third different team, having pitched in the playoffs for the Mets in 2006, the Angels from ’07 to ’09, and now the Rangers in 2010.

Game 2 of the ALDS is scheduled for Thursday at 1:30 p.m. at Tropicana Field, with Texas left-hander C.J. Wilson set to face off against Rays right-hander James Shields.