A Personal Ode to The Ballpark

It’s hot. It’s ridiculously hot. It’s the kind of hot that forces you to peel your sweat-logged shirt from your body in between pitches – and that’s if you’re sitting in the shade. A seat in left field provides a complimentary and thorough soaking by the second inning. But it’s my ballpark, and I must bid it farewell. More specifically, it is “The Ballpark in Arlington.” Take a seat for now, Ameriquest and Globe Life. Preferably somewhere in the left-field stands.

It’s the place where I fell in love with baseball. Sure, I knew about the national pastime when I was growing up. I played T-ball and Little League, went to a handful of games at Arlington Stadium, heard about Babe Ruth and knew a guy named Nolan Ryan pitched for the Rangers. That was the extent of my knowledge, and that was fine with me. I remember the hubbub when The Ballpark in Arlington opened in 1994, and that summer a country singer named Kenny Rogers (right?) threw something called a “perfect game.” The next year, baseball’s All-Star Game came to town, but I didn’t pay much attention.

Then 1996 happened. The Rangers were good, and I was drawn to the sport like never before. I became enamored with the team’s graceful left fielder, a soft-spoken Alabama kid who patrolled his position with reckless abandon. Although Rusty Greer made the game-saving catch in center field during Kenny Rogers’ perfecto two years prior, he was now entrenched in left. And he was my guy. He was the first player to prove me wrong when I saw a line drive heading for the corner or the gap and thought, “There’s no way anyone will catch that.” Greer often did. My red-capped hero jumped, dove and crashed into walls to turn impossible snags into stunning realities, then humbly re-adjusted his uniform like an office worker standing up after a long meeting.

There was Juan Gonzalez, obliterating baseballs with mighty swings that seemed too strong for a mere mortal. (Turns out that was the case.) Ivan Rodriguez, daring base runners to test his throwing arm, then flashing his trademark smile once the second-base ump signaled another caught stealing. Will Clark, exhibiting the smoothest left-handed stroke I’ve seen to this day. Mickey Tettleton, with his odd bat-parallel-to-the-ground stance. Dean Palmer, holding down third base when he wasn’t cranking home runs. The late Darryl Hamilton manning center when he wasn’t legging out triples. Mark McLemore turning in clutch hits from both sides of the plate. And of course, Kevin Elster driving in 99 runs despite batting ninth in the lineup.

When Texas lost to New York in its first playoff series that fall, I understood the meaning behind the title Damn Yankees. That thought crossed my 11-year-old mind several times, and over the next few seasons it grew to include more colorful words as my vocabulary expanded. In addition to having a favorite team, I now had a sworn enemy of a team as well.

After getting plowed over by the Yankees again in 1998 and 1999, the Rangers turned as sour as milk left sitting on the outfield bleachers during an extra-inning afternoon game. They finished in last place four straight seasons, then in next-to-last-place three years in a row, then in last place again. It was not a good time to be a baseball fan in North Texas. I wasn’t going anywhere, however. This was my team through thick and thin, and these lean years produced some of my fondest Ballpark memories.

On the photo days I attended near the turn of the century (usually sponsored by Fujifilm or some other camera company), I encountered players from the obscure to the legendary. In 2000, my inquisitive nature led me to ask David Segui why he wore the big wrap around his left elbow. “It’s for my elbow,” he replied. Well then. Rafael Palmeiro put his big hands on my little shoulders for one picture. I can distinctly recall my feet leaving the ground for about 10 minutes afterward. But nothing compares to my Johnny Oates experience.

Between one photo day session and the game itself – this was probably 1997 – I planned to trek down and ask the manager for an autograph. “You know, he may recognize you,” my dad told me as I grabbed my ball and pen. Huh? “He probably has grandkids, and he’s probably seen you in some Barney episodes.” Yeah right, dad. The Texas Rangers manager is going to recognize me. Sure.

As he was signing my ball, Oates looked up and said, “Hey, I’ve seen you somewhere before.” My jaw dropped. “Yeah, I’ve seen you on TV. I should be asking you for your autograph,” he said as he handed me my newest treasure. I could only walk back to my seat in stunned silence. Dad knew from the look on my face he was right.

On Opening Day 2001, I caught the only ball I’ve ever snagged off the bat of a big-league player. It didn’t happen during the game, but it didn’t matter. I’ll never forget running onto Greene’s Hill to chase a batting-practice homer struck by Andres Galarraga, sticking out my gloved left hand and feeling the pellet land flush in the pocket. I’m glad it occurred in batting practice, because I didn’t want any TV viewers to witness my awkward form. That July, I waited in a slow-moving line that wound its way down to Cal Ripken Jr., who was about to play his final career game in Arlington. After he signed my ball, I managed to feebly utter “Thanks, Cal” before scurrying away. Clearly, my confidence had grown by leaps and bounds since the Johnny Oates encounter.

For the summer of 2002, The Ballpark turned from my favorite destination to my place of employment. At age 17, I had the pleasure of directing cars into parking spots on the sizzling asphalt, then taking an open seat at the game once my duties were complete. These were the days of Alex Rodriguez and 24 kids, if you’ll recall. Nothing like watching a last-place team for free. I sure didn’t mind.

Good seats were easy to come by because the Rangers were so bad. Armed with a driver’s license, a hand-me-down vehicle and plenty of free time, I was at The Ballpark more often than not during my late high school and early college years. After woebegone experiments like A-Rod, Chan Ho Park and Carl Everett left town, I watched a new corps of youngsters graduate from Double-A Frisco or Triple-A Oklahoma City to the bigs. Mark Teixeira. Francisco Cordero. Hank Blalock. Armando Galarraga. Ian Kinsler. Laynce Nix. Edinson Volquez. Kevin Mench. C.J. Wilson. All within shouting distance at a stadium built for 50,000 fans. Heck, for a while it felt easier to score Rangers tickets than Frisco RoughRiders seats.

Michael Young was there through it all, of course, debuting with Texas in 2000 and sticking around through the franchise’s best and worst moments. The best came later, only after Jon Daniels took over as general manager and solidified the team with outside reinforcements. Here came Nelson Cruz from Milwaukee. Josh Hamilton from Cincinnati. Elvis Andrus, Neftali Feliz and Matt Harrison from Atlanta. Then, in 2010, longtime nemesis Vladimir Guerrero came to town a few months before Cliff Lee arrived to anchor the pitching staff. The Rangers were good again, and The Metroplex began to take notice. Tickets were suddenly in high demand.

That didn’t keep me away. It simply kept me in the cheaper seats. You think I cared? The Ballpark seemed to receive annual upgrades in the years following Ron Washington’s two pennant-winners. The first game I attend each season calls for the purchase of a crisp new media guide, and the inner flaps of these detailed the ongoing improvements. A new club built within the structure atop Greene’s Hill one winter. Another winter brought the replacement of advertising panels with a second video board in left-center field. It made for an ever-changing vista when I started attending games with the woman who I somehow convinced to marry me. She patiently waited in line with me to get autographs from Feliz and Martin Perez at a winter Fan Fest. Then she patiently waited for other major life events unrelated to baseball.

Together we saw Washington pass the managerial torch to Jeff Banister, who assembled two more playoff entrants with the likes of Shin-Soo Choo, Rougned Odor, Yu Darvish and Cole Hamels. This time around, the Blue Jays handed Texas first-round exits in 2015 and 2016. The Rangers haven’t been competitive since then. All of the sudden, games became less crowded and tickets were easier to come by. This allowed us to get up-close views of slugging monsters like Joey Gallo and Nomar Mazara. Fittingly, this was around the time she suggested I may be too old to bound down the aisles and leap over empty seats seeking pregame autographs. As usual, she was right. Some things never change.

I wasn’t there for any of The Ballpark’s most iconic occasions. I missed the anticipated big moments – the All-Star Game, Nolan Ryan’s number retirement ceremony, Major League Baseball’s first interleague game, any of the playoff clinchers, the 2010 and 2011 American League pennant clinchers. Nor was I present for the Rangers’ first World Series contest win, sparked by Mitch Moreland’s three-run homer, or Derek Holland’s Game 4 masterpiece in the next year’s Fall Classic. I was absent for Adrian Beltre’s 3,000th career hit because I was in Cooperstown seeing Pudge inducted into the Hall of Fame, so that’s an excused absence.

The unforeseen memorable games escaped me as well, including the perfect game in 1994, Gary Matthews Jr.’s stunning catch in 2006, Mark Teixeira hitting for the cycle in 2004. Then Ian Kinsler hitting for the cycle in 2009. Then Adrian Beltre in 2012. Then Alex Rios in 2013. Then Beltre again in 2015. Then Carlos Gomez in 2017. And Odor’s melee-sparking right hook to Jose Bautista’s face. I missed them all. And I don’t regret it one bit.

Over the past two-plus decades, I’ve enjoyed many games at The Ballpark by myself, sometimes chatting with nearby fans and sometimes letting my internal dialogue suffice. I’ve been to several games as part of group outings. I’ve taken friends and girlfriends, in-laws and outcasts, classmates and bandmates. I’ve sat in the front row of the lower deck, the farthest reaches of the upper deck and just about everywhere in between. I’ve taken in games from plush suites, from broken seats and from the scorched aluminum of the outfield bleachers. I’ve been so invested at some games, I never left my seat, lest I miss something for the pristine scorecard I was keeping. And I’ve been rather uninvested at some games, more interested in hanging out with my company or roaming the gift shops or seeking out better seats or kicking back with a couple overpriced adult beverages. I’ve sat through triple-digit heat and what felt like triple-digit humidity. I’ve sat through pouring rain under haunting skies. I’ve sat through unseasonably cool games with a hot chocolate instead of a cold bottle of water. I’ve run the gamut of emotions watching the action on the diamond, from heart-pumping elation to gut-wrenching depression to casual indifference.

I was an 8-year-old kid when The Ballpark in Arlington opened its gates, and I’ll see the final MLB game played there as a 34-year-old man (some would argue against the latter title). The majestic mecca has been a constant throughout my formative years and young adult life. It may no longer host big-league baseball contests, but its memories will live on:

The giddy feeling of walking to the yard from my favorite parking lot, tucked between the Arlington Visitors Bureau and a nondescript industrial complex near the center-field gate. The pungent aroma of hot dogs, jalapeno-topped nachos and beer that hits my nostrils before I even have my ticket out of my pocket. The booming voice of Chuck Morgan careening off every surface from the public address system. The songs that ring out during batting practice, including ballpark staples like John Fogerty’s “Centerfield” and Terry Cashman’s “Talkin’ Baseball.” The swelling anticipation as first pitch approaches. The unique song snippets that precede each Ranger’s trip to the plate. The home run music, swiped from the climactic scene in The Natural but never feeling more natural than in Arlington. The dot races. The celebratory fireworks. The seventh-inning stretch, when “God Bless America” merges seamlessly into “Cotton-Eye Joe.” The sweet taste of victories and the bitter pills of defeat. And after each final out, the soothing voice of Eric Nadel recapping the game’s events on the ride home.

Sure, it’s hot at The Ballpark. And it will be considerably more comfortable in the new retractable-roof, climate-controlled park. And new legions of fans will come to love the game in the new environs, much as I and thousands of others did at the current stadium. Luckily, cherished memories don’t melt in any temperature, meaning I get to carry those with me for the rest of my life. The Ballpark in Arlington is the gift that keeps on giving.

Rangers Notes: Hamels Acquired in Eight-Player Deal

Cole Hamels pitched into the eighth inning but received a no-decision in his first Texas start on Saturday.

The Rangers reeled in the biggest catch of last week’s non-waiver trade deadline when they acquired starter Cole Hamels as part of an eight-player swap with Philadelphia.

The Phillies also sent relief pitcher Jake Diekman and cash to Texas in the deal, while the Rangers’ return package included Matt Harrison and five minor-leaguers – Jorge Alfaro, Alec Asher, Jerad Eickhoff, Jake Thompson and Nick Williams.

The trade, which was agreed to on Wednesday but not finalized until Friday, came only after Hamels used his limited no-trade clause to block a potential deal with the Astros.

“I have a lot of catching up to do,” Hamels said after joining his new team Friday, “but with this group of guys I think it’s going to be pretty easy because they’re true competitors, and it’s fun to watch them on the field and know that those are guys that are going to be behind me.”

A three-time National League All-Star, Hamels posted a career record of 114-90 with a 3.30 ERA across parts of 10 seasons for the Phillies, throwing a no-hitter on July 25 against the Cubs in his final start with Philadelphia.

Making his A.L. debut in a Texas uniform two nights ago, Hamels pitched into the eighth inning and was lifted with a 7-4 lead, but Tanner Scheppers allowed three consecutive run-scoring hits as San Francisco rallied to tie the game.

After a scoreless tenth inning, Hunter Pence and Brandon Belt each connected for solo home runs in the top of the eleventh to lead the Giants to a 9-7 comeback victory.

Although the Rangers’ bullpen faltered and denied Hamels a chance at a win in his first game with Texas, manager Jeff Banister was still pleased with the results put forth by the club’s new No. 1 starter.

“Given everything involved,” Banister said, “coming off the no-hitter, the volume of pitches he threw in the no-hitter, everything swirling around the trade and the travel getting here … I really felt like he threw the ball well.”

Following Hamels in the Rangers’ revamped rotation, left-hander Martin Perez delivered the best performance of his injury-shortened season on the way to a 2-1 win in Sunday’s rubber game. He retired the first 14 batters he faced before Brandon Belt and Justin Maxwell reached, respectively, on an error and an infield single in the top of the fifth.

Perez was pulled after allowing a one-out double to Angel Pagan in the ninth, and the Texas bullpen had to work around trouble before Hunter Pence grounded into a game-ending double play.

Dyson, Wilson Added to Roster

While the trade for Hamels grabbed most of the headlines, Texas also made a pair of under-the-radar moves Friday aimed at strengthening the team’s relief pitching and catching corps.

Right-hander Sam Dyson was acquired from Miami in exchange for backstop Tomas Telis and minor-league lefty Cody Ege, and veteran catcher Bobby Wilson was picked up on a waiver claim from Tampa Bay.

Dyson, 27, was activated Saturday and made back-to-back appearances against the Giants, including a scoreless outing Sunday in which he earned his first career save. The 32-year-old Wilson, meanwhile, had two hits and caught all 11 innings in his Texas debut on Saturday.

Shoulder Strain Sends Chirinos to DL

Both of the Rangers’ Opening Day catchers are now on the disabled list after Robinson Chirinos was placed on the 15-day DL Saturday (retroactive to Friday) with a strained left shoulder.

Backup catcher Carlos Corporan has also been on the disabled list since mid-July with a sprain in his left thumb, leaving the ballclub’s pitch-calling duties to Chris Gimenez – who had his contract purchased Friday from Triple-A Round Rock – and Bobby Wilson.

In other roster moves, both Wandy Rodriguez and Ross Ohlendorf were designated for assignment by Texas over the past week, and Ohlendorf was placed on unconditional release waivers on Friday.

In the bullpen, late-inning reliever Keone Kela was optioned to Double-A Frisco Saturday in an effort to limit his workload. Kela had averaged a total of 44 innings pitched in each of the past two seasons in the minors, and he has already thrown 43 and two-thirds innings for the Rangers this year.

Rangers Notes: Choo Hits for Cycle against Rockies

Shin-Soo Choo rounds the bases on his 12th home run of the season Tuesday at Coors Field.

Nearly 30 years to the date after Oddibe McDowell became the first Rangers player to hit for the cycle, outfielder Shin-Soo Choo accomplished the feat last Tuesday in Denver.

Choo drove in the first Texas run of the game with an RBI double off Kyle Kendrick in the second inning, then hit his 12th home run of the year leading off the top of the fourth.

One inning later, he greeted reliever Yohan Flande with an RBI single into right field, leaving him a triple shy of the cycle before the game was half over.

Following a groundout in the top of the seventh, Choo led off the ninth inning against left-hander Rex Brothers. With a count of 1-1, he drove a fastball over the head of center fielder Charlie Blackmon and off the wall, completing his historic performance with a headfirst dive into third base for the triple.

“I wasn’t thinking about it, because [Brothers] is not an easy pitcher” Choo said of hitting for the cycle. “A left-handed pitcher with pretty good stuff. I just tried to hit the ball hard. I hit it well, but I thought [Blackmon] might catch it.”

Choo became the first Korean-born player to hit for the cycle in the majors, as well as the eighth player to accomplish the feat in a Texas uniform. Outfielder Alex Rios was the last Ranger to hit for the cycle when he did so against the Houston Astros on Sept. 23, 2013.

Choo’s 4-for-5 evening came as part of a 9-0 Texas rout over Colorado in which Matt Harrison earned his first victory since May 2014, scattering seven hits over six shutout innings.

On Monday, the Rockies’ Ben Paulsen delivered a walk-off single in the bottom of the ninth after Texas had rallied from a 7-0 deficit to tie the game, and the Rangers won the rubber match Wednesday afternoon, 10-8, behind three RBIs apiece from Mitch Moreland and Elvis Andrus.

Texas ran its winning streak to four games with close victories in Anaheim both Friday and Saturday, but the Angels prevented a series sweep by beating the Rangers, 13-7, in Sunday afternoon’s finale.

Odor Named Player of the Week

Rangers second baseman Rougned Odor was named the American League Player of the Week on Monday after batting .385 (10-for-26) with seven extra-base hits and nine runs scores over his previous six games.

Odor, 21, connected for three home runs during the week and ranked third in the A.L. with a .923 slugging percentage. On Wednesday in Denver, he tallied a new career high with four runs scored and came within a double of hitting for the cycle.

The honor comes after Odor, the club’s Opening Day second baseman, spent much of May and the first half of June refining his offensive approach at Triple-A Round Rock.

“He came into spring training thinking he was going to be a slugger, hit a bunch of home runs,” Texas manager Jeff Banister said of Odor.

“I think he’s come to the realization now that most home runs are mistakes by the pitchers. You still got to put a swing on it. You go up there trying to jerk everything into the seats, it doesn’t really work out for you.”

Martinez Recalled from Round Rock

Right-hander Nick Martinez was recalled from Triple-A to start last Monday’s game in Colorado, with swingman Anthony Ranaudo getting optioned to Round Rock in a corresponding roster move.

The 24-year-old Martinez returned to the Rangers’ rotation after making a pair of starts for Triple-A earlier this month.

In 16 starts for Texas this season, Martinez had posted a 5-5 record with an earned run average of 3.43 across 97 innings pitched.

Rangers Notes: ‘Stros Slaughter Texas at Minute Maid

Manager Jeff Banister goes to the mound to make a pitching change during the Rangers’ 10-0 defeat to the Astros Sunday in Houston.

Following a 7-6 victory Saturday that featured a benches-clearing scuffle and seemed to ignite a fire under the team, Texas received a harsh dose of solid pitching by All-Star starter Dallas Keuchel in a 10-0 loss to the Astros on Sunday.

Keuchel set a new career high with 13 strikeouts over seven innings of work and improved his season record to 12-4. While Houston stranded 10 runners on base in the ballgame, it was also able to push 10 across the plate against Yovani Gallardo and Anthony Ranaudo.

Third baseman Luis Valbuena drove in four runs for the Astros, and outfielders Colby Rasmus and Preston Tucker each added a two-run homer in the blowout.

On Saturday, Texas rode a quality start from Colby Lewis to a 7-6 win at Minute Maid Park, although the bullpen left much to be desired in allowing four runs over the final two innings.

Rougned Odor provided Lewis with an early advantage­­­ when he connected for a two-run homer off former Ranger Scott Feldman in the top of the third.

The Texas lead would grow to 5-1 before Houston scored three runs in the eighth, the first of which came home on an RBI double into left-center field by Jose Altuve. Marwin Gonzalez appeared to be tagged out by catcher Robinson Chirinos on a close play at the plate, but Tony Randazzo’s safe call was upheld after the Rangers issued a challenge.

In the top of the ninth, Astros catcher Hank Conger took exception to the amount of time Rougned Odor was taking to get into the batter’s box for his plate appearance, and words were exchanged between the two before both benches emptied.

Texas manager Jeff Banister was visibly upset with Houston skipper A.J. Hinch during the mild quarrel, and he said after the game that “our guys are not going to be pushed around.”

Conger would hit a two-run shot off Shawn Tolleson with no outs in the bottom of the inning, but Tolleson was able to retire the next three batters to nail down the 7-6 win for Texas.

Prior to last week’s All-Star Game at Great American Ballpark, the Rangers had dropped four out of five games against N.L. West division opponents Arizona and San Diego.

In the midsummer classic, designated hitter Prince Fielder went 1-for-1 with an RBI single and a run-scoring sacrifice fly as part of the American League’s 6-3 victory over the National League.

Feliz Signed by Tigers; Detwiler to Braves

Former closer Neftali Feliz cleared waivers and was granted free agency after being designated for assignment earlier this month, and he was picked up by Detroit to join its depleted bullpen on Jul. 11.

Left-hander Ross Detwiler, meanwhile, was DFA’d and released by Texas before signing a deal with the Atlanta Braves on Friday. Detwiler began the season as a starter but was moved to the bullpen after going 0-5 with a 6.95 ERA over his first seven starts.

His spot on the active roster was taken by right-handed reliever Roman Mendez, who was then sent back to Triple-A Round Rock when lefty Martin Perez was activated from the 60-day disabled list.

Catcher Carlos Corporan was placed on the 15-day DL Friday (retroactive to Jul. 13) with a sprained left thumb, an injury he had been dealing with for weeks but aggravated while taking batting practice against Matt Harrison.

Twenty-four-year-old Tomas Telis was recalled from Round Rock to take Corporan’s spot on the active roster.

Rangers Could Pursue Hamels

Left-handed starter Cole Hamels is one of the top names expected to be moved before the Jul. 31 non-waiver trade deadline, and Texas – despite its lackluster showing in the standings – is among the teams considered a potential suitor.

While Hamels, 31, would instantly bolster the top of the rotation, he will also command a steep asking price as far as a return package. Infielder Joey Gallo is considered to be off-limits, but catcher Jorge Alfaro or outfielder Nomar Mazara could be included as part of a deal with Philadelphia.

If Texas ends up as a seller instead of a buyer at the deadline, starting pitchers Yovani Gallardo, Colby Lewis and Wandy Rodriguez would all be viable options to get traded.

Rangers Notes: Former All-Star Feliz Designated for Assignment

Neftali Feliz racked up 72 regular-season saves as the Rangers’ closer between 2010 and ’11.

Right-handed pitcher Neftali Feliz was designated for assignment before last Saturday’s 13-0 loss to the Angels at Globe Life Park, a move that was necessitated when Texas needed to clear a roster spot for the return of Matt Harrison.

The move came just two days after Feliz himself had been activated from the disabled list due to an abscess on his right side. He threw two scoreless innings Friday in his return, but his ERA this year (4.58) was more than two runs higher than his career average heading into the season (2.53).

Feliz, 27, was acquired as part of the trade that sent Mark Teixeira to Atlanta in July 2007, and he rose quickly through the Rangers’ minor-league ranks.

Following stints with Spokane, Clinton, Frisco and Oklahoma City, he made his MLB debut in August ’09 and emerged as one of the top relievers in baseball.

During Texas’ back-to-back World Series appearances in 2010 and ’11, Feliz saved a total of 72 games in the regular season and another seven in the postseason.

He began to have arm troubles, however, when the club moved him into the starting rotation for the 2012 campaign, and he ultimately underwent reconstructive Tommy John surgery on his elbow that August.

“When he had the surgery he wasn’t as electric as he was beforehand,” general manager Jon Daniels said of Feliz. “He had an unbelievable easy arm in how he went after it.

“And after [the surgery] … he came back strong and was good again, but not at the same level. That’s where we are.”

Feliz reclaimed his title as the Rangers’ closer last season and posted a 1.99 earned run average across 30 games, but he struggled in many of his appearances as the incumbent this year.

Manager Jeff Banister had embraced a “no roles” philosophy for the bullpen by mid-May, and Shawn Tolleson was officially named the Texas closer a month later.

“It’s a tough call mostly [because of] the fact that Neftali has been on the mound for probably the greatest moments in franchise history,” Daniels said. “The consistency at this point and the role on the team wasn’t a really clearly defined role for him.

“He’s going to pitch a while longer for sure. He’s healthy, strong and we’ll see what happens.”

Also on Saturday, Anthony Ranaudo was recalled from Triple-A while rookie Chi Chi Gonzalez was optioned back to Round Rock.

Starter Nick Martinez was optioned to Triple-A on Thursday when Feliz was re-instated from the DL, and infielder Joey Gallo was optioned last Tuesday when Josh Hamilton returned from the disabled list.

Before Sunday’s series finale against the Angels, outfielder Delino DeShields was activated from the 15-day DL while Hanser Alberto was sent to Round Rock.

Fielder to Represent Texas at Midsummer Classic

First baseman/designated hitter Prince Fielder was named the Rangers’ lone representative on the American League All-Star squad this week, winning the player vote and finishing behind Seattle’s Nelson Cruz in the fan voting.

Fielder will be making his sixth All-Star Game appearance and will also participate in the Home Run Derby on Monday at Great American Ballpark in Cincinnati.

The 31-year-old Fielder is the Texas club leader this season in batting average (.347), slugging percentage (.530), hits (110), doubles (19) and runs batted in (50). He will face Reds third baseman Todd Frazier in the first round of the newly-formatted Home Run Derby.

Halos Sail to Weekend Sweep in Arlington

The Rangers were outscored by a total of 25 runs (33-8) over the weekend in a three-game sweep at the hands of Los Angeles at Globe Life Park.

Chi Chi Gonzalez, Wandy Rodriguez and Colby Lewis were each hit hard in their starts against the Angels, combining to give up 21 earned runs over 10 and two-thirds innings of work.

Following a successful month of May and a respectable start to June, Texas has now lost 11 of its last 15 games to fall seven behind the division-leading Astros in the American League West.