The Rangers improved their spring training record to 4-1 today when they beat the San Francisco Giants 8-6 in 10 innings. So far they have played the Kansas City Royals (three times), Los Angeles Angels, and the Giants where the only team they lost to was the Angels last friday with a score of 2-3. In the three games the Rangers played the Royals, they beat them 6-1, 15-6, and 8-7. When the Rangers demolished the Royals the second time they played them 15-6, they accounted for 17 hits, 15 rbi’s, 1 double, 1 triple, and three home runs. On a smaller note, Jarrod Saltalamacchia, who is competing with Gerald Laird to be the Rangers’ starting catcher, was 2-for-3 with an RBI triple and scored twice in that game. Although this was a large game for Jarrod, Lair has the slight edge on batting average for spring training, currently batting .500 where Saltalamacchia is batting .400.
Although it’s only spring training, the Rangers are first in the Cactus League Standings and have shown a lot of improvement from their young players. They have been getting solid hitting from the majority of their probable starters along with players trying to make the roster. The pitching has been good as well playing 6-8 pitchers per game, usually giving them an inning or two.
The Rangers look to continue their success when they play 15 games in the next 15 days.