Going for the Sweep, Overdue, and Brainwashed

In the history of interleague play only 2 teams have swept a season series of at least six games. The Yankees swept the Mets, and the Marlins swept the Devil Rays. The Rangers coming into Thursday were 5-0 vs. the Astros in 2009. Vicente Padilla made the start against the injury plagued starter for the Astros, Brandon Backe. For the third time in a row Padilla has been throwing to Teagarden rather than Saltalamacchia. Wash says that's of no significance. Padilla got a lead early in the game and shut out Houston through the first 4 innings. With Texas up 3-0 in the 5th, Padilla got two quick outs, but gave up a double to the heavy slumping Darin Erstad, which snapped Erstad's 0-for-29 hitless streak. Then Padilla would give up an RBI single to Pudge's backup Humberto Quintero making it 3-1. In the top of the 6th Padilla would give up a walk and 2 singles to load the bases. He would walk in a run to make it 3-2. Hunter Pence would strike out, but a pass ball with Kaz Matsui batting would let the tying run score. Matsui wouldn't single without scoring a run. Padilla would follow by striking out Erstad and inducing a groundout from Quintero to end the inning.

Supplying the runs early for Texas were Chris Davis and Michael Young both on homeruns. It was Davis' first homerun since May. It was Michael's second since then. They have both been in deep slumps recently. Mike over the past week has been hitting under .250 including the second longest hitless streak of his career of 0-for-17. For a guy that regularly accumulates 200 hits per year that's a big slump. Chris Davis is still averaging literally over 1.5 strikeouts per game.

Hunter Pence has surrendered his free thought for no good reason, except you know he can live the high life with millions of dollars. Last night he nearly took the game away from the team he once rooted for. Tonight he homered in the top of the 8th inning for the second day in a row, this time it was the go ahead run rather than the tying run. This would be decisive as the Astros won 5-3 @ Texas. Pence also would make an arguably highlight reel catch to save a run and end the game. This came the day after David Murphy a Houston native got the walkoff hit in the bottom of the 10th. I leave you with the totally coherent thought that perhaps this was planned.