NewsYoung could be back for finale
Texas (16-14) at Chicago (14-15), 1:05 p.m. CT
By Patrick Mooney / Special to MLB.com
05/10/09 1:00 AM ET
CHICAGO -- The 46-degree game-time temperature influenced the calculus for Michael Young, who rested Saturday with lower back stiffness, a condition that typically doesn't improve in cold weather. The Rangers have an off-day Monday, but that doesn't automatically mean Young will sit in the series finale against the White Sox. "I'm hoping I can get in there [Sunday]," Young said. "Tuesday's no question -- I'm definitely gonna be in there." The third baseman dove for a ball Friday night and instantly recognized the feeling. A similar incident happened a few years ago in Detroit. Young knew his back would stiffen up in a couple innings and feel that way in the morning. He's being treated with ice and heat. "It's frustrating. I love to play in Chicago," Young said. "It's a great place to play and we're playing well right now, so obviously I want to be in there and be a part of it. But [we] gotta get it right." After going 2-for-11 with runners in scoring position on Saturday, the Rangers would benefit from Young's presence. Heading into Saturday, Young was among the American League leaders in several major offensive categories. He is tied for second in extra-base hits (19), tied for fourth in doubles (12), and tied for sixth in hits (40). In his place on Saturday, 42-year-old Omar Vizquel made his first career start at third base -- or for that matter anywhere other than shortstop. "We're not getting rid of it as quickly as we thought, so we'll back off," Rangers manager Ron Washington said. "Knowing Mike, I wouldn't be surprised if he'd be ready to go [Sunday]." Pitching matchupTEX: RHP Vicente Padilla (1-2, 5.71 ERA)
Padilla pitched brilliantly on Tuesday against the Mariners, allowing one unearned run in eight innings and just one single. He didn't get the win, but the Rangers won, 7-2, in 10 innings and are 4-2 in his six starts. Padilla has a 3.05 ERA in his past three starts. He is 1-2 with a 3.94 ERA in his five career starts against the White Sox. He did not pitch against them last year. CWS: RHP Bartolo Colon (2-2, 4.05 ERA)
Colon looked as strong as he has in any of his four starts for the White Sox this season in a 2-1 victory over the Mariners in Game 1 of Tuesday's doubleheader. Colon struck out six and walked one, giving up four hits and one unearned run over seven innings. He also pitched out of a second-and-third, one-out jam in the seventh, nursing a one-run lead, while working up his pitch count to 95.
Tidbits
Josh Hamilton got his work in early Saturday and then left for his two-game rehab assignment at Round Rock. "He had no complaints about anything," Washington said. Hamilton, who is on the disabled list with a strained rib cage muscle, plans to be activated for Tuesday's game against Seattle. ... Here's some context for a pitcher who's learning to trust his stuff: Matt Harrison's scoreless streak has reached 19 innings, the longest by a Rangers pitcher since Kenny Rogers went for 31 straight in 2005. On Friday night, Harrison became the first lefty in Texas history to throw a shutout in Chicago (versus either the White Sox or Cubs). The only other left-hander in franchise history to throw a shutout in this city was Senators pitcher Frank Bertaina, who tossed one at the old Comiskey Park in 1967. Harrison's second career shutout came in his 21st game, which makes him the fastest to reach that mark in Texas history.
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• KRLD 1080, KFLC 1270 (Español) Up next
• Monday: Off-day
• Tuesday: Rangers (Scott Feldman, 2-0, 5.79) vs. Mariners (Jason Vargas, 1-0, 0.00), 7:05 p.m. CT
• Wednesday: Rangers (Brandon McCarthy, 3-1, 6.10) vs. Mariners (Jarrod Washburn, 3-2, 2.68), 7:05 p.m. CT
Patrick Mooney is a contributor to MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
