NewsEyre looking to earn his keep in bullpen
Texas (40-33) vs. San Diego (32-41), 7:05 p.m. CT
Willie Eyre pitched a scoreless inning on Friday, his first appearance since April 22. (AP)
By Todd Wills / Special to MLB.com
06/28/09 12:06 AM ET
ARLINGTON -- Willie Eyre isn't focusing on whether he'll be in the Rangers' bullpen past this weekend's series against San Diego. |
"I'm going to act like I'm going to be here the rest of the year," Eyre said. "I don't think I'm going anywhere. If I'm thinking I'm in or out, I'm setting myself up to fail."
Eyre pitched a scoreless eighth inning in Friday's 12-2 victory over San Diego, his first appearance since April 22 against Toronto. "I could have gone two innings," said Eyre, who threw 11 pitches. "I felt good out there." It has been an up-and-down season for Eyre, who is hoping he is finally healthy after missing the 2008 season after Tommy John elbow-ligament replacement surgery. Eyre, 30, opened the season on the disabled list with a right groin strain he suffered during Spring Training when it looked he would break camp with the team. He had three outings, including the scoreless one against the Blue Jays, before going down again with the groin strain. Eyre said his arm strength has always been fine, which allowed him to return sooner than anticipated. He went without throwing for 10 or 12 days after re-injuring the groin, then played long toss and declared himself ready to go. He made three appearances during rehab stint with Triple-A Oklahoma City this month, allowing a run in four innings. An overworked bullpen helped get Eyre back to Texas sooner than expected. "I knew they needed help," Eyre said. Rangers manager Ron Washington said he still plans to go from an eight-man bullpen to seven after this weekend, though the team could option Sunday starter Tommy Hunter back to Triple-A with an off-day coming up Thursday. "I have to get me another player, so somebody will go," Washington said of having a three-man bench. "Willie. [Doug] Mathis. You never know." Pitching matchupTEX: RHP Tommy Hunter (0-0, 5.06 ERA)
Matt Harrison was scratched from this start due to inflammation around his left biceps. He underwent an MRI Friday, which showed no structural damage. Taking the start Hunter, who allowed three earned runs in 5 1/3 innings on May 29 in an emergency start. He was called up from Triple-A Oklahoma City when Harrison went on the disabled list with a sore left shoulder. Hunter has a 3-2 record with a 3.83 ERA for Oklahoma City this season. SD: RHP Chad Gaudin (3-6, 5.60 ERA)
Gaudin, who has had command issues this season, loaded the bases in the second inning in his last start on three hits and then proceeded to walk in a batter for a run. Rough start? Maybe, though Gaudin recovered nicely, working seven innings. Gaudin would allow one more run and ended up tying his career high with 11 strikeouts, as he got a lot of swing-and-misses on his slider, especially to right-handed batters. Better still, that walk in the second inning was the only one he issued the entire game. Tidbits
Backup catcher Taylor Teagarden was scratched from the lineup Saturday with a stomach virus. Starter Jarrod Saltalamacchia replaced him in the lineup. ... Shortstop Omar Vizquel is sending his jersey he wore Thursday against Arizona to set the record for most hits by a Venezuelan-born player to the Hall of Fame. ... Designated hitter Hank Blalock recorded career RBIs No. 500 and 501 on Friday to become the ninth player in franchise history to surpass 500 RBIs. ... Rookie shortstop Elvis Andrus had his second career four-hit game Friday, becoming the fourth rookie in team history to have multiple four-hit games in a season. He joined Dave Hostetler (1982), George Wright (1982) and David Murphy (2008). Tickets
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• Monday: Rangers (Vicente Padilla, 6-3, 4.48) vs. Angels (Sean O'Sullivan, 1-0, 3.00), 7:05 p.m. CT
• Tuesday: Rangers (Scott Feldman, 5-2, 4.06) vs. Angels (Joe Saunders, 8-4, 3.66), 7:05 p.m. CT
• Wednesday: Rangers (Kevin Millwood, 8-5, 2.64) vs. Angels (Jered Weaver, 8-3, 2.65), 7:05 p.m. CT
Todd Wills is a contributor to MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
