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Harden feels OK after rocky outing

Rangers righty battles control in matchup with A's

By Jesse Sanchez / MLB.com

03/09/10 8:30 PM EST

PHOENIX -- Rich Harden's day at Phoenix Municipal Stadium began with a hug from A's manager Bob Geren and handshakes from a few old friends who had walked over to the Rangers' dugout to see him.

The Texas right-hander's afternoon concluded with a slow walk to the same dugout after Oakland third baseman Kevin Kouzmanoff's three-run home run ended his outing.

Harden, who was selected in the 17th round by the A's in the 2000 First-Year Player Draft, was charged with four runs on two hits in 2 2/3 innings in a game that ended in an 8-8 tie against his former team. He struck out four batters and walked three. The game was called after nine innings.

"He lost his rhythm out there in the third and couldn't find the plate," Rangers manager Ron Washington said. "He threw some good changeups."

Harden gave up a single to A's designated hitter Coco Crisp to start the game, but retired the next six batters in order.

He ran into trouble in the third. Harden walked Adam Rosales, and Rosales advanced to second base on a wild pitch to the next batter, Eric Patterson. Patterson eventually walked. After Crisp grounded into a forceout, Harden struck out Mark Ellis for the second out.

Then it happened.

Harden's pitch to Kouzmanoff was deposited over the billboards above the left-field wall. The pitcher was immediately replaced by Evan Reed.

"The first two innings, I was throwing my offspeed for strikes. That's what I really felt good doing," the pitcher said. "I threw some good splits out there today, changeups and sliders, overall, pretty strong. That last inning, not just my fastball, I was pulling off my changeup, too, and that's usually something I'm really good at throwing strikes with."

Harden said he felt "decent."

"If I can repeat how I felt the first couple of innings," he said, "mechanically be consistent, then I can be consistent throwing strikes and hitting spots."

Afterward, the pitcher even joked about Kouzmanoff's long home run.

"With him, I kind of threw it right where he's looking for it," Harden said. "Regular season, I might throw him something else. I might throw him the same thing. I don't know. Hey, he can be the hero in Spring Training, that's fine."

Overall, the Rangers racked up 14 hits, including four of the extra-base variety. Playing in his second consecutive game, Josh Hamilton went 2-for-3 with a triple.

The club tallied 13 hits in Monday's 13-9 loss to the Angels.

"Two days in a row we put some runs on the board and swung the bats," Washington said. "Now, it's just a matter of getting it back together and going out there and winning some ballgames. ... There was a lot that I liked, but I wished could have stopped them from scoring some runs. For the most part, we played a good ballgame."

The Rangers have other reasons to be optimistic.

Chris Ray, who has been dealing with general fatigue, will pitch on Wednesday, and Omar Beltre (shoulder injury) will throw live batting practice. Also, first baseman Justin Smoak (left hip flexor) was held out of game action on Tuesday but said he is improving.

Jesse Sanchez is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

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