Fuente: © Texas Rangers
http://texas.rangers.mlb.com/

MLB: RANGERS: Rangers relinquish Silver Boot

Injured Millwood exits early as Texas falls to Astros

/noticias.info/ ARLINGTON -- The Rangers have lost the Silver Boot trophy, but that was hardly on anybody's minds Sunday night.

The Rangers are far more concerned about what's going on with their No. 1 starter.

Kevin Millwood left Sunday's start in the fourth inning with a strained biceps muscle, and the Rangers aren't sure if he'll be able to pitch again before the All-Star break.

Millwood's departure was the bleakest moment on a night when the Rangers lost for the seventh time in their last eight games, falling to the Astros, 9-5, at Ameriquest Field in Arlington.

"It wasn't our night tonight, but I know it's going to get better," first baseman Mark Teixeira said. "We have too much talent to be losing this many games over this stretch."

The Rangers' loss came on a night when both Oakland and Seattle, the two teams in front of them, lost in the afternoon. Instead of gaining ground, the third-place Rangers dropped to the .500 mark (41-41) for the first time since they were 12-12 on April 29.

"Oakland is the furthest thing from our minds," shortstop Michael Young said. "We need to take care of our business. What's disappointing is that we're not playing as well as we are capable of playing. There's a lot of talent in this clubhouse.

"Every team hits a little skid. The good teams get out of it quickly. The bad teams take a little longer."

Millwood's early departure taxed the Texas bullpen to the point where the Rangers will have to make a roster move before Tuesday's game. Reliever Rick Bauer, sidelined with a hemorrhoid problem, is expected to be put on the disabled list, and pitcher Wes Littleton is going to be called up from Triple-A Oklahoma.

Millwood is not going on the disabled list, but the Rangers aren't sure if he'll be able to make Friday's scheduled start against the Blue Jays. He was examined by Dr. Keith Meister on Sunday night, and the Rangers think it's just a minor injury.

"The doc didn't think it was too serious," Millwood said. "I think if it were serious it would hurt a lot worse. Doc went to school a lot longer than me and is a lot smarter than I am."

Millwood described the injury as "a little achy. It's just kind of sore. It didn't allow me to extend and finish my pitches."

Millwood said the problem is something he has never experienced before and is unrelated to the elbow problem he had in 2004.

The Rangers want to see how the muscle feels when he reports for treatment on Tuesday before they make any decisions. Because they have an off-day on Thursday, they can skip Millwood until after the break and use John Wasdin.

"If it goes away, there's no reason not to pitch," Millwood said. "I'm definitely going to throw before my next start and see how it feels. You can't assume anything."


Millwood gave up two runs in the first inning, but he didn't feel anything until the muscle started cramping in the second. Trainer Jamie Reed worked on the arm, and it didn't bother him in the third.

Millwood took a 4-2 lead into the fourth inning, but the muscle cramped again and Willy Taveras hit a two-run double with one out to tie the game.

Millwood then thought he had Craig Biggio struck out on a 1-2 breaking ball, but home-plate umpire Brian Knight ruled it a foul tip. Biggio hit a run-scoring single two pitches later, and pitching coach Mark Connor went to the mound.

"He tried to battle through it but was unable to," Rangers manager Buck Showalter said. "It's unfortunate."

The Rangers were able to get five runs mainly because second baseman Ian Kinsler had three doubles and Gary Matthews Jr. was 4-for-5. But the big bats in the middle of the order -- Mark DeRosa, Young, Teixeira and Hank Blalock -- were a combined 0-for-20 with six strikeouts and one walk.

"To see guys in the middle of the order take the collar like that, it doesn't happen around here very often," Young said. "We just need to relax, take a deep breath, keep swinging and have some fun." notas_de_prensa_archivo