Rangers Box score Rangers manager Johnny Oates held the runner in the seventh inning to give the hitter a chance. The result was another in the Rangers' staggering total of double-play grounders. Tampa Bay manager Larry Rothschild started the runner to avoid a double play and received more than he expected. The moving runner caused chaos in the middle of the infield and led to four unearned runs, sending the Rangers to a 6-1 loss at Tropicana Field. If they don't work out, regardless of the percentages, it's a wrong move.
Decisions based on sound logic and favorable percentages blow up for Oates on a regular basis.
The Rangers went 1-8 on the trip that included stops in Colorado and Baltimore. They say it all evens out. I hope I have enough starts left for it to even out. They trailed only 2-1 entering the decisive seventh. Mike Lamb led off with a single, and Gabe Kapler worked to a 3-1 count against reliever Rick White.