Rangers-Mariners: Millwood Outduels King Felix

In his first five starts of the season Ranger ace Kevin Millwood has gone at least seven innings and thrown 111 pitches in all starts.

Twice he has dueled the ace pitchers of the teams the Rangers have faced, going 1-1 (defeating Cliff Lee on opening day, 9-1, and losing to Zack Greinke, 0-2).

Millwood has been a huge part of the reason why the Texas Rangers have started the season 12-12 and are only 2.5 games out of first place in the AL West, which is currently held by the Seattle Mariners (15-10).

On Monday night Millwood faced the four-year veteran, 23-year old Mariner ace Felix Hernandez.

King Felix came into the game boasting a 4-0 record with a 2.38 ERA and 36 strikeouts.

Both pitchers had their A-games going early in this one, Hernandez allowed only two singles and struck out three in the first three innings, and Millwood had a perfect game going through four innings.

The Rangers provided Millwood the needed offense by scoring two runs in each of the middle innings. The offense was highlighted by two-run home runs from Michael Young (fifth inning, seventh of the season) and Chris Davis (sixth inning, sixth of the season).

Millwood’s hiccup came in the fifth inning, when he allowed four runs on two home runs by Russell Branyan (solo) and Franklin Gutierrez (three-run).

After the Davis home run in the sixth that put the Rangers on top, the Mariners added the final run of the game in the seventh on an RBI fielders choice from Ichiro, scoring Gutierrez.

The Rangers' closer Frank Francisco got his AL-leading eighth save of the season, a four-out save that ended with a fly out to center from Ichiro with the tying run in scoring position.

“King” Felix Hernandez went six innings, striking out nine, but allowing six earned runs on 10 hits.  Millwood went another 7.1 innings giving up five earned on eight hits.

The highlight of the game and quite possibly the Rangers' defensive highlight of the season so far was made by shortstop Elvis Andrus. Andrus made a diving stop on a Kenji Johjima ground ball between short and third with one out in the ninth. 

Andrus from one knee, laying down threw a one-hopper to a stretched-out first baseman Davis to bring the Rangers to within one out of winning.

It was the kind of play that fielding specialist and manager Ron Washington loves to see from his infielders.

The win brought the Rangers to within 1.5 games of the AL West leading Mariners, and the two complete this short series Tuesday at 3:40 CDT when Vicente Padilla (1-2) and Erik Bedard (2-1) take to the mound.