Rangers-A's: Texas Extends Scoreless Innings Streak to 31

Bill Murray re-lived the same day over and over again in the movie Groundhog Day. Texas Rangers fans and pitchers are experiencing a similar event.

Tonight the Ranger pitchers blanked the Oakland Athletics, 4-0. This now extends the staff's current scoreless-inning streak to 31 innings, the second longest in franchise history, and the longest while the team has been called the Texas Rangers. In the past 42 innings, the Rangers pitching staff has allowed only one run. THE RANGERS PITCHING STAFF!

Four night ago, the bullpen went five innings of scoreless pitching after starter Kevin Millwood struggled in the first three innings. Three nights ago, the revival of Sidney Ponson defeated the Mariners 10-1, two nights ago it was Vicente Padilla winning 2-0, and last night 5.1 innings of relief pitching beat the M's 5-0.

Tonight, Scott Feldman two-hit the A's for six innings, and the bullpen allowed only two more hits in three innings of relief.

On the offensive side, the side Rangers fans are more accustomed to read about, it was a night for rookie Brandon Boggs. After a first inning collision into the left-field foul wall, that had 15-day DL written all over it, Boggs bat came alive. I guess I shouldn't say came alive, before tonight Boggs was batting .343 through his first ten major-league games. 

On Friday night, Boggs continued his hot streak, batting 3-4 with a solo HR, a double, and three RBI. He did all this in front of mom, dad, and younger sister, who drove in from Atlanta the night before.

This type of hitting through eleven games, hustle in the field for every baseball, and humble way about him, is helping Rangers fans quickly change double Ts to double Gs, Botts to Boggs.

On a few side notes, Rangers rookie outfielder David Murphy was named AL April Rookie of the Month. Michael Young returned from his two days off due to a sore hip flexor. The Rangers traded Triple-AAA outfielder Kevin Mench to the Toronto Blue Jays for cash consideration. Finally, last nights melee's punishment landed Richie Sexson with a six-game suspension, Felix Hernandez, Gerald Laird, and Sidney Ponson with fines, and Kason Gabbard with absolutely nothing.