Surprise Day 16

> Rangers 5, Royals 5 (11)
Box / Recap / Star-Telegram / Morning News

The first game of the spring ended in a draw as the Rangers allowed the Royals to rally late and earn a 5-5 tie. Games in spring training are generally stopped after eleven innings or so because both teams don't want to overexert their pitching staffs, so you sometimes see ties. It was interesting that the Rangers would be involved in one in the first game.

You can pin this one mainly on the shoulders of John Wasdin. He entered the game in the top of the eighth with the Rangers up 5-1 but allowed both of his inherited baserunners to score and then gave up two more in the top of the ninth. Former Ranger Benji Gil had the hit that tied the game.

Phil Nevin had a home run in the second, continuing his strong start to spring training. Mark Teixeira was the only Ranger with multiple hits, collecting two singles. However, keep in mind that players rarely play the entire game in early March. As far as pitching was concerned, we had lots of success, excluding Wasdin. Buck Showalter opted to go with mainly young players and minor leaguers, and both Josh Rupe and Thomas Diamond impressed. All in all it was a good start to spring training.

Teixeira and Michael Young left after the game to join the United States team. The World Baseball Classic has already started, and though I am against it, since it's baseball I won't be able to resist watching some of it. Erubiel Durazo has left to play for Mexico and Akinori Otsuka has already made his debut for Japan.

Hitting coach Rudy Jaramillo is planning on having prostate surgery on March 27 or 28 in New York. Hopefully it will be successful and he'll be able to return to the team quickly. The Rangers really need Jaramillo, one of the league's best hitting coaches, but his first priority should be his health.

Tickets for individual games are now on sale. You can order them off the internet, over the phone, or at Ameriquest. Opening day is probably sold out or close to it, but now is the time to purchase tickets to premium games.

> Saturday, March 4, 2006
Texas Rangers @ Kansas City Royals
2:05, Surprise Stadium, no TV, KRLD 1080
Adam Eaton (0-0, --- ERA) vs. Runelvys Hernandez (0-0, --- ERA)