Best Game Of The Year

Rangers win! But first, a message to the losing pitcher:

Sometimes you win games you’re supposed to lose. Sometimes you lose games you’re supposed to win. Wade Miley of the Arizona Diamondbacks was most assuredly in the latter statement Wednesday night. Miley stymied the Rangers through seven innings, giving up only two hits over seven innings and with only 72 pitches. Miley was superb, but was unfortunate enough to be squaring off against the Rangers Matt Harrison.

Harry wasn’t nearly as good as Miley, but he didn’t give up any runs either over 7 1/3 innings. Harrison now has a 16 1/3 inning scoreless streak. 

It was becoming more and more apparent the game was probably going to be decided by the bullpens, as both pitchers threw goose egg after goose egg. But it was Miley who finally cracked.

The third time through the line-up, it was looking like the Rangers were getting better at bats against the Diamondbacks rookie. Ian Kinsler fouled off a number of pitches before flying out to end the sixth. Josh Hamilton got just the Rangers second hit in the 7th and Michael Young ended the inning with a fly to the warning track in right. Still, Miley didn’t crack.

Finally in the 8th, Mike Napoli coaxed a walk from Miley, the first he had given up since May 26th. Yorvit Torrealba laid down a perfect sacrifice bunt to send Napoli to second. Following a Nelson Cruz pinch-hit strikeout (once it got to 0-2, you just knew Cruz would swing and miss at the third pitch and he obliged), Craig Gentry hit a screaming liner to third that glanced off Ryan Roberts’ glove and plated Napoli with the only run of the game.

Joe Nathan was nails in the ninth. Paul Goldschmidt worked an eight-pitch at bat against Nathan, only to strike out swinging. Jason Kubel followed and worked Nathan for another eight pitches before succumbing to a called third strike. A fly ball to center ended it. It was the Rangers’ second 1-0 victory of the season.

I’ve seen games where the Rangers weren’t hitting against pitchers they usually don’t have any problems with and games where they didn’t hit against pitchers they shouldn’t have a problem with. This game they weren’t hitting against a pitcher who was just pitching a superb game. The team I love won the game, but I feel for the losing pitcher. He deserved much more than an “L” in the box score for the game he pitched.

Easily the best game of the season from a drama standpoint.