Rangers @ Blue Jays: August 3rd-5th

[Molina00]

Game 1
Kevin Millwood (7-9, 5.95 ERA) vs. Roy Halladay (11-5, 4.04 ERA)

Game 2
Kameron Loe (5-9, 5.80 ERA) vs. Shaun Marcum (7-4, 3.67 ERA)

Game 3
Brandon McCarthy (5-7, 5.18 ERA) vs. Dustin McGowan (7-5, 4.36 ERA)

Game 1 Matchup
Millwood: Kevin was solid in July going 3-2 with a 3.86 ERA in 6 starts, but has struggled on the road in '07 going 2-6 with a 5.83 ERA. In six career starts against Toronto Millwood has been bombed for a 6.42 ERA and a 1-3 record.

Halladay: Halladay is similar in that he had a good July (2-2, 3.38 ERA) but has struggled against the opposing team (5-5, 5.85 ERA vs. Texas). Over his last 3 starts Halladay has allowed just 3 earned runs in 24 innings of work.

Game 2 Matchup
Loe: Kameron has been bombed over his last 4 starts going 0-3 with a 7.84 ERA, but went 4-0 with a 1.60 ERA in his previous 5 starts. Loe has made four career appearances against Toronto going 1-0 with a 0.98 ERA.

Marcum: Marcum had his worst month as a starter in July going 3-2 with a 4.75 ERA in 6 starts, and has not pitched well at home posting an ERA of 4.70 compared to 2.90 on the road. In very limited action against the Rangers, Marcum has posted an ERA of 4.50 in his career.

Game 3 Matchup
McCarthy: Brandon had a solid July posting a respectable 4.09 ERA despite only winning 1 game in his 6 starts. He has gone 1-1 with an ERA of 6.00 against the Blue Jays this year and has a career ERA of 4.50 against them.

McGowan: DMac has been near dominating of late going 3-1 with a 2.78 ERA in July and posting an ERA of 1.78 over his last three starts. In limited career action against the Rangers, McGowan has pitched very well posting a 1.80 ERA.

[Molina00]

Game 1 Recap
The Rangers struck early against former Cy Young winner Roy Halladay scoring 3 runs over the first 2 innings, but the Blue Jays also struck early with 3 runs of their own off Kevin Millwood, all 3 runs coming in the first inning. Millwood was pulled after 4 innings and Jamey Wright came on in relief. The game remained tied at 3 until the 6th when the Jays broke out for 3 more runs, against Wright, to take a 6-3 lead. The Rangers managed one more run off Halladay in the 7th to make a 6-4 game, but the Jays bullpen shut down the Ranger bats for the final 3 innings and the Blue Jays went on to win the game 6-4.

Offensive Highlights:
Catalanotto: 2 for 3 with a run scored
Kinsler: 2 for 5, 3 RBI, and a stolen base
8-9 hitters (Laird/Vazquez): Combined 3 for 7 with 3 runs scored

Also, Kameron Loe was placed on the DL and Mike Wood will be starting today's game in his place.

[Halladay_is_God]

Looks like the rangers' starter for game 2 is changed from Mike Wood to Willie Eyre

[Molina00]

I would have much preferred Mike Wood. I watched the 1st inning and then just turned it off. From what I saw, Eyre couldn't do anything right.

[Molina00]

The Rangers lost another close one last night in Toronto. Brandon McCarthy started for Texas and pitched one of his best games of the year going 6 innings and allowing just 2 runs. Only problem was Toronto starter Dustin McGowan was near dominating. DMac went 8 innings allowing just 1 run and 2 walks, while striking out 6 Ranger batters.

Frank Catalanotto leadoff the game with his 7th homerun of the season, but that would be the only blemish on McGowan's day, as the Rangers would not score another run. The Blue Jays immediately countered with a 1st inning run to tie the game, and went on to win 4-1 to finish the sweep of the Rangers, largely in part to Matt Stairs who went 3 for 3 with 3 doubles on the day.

It was the Rangers 4th loss in a row and put them 15 games under .500 and 16.5 games out of first place in the AL West.