Seattle Mariners vs Texas Rangers mlb live stream online feed video baseball tv highlights score home Espn 360 Gamecast 4/5, 2011 Nelson Cruz is at the forefront of the Texas Rangers' early and impressive power surge.
Another homer for the right fielder would land him in major league lore.
Cruz has a chance to become the first player in history to homer in each of the first five games of a season as the Rangers look to remain unbeaten Tuesday night against the Seattle Mariners.
Texas (4-0) leads the majors with 13 homers already in 2011, and Cruz has hit a solo shot in each of the first four games, joining Willie Mays (1971) and Mark McGwire (1998) as the only players to put together such a streak to start a season.
"It's special, especially if your team is winning," Cruz told the Rangers' official website. "That's why we are here, you try to do anything you can to help your team win the game."
8:05 PM ET, April 5, 2011
Rangers Ballpark in Arlington, Arlington, Texas
Gameday Matchup
Seattle Texas
W-L 2 - 2 4 - 0
Night 2-1 2-0
Grass 2-2 4-0
Current Streak L2 W4
Last 10 2-2 4-0
Pitching Matchup
Seattle Texas
Michael Pineda
0-0, 0.00 ERA
WATCH Seattle Mariners vs Texas Rangers LIVE NOW
Alexi Ogando
0-0, 0.00 ERA
Injury Report
Seattle
* David Aardsma RP - Apr 2: 15-Day DL
* Franklin Gutierrez CF - Apr 1: 15-Day DL
Texas
* Scott Feldman SP - Apr 5: 15-Day DL
* Brandon Webb SP - Apr 5: 15-Day DL
Nelson Cruz is at the forefront of the Texas Rangers' early and impressive power surge.
Another homer for the right fielder would land him in major league lore.
Cruz has a chance to become the first player in history to homer in each of the first five games of a season as the Rangers look to remain unbeaten Tuesday night against the Seattle Mariners.
Texas (4-0) leads the majors with 13 homers already in 2011, and Cruz has hit a solo shot in each of the first four games, joining Willie Mays (1971) and Mark McGwire (1998) as the only players to put together such a streak to start a season.
"It's special, especially if your team is winning," Cruz told the Rangers' official website. "That's why we are here, you try to do anything you can to help your team win the game."
Cruz's torrid start also includes going 6 for 14 at the plate after hitting .318 with 22 homers and a career-high 78 RBIs in 108 games last season. He had two more hits, including a fourth-inning homer, as the Rangers opened this three-game set with a 6-4 win over Seattle (2-2) on Monday.
"I don't know, I guess I have the right approach and I'm getting the right pitches in the right situations," Cruz said.
Cruz, an All-Star in 2009 when he hit a career-high 33 homers, is hitting .365 with 11 homers and 21 RBIs his last 28 meetings with the Mariners. However, he's not the only Ranger producing, as six others have also hit home runs.
Ian Kinsler had one in each of the first three games before going 0 for 3 Monday, while Elvis Andrus connected for his first in 179 games, dating to a win over Toronto on Sept. 2, 2009.
"We've got a solid offense," manager Ron Washington said. "Anybody in the lineup can get you. (Monday) Elvis got us going. And Cruz came back and got another one. ... Anytime you've got that lineup, that's what it's all about."
The Rangers, one of four unbeaten teams left in the majors, are off to their best start since going 7-0 in 1996.
Alexi Ogando will get a chance to get Texas closer to that mark as he makes his first start in the majors after going 4-1 with a 1.30 ERA in 44 relief outings as a rookie last year.
The right-hander made two appearances versus Seattle, throwing 1 1/3 scoreless innings.
Justin Smoak popped out in his only at-bat versus Ogando, but he could be in line for a better performance after extending his hitting streak to 14 games dating to last season Monday. The Mariners first baseman, who was acquired from Texas in a six-player trade that sent Cliff Lee to the Rangers in July, is 20 for 47 with six doubles, three homers, 10 RBIs and 11 walks during his run.
Michael Pineda will make his major league debut for Seattle opposite fellow Dominican Ogando.
Pineda, 22, went 11-4 with a 3.36 ERA and 154 strikeouts in 139 1/3 innings in the minors last year. He showed promise by allowing four earned runs while fanning 15 in 17 innings over five spring training games.
"I know it's a lot of people that watch the games here," Pineda told the Mariners' official website, "but I'm focused on the game. I know I need to make my pitches down in the zone. I'm excited. I'm very ready."
Another homer for the right fielder would land him in major league lore.
Cruz has a chance to become the first player in history to homer in each of the first five games of a season as the Rangers look to remain unbeaten Tuesday night against the Seattle Mariners.
Texas (4-0) leads the majors with 13 homers already in 2011, and Cruz has hit a solo shot in each of the first four games, joining Willie Mays (1971) and Mark McGwire (1998) as the only players to put together such a streak to start a season.
"It's special, especially if your team is winning," Cruz told the Rangers' official website. "That's why we are here, you try to do anything you can to help your team win the game."
8:05 PM ET, April 5, 2011
Rangers Ballpark in Arlington, Arlington, Texas
Gameday Matchup
Seattle Texas
W-L 2 - 2 4 - 0
Night 2-1 2-0
Grass 2-2 4-0
Current Streak L2 W4
Last 10 2-2 4-0
Pitching Matchup
Seattle Texas
Michael Pineda
0-0, 0.00 ERA
WATCH Seattle Mariners vs Texas Rangers LIVE NOW
Alexi Ogando
0-0, 0.00 ERA
Injury Report
Seattle
* David Aardsma RP - Apr 2: 15-Day DL
* Franklin Gutierrez CF - Apr 1: 15-Day DL
Texas
* Scott Feldman SP - Apr 5: 15-Day DL
* Brandon Webb SP - Apr 5: 15-Day DL
Nelson Cruz is at the forefront of the Texas Rangers' early and impressive power surge.
Another homer for the right fielder would land him in major league lore.
Cruz has a chance to become the first player in history to homer in each of the first five games of a season as the Rangers look to remain unbeaten Tuesday night against the Seattle Mariners.
Texas (4-0) leads the majors with 13 homers already in 2011, and Cruz has hit a solo shot in each of the first four games, joining Willie Mays (1971) and Mark McGwire (1998) as the only players to put together such a streak to start a season.
"It's special, especially if your team is winning," Cruz told the Rangers' official website. "That's why we are here, you try to do anything you can to help your team win the game."
Cruz's torrid start also includes going 6 for 14 at the plate after hitting .318 with 22 homers and a career-high 78 RBIs in 108 games last season. He had two more hits, including a fourth-inning homer, as the Rangers opened this three-game set with a 6-4 win over Seattle (2-2) on Monday.
"I don't know, I guess I have the right approach and I'm getting the right pitches in the right situations," Cruz said.
Cruz, an All-Star in 2009 when he hit a career-high 33 homers, is hitting .365 with 11 homers and 21 RBIs his last 28 meetings with the Mariners. However, he's not the only Ranger producing, as six others have also hit home runs.
Ian Kinsler had one in each of the first three games before going 0 for 3 Monday, while Elvis Andrus connected for his first in 179 games, dating to a win over Toronto on Sept. 2, 2009.
"We've got a solid offense," manager Ron Washington said. "Anybody in the lineup can get you. (Monday) Elvis got us going. And Cruz came back and got another one. ... Anytime you've got that lineup, that's what it's all about."
The Rangers, one of four unbeaten teams left in the majors, are off to their best start since going 7-0 in 1996.
Alexi Ogando will get a chance to get Texas closer to that mark as he makes his first start in the majors after going 4-1 with a 1.30 ERA in 44 relief outings as a rookie last year.
The right-hander made two appearances versus Seattle, throwing 1 1/3 scoreless innings.
Justin Smoak popped out in his only at-bat versus Ogando, but he could be in line for a better performance after extending his hitting streak to 14 games dating to last season Monday. The Mariners first baseman, who was acquired from Texas in a six-player trade that sent Cliff Lee to the Rangers in July, is 20 for 47 with six doubles, three homers, 10 RBIs and 11 walks during his run.
Michael Pineda will make his major league debut for Seattle opposite fellow Dominican Ogando.
Pineda, 22, went 11-4 with a 3.36 ERA and 154 strikeouts in 139 1/3 innings in the minors last year. He showed promise by allowing four earned runs while fanning 15 in 17 innings over five spring training games.
"I know it's a lot of people that watch the games here," Pineda told the Mariners' official website, "but I'm focused on the game. I know I need to make my pitches down in the zone. I'm excited. I'm very ready."