Rangers Face Ponson
Sidney Ponson performed well on the mound for the Texas Rangers and seemed to be enjoying a resurgence after several disappointing seasons.
That, however, wasn’t enough to overcome some off-the-field problems.
Now with the Yankees, Ponson looks for some payback against the team that released him a month ago as New York tries to avoid its first sweep to Texas in five years on Wednesday night.
Oddsmakers from Sportsbook.com have made New York -165 money line favorites (MLB Odds) for tonight’s game, the over/under has been set at 10.5 total runs (Matchup). Current public betting information shows that 54% of bets for this game have been placed on New York -165 (View MLB Bet Percentages).
Despite winning four of five decisions with the Rangers (44-41), Texas designated Ponson (5-1, 3.50 ERA) for assignment June 6. General manager Jon Daniels cited "disrespecting teammates and club personnel” as the reason for his release.
Ponson has a history of off-the-field problems, including two DUI arrests from 2004-05, and one report said the burly right-hander had been put on notice by Texas officials after creating a disturbance at a hotel bar in Florida during a road trip.
Before the Rangers’ 3-2 win over New York on Tuesday, Texas manager Ron Washington said, "His philosophy didn’t gel with ours.”
The Yankees (44-40) decided to take a chance on Ponson, who pitched briefly for them in 2006, and signed him to a minor league contract on June 16. Ponson did not disappoint in his Yankees debut on Friday, allowing four hits and four walks in six innings of a 9-0 win over the New York Mets.
"It’s a fresh start,” Ponson said. "I’m more comfortable here.”
Ponson shouldn’t mind facing his former team since he’s 8-1 with a 4.67 ERA in 15 career starts against Texas.
Prior to this series, the Yankees had won 18 of their previous 21 games against the Rangers, but Texas has taken the first two games of this set. New York has not been swept by Texas since May 16-18, 2003.
The Yankees’ bats have suddenly gone silent, scoring four runs during a three-game losing streak. They had scored 28 in their previous four games, winning three of those contests.
"It stinks,” New York manager Joe Girardi said. "You’re looking for consistency. It’s not an offense that should struggle.”
Derek Jeter, who’s streak of reaching base at 28 games ended Monday, got the night off Tuesday, but will likely be back for the series finale.
On Tuesday, Michael Young’s RBI single off Mariano Rivera in the ninth gave the Rangers their third consecutive victory. Texas has not won four straight since a season-high five-game run from May 6-10.
Ian Kinsler led off Tuesday’s ninth with a double and then stole third, his third steal of the game. Kinsler, who could be back at Yankee Stadium in two weeks for the All-Star game, is batting .552 (16-for-29) with a homer, three RBIs and eight runs in his last seven games.
This will be the Rangers’ final regular-season game at Yankee Stadium, and Luis Mendoza (1-2, 5.40) will make his first start in more than two months and his first career appearance against New York.
Mendoza began this year in the rotation, but went 0-2 with a 9.31 ERA in three outings. Placed on the disabled list after his start on April 23 with right shoulder inflammation, the right-hander has been outstanding out of the bullpen since returning on June 20.
In three relief appearances, Mendoza has yielded four hits and no walks in seven scoreless innings. That is a stark contrast to his three earlier starts, when he gave up 18 hits and seven walks in 9 2-3 innings.
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