Darren Oliver closes right as Texas Rangers put Toronto Blue Jays to the sword
Needing an all essential victory to avoid a series clean sweep, the Texas Rangers walked into the third fixture of the contest against the Toronto Blue Jays on their home ground.
The Arlington fans were jeering and chanting, supporting their club at the Rangers Ballpark. Regardless of what one might have anticipated, the supporters had made their demands known. Much to the satisfaction of the team, Darren Oliver closed the opponents
out to pick up the club’s first triumph.
The reliever, who went into the game with Arthur Rhodes, has been dubbed the current closer for the hosts. The two veterans are above the age of 40 and have 1,460 games of experience split between them. The experienced duo was up to the mark in the recent
game as both pitched scoreless innings to win the contest.
Oliver has replaced an injured Neftali Feliz, who has been out of the starting line up, following a right shoulder inflammation. The veteran is under no pressure though, as he is in the line up to do his job right.
"Hey, I'm just trying to go out there and pitch", Oliver said. "Whatever my role is, I'm just trying to get outs. They just happened to be the last outs tonight".
Oliver’s ninth inning play got a bit entertaining when opposing hitter, Edward Encarnacion, hit four fouls on a 2–2 count. He eventually got struck out swinging but that did leave Oliver a bit shaken.
"That probably put a little more gray hair on my head", Oliver said. "Just what I wanted".
His game ending delivery was a fastball recorded at 89 miles per hour.
"He just doesn't panic", catcher Yorvit Torrealba said. "He's been around a long time and he just executes his pitches. When he misses, it's for a purpose".
"Rhodes and Ollie, they got it done", Rangers manager, Ron Washington, said. "For that purpose, we had the right people on the mound. I didn't see any of them concerned, they just kept making pitches".
If Oliver and Rhodes can keep this up, they can hope to win much support from the fans.
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