Fireworks and runners in scoring position

This photo is from Shawn O’Connell…

One thing to watch for on Saturday night…Rangers pitchers continue to be exceptionally tough with runners in scoring position. In fact, they have been the best staff in club history in such situations.

The Rangers went into Saturday’s game having held opponents to a .233 batting average with runners in scoring position. That’s the lowest in club history, beating out the .241 average from the 1986 pitching staff.

Colby Lewis went into Saturday night’s game having held opponents to a .155 batting average with runners in scoring position. That’s the lowest single season average in club history. Nolan Ryan held opponents to a .157 batting average with runners in scoring position in 1990.

The Rangers have also been tough with runners in scoring position and two outs. They’ve held opponents to a .219 average in such situations, also the lowest in Rangers history. The 1986 squad held opponents to a .227 average with runners in scoring position and two outs.

Darren Oliver, Darren O’Day and Matt Harrison have three of the four lowest batting averages allowed with runners in scoring position and two out in club history.

Opponents were 0-for-29 against Todd Stottlemyre in such situations in 1998. Opponents are hitting .056 (1-for-18) against Oliver, .059 (1-for-17) against O’Day and .074 (2-for-27) against Harrison.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XKR1ScQUpcA