--RHP Derrick Turnbow, whose struggles with command kept him from making the big league bullpen out of spring training, exercised the "out" in his minor league contract that allowed him to request his release if not in the majors by May 1. Turnbow didn't exactly make a strong case to break into a bullpen that has struggled by compiling an 8.53 ERA in 6.1 innings at Class AAA Oklahoma. He had nine walks and just one strikeout at Oklahoma.
--1B Chris Davis struck out once Thursday, giving him 34 strikeouts for April. It's the second-highest April total in Rangers history behind Brad Wilkerson's 37 in April 2006. Davis has struck out in 18 of his 19 starts this season. --DH Hank Blalock and LF Andruw Jones homered Thursday to give the Rangers 41 for April. The Rangers have averaged 1.95 homers per game this season, putting them on a pace for 316 for the season. No team has ever hit more than 264 homers in a year.
BY THE NUMBERS: 3 -- Ninth-inning homers in a span of five days for 3B Michael Young, each of which either tied the game or gave the Rangers the lead. Young became only the third player to ever hit three homers in the ninth inning or later that tied the game or gave his team the lead in such a short period of time. Damion Easley and Adrian Beltre have also done it, but each of them had an extra-inning homer among their total.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "Percentages and numbers are great, but you can't base your entire decision-making process around them every time. Sometimes, you have to roll the dice and go by feel." -- 3B Michael Young on manager Ron Washington's against-the-grain decisions that ultimately paid off in back-to-back wins against Baltimore last week.
