--The Rangers placed struggling LHP Kason Gabbard on the DL with shoulder inflammation. Gabbard is 1-3 with a 6.03 ERA since April 21 when he slipped on a pitching rubber at Fenway Park. He's had significant command issues in that span, walking 33 batters in 37 1/3 innings. He's been demoted to the minors once. RHP Luis Mendoza will move into the rotation to take Gabbard's spot. Mendoza has pitched seven scoreless innings since being recalled from Class AAA on June 20.
--RHP Warner Madrigal, 24, was recalled from Class AAA Oklahoma to replace Gabbard on the active roster. Madrigal, who had not pitched above Class A before this season, was 1-0 with a 3.00 ERA and 14 saves in 31 appearances for Double-A Frisco and Class AAA Oklahoma. --1B Hank Blalock has had yet another setback in his protracted recovery from a pair of injuries and isn't expected to return before the All-Star break. Blalock initially went on the DL on April 26 with a partially torn hamstring, but the longer-lasting problem has been a sore left wrist from carpal tunnel syndrome.
--LHP Eddie Guardado ran his streak of scoreless appearances to six in a row with a perfect eighth inning Sunday. Guardado has allowed runs in only one of his last 12 appearances. He has held hitters to a .108 batting average in that span.
BY THE NUMBERS: 77-56 -- The Rangers record in games started by INF Ramon Vazquez since he joined the club in May 2007. Vazquez has been the left-handed hitting part of a third base platoon since late April. INF German Duran has faced lefties.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "He's got stupid pop, opposite-field pop. He got that pitch and hit it out like it was nothing. Hopefully, it's a sign of things to come." -- DH Milton Bradley on rookie 1B Chris Davis, who homered to left in his first major league start.
