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May 11--ARLINGTON -- The bullpen's scoreless streak is over. So is the entire pitching staff's. But the one streak that really matters -- the winning streak -- remains intact for the Rangers.
On a night when starter Kevin Millwood's groin tightened up in the first inning, the bullpen gave the Rangers 8 1/3 solid innings in a 6-4 win over Oakland that extended their winning streak to a season-high five games.
During the winning streak, the Rangers have not allowed an opponent more than four runs in a game. They've allowed three or fewer eight times in 10 May games. It would have been nine had reliever C.J. Wilson not allowed a two-out double to Frank Thomas in the ninth Saturday.
"If the pitching is like this, we can win the division," shortstop Michael Young said. "If we pitch well, we are going to win. It's pretty obvious. Look at how we played in Detroit and Boston [when they lost seven straight] and how we've played since, and the pitching has been the difference. The pitchers have been the key to our turnaround."
Numbers back Young up. When the Rangers held opponents to three or fewer runs last year, they were 52-8 (.840), tied for the best winning percentage in the AL with Los Angeles. They were 51-17 (.761) when they allowed four runs or fewer.
On Saturday, holding Oakland to the magic number was a team effort after Millwood felt his right groin pinch as he pitched to the third batter of the game. He lasted one more pitch and then had to turn over a 31-inning club scoreless streak to the bullpen. Millwood will be re-evaluated today, but a disabled list assignment is not certain since the Rangers can push Millwood's next start back four days thanks to an off day Thursday.
Long reliever Josh Rupe extended the streak to 33 innings before allowing an unearned run in the third. In the fourth, he allowed an earned run. That ended the bullpen's scoreless streak at 30 innings.
In turn, Frank Francisco (five strikeouts in eight batters faced), Eddie Guardado and Joaquin Benoit preserved a slim lead carved by a lineup that is starting to hit with two outs. The Rangers, who led 3-2 going to the seventh and 4-2 going to the eighth, scored all six runs with two outs. Milton Bradley had a run-scoring double in the first and a two-run homer in the third.
"I think we've found something of a rhythm," Rupe said of a bullpen that has allowed four runs (three earned) in 35 1/3 innings in its last 10 games. "We've figured out a little bit what we need to do, and now we're working for each other and as a unit."
The unit, however, may need reinforcements today. The Rangers may bring an extra pitcher to get through today. The pitcher could replace Millwood on the roster or perhaps infielder Travis Metcalf.
HuskerTex 
