Calvin Watkins, ESPN Staff Writer 10y

Bullpen responds for Rangers

ARLINGTON, Texas -- Rangers pitcher Robbie Ross Jr. had to change his mindset from demoted starter to dependable reliever.

The majors is no place to sit and reflect on what might have been, so when manager Ron Washington summoned Ross to relieve Nick Tepesch in the seventh inning on Wednesday afternoon, he had to be ready to get out of a jam.

Ross was able to entice Seattle pinch-hitter Stefen Romero to bounce into a 5-3 double play to end a threat.

"It's just like you try to go out there and remember this stuff you did last year and get ready to do it," Ross said of returning to the pen. "At the same time, you get amped up all over again, I feel like. I was pretty amped, especially going into a situation like that, because I was really trying to go out there and help (Tepesch) out and help us win."

Ross wasn't alone in his strong work from the bullpen. Neal Cotts recorded two strikeouts in the eighth and Joakim Soria closed out the game in the ninth, earning his eighth save of the season in a 4-3 victory.

"We kept the lead," said Soria, who is eight for eight in save opportunities. "We gave a chance to our offense to score runs, and we got the win. It's tough when you come from starting pitcher to reliever. You love what you do and Robbie does, and it's no problem to him to go back to the bullpen or back to the rotation."

^ Back to Top ^