GOODYEAR, Ariz. — The stars were out Sunday afternoon — the ZOOperstars, that is.
“Best mascots I’ve ever seen,” manager Ron Washington said of the act that features such performers as “Clammy Sosa” and “Monkey Mantle.”Washington certainly enjoyed the between-innings entertainment during the Rangers’ 7-6 victory over the Cleveland Indians at Goodyear Ballpark. But did it distract starter Robbie Ross?Ross laughed at that notion; pitching coach Mike Maddux had asked him the same question. After all, Ross worked around a one-out double in a scoreless first inning before unraveling in the second.Ross issued a pair of one-out walks in the second, and both of them scored on a double later in the inning. He exited a scheduled four-inning start after 2 2/3 innings, allowing two runs on three hits, with three walks and two strikeouts.“Just wasn’t feeling it today,” Ross said. “You’re not always going to have your good stuff. I definitely didn’t plan on walking as many guys as I did.”Ross had issued only one walk in nine innings going into the game.On a brighter pitching note, Justin Grimm had his best outing of the spring. He allowed one run on four hits with one walk and three strikeouts over the final three innings.The Rangers got enough offensive production, too.Jeff Baker continued his spring surge, starting a five-run fourth with an RBI double. Craig Gentry added a two-run homer, his second of the spring.“He was able to stay through it and drive the ball,” Washington said of Gentry. “That’s what he’s been doing this spring.”Finally, for what it’s worth: The Rangers have won five of their last six Cactus League games, averaging 5.8 runs per game.Drew Davison, 817-390-7760 Twitter: @drewdavison
