The Texas Rangers activated Josh Hamilton and Nellie Cruz off the DL before Monday’s game against the Sox. That was an unfair move as the Sox forgot how to pitch to those guys. Both Hamilton and Cruz homered in their return as the Rangers shutout the Sox 4-0. That was the 2nd time the Rangers have shutout the Sox by that score.

If you would have told me John Danks would be winless in 7 decisions to start the season, I would have told you, you were crazy. But, as I sit here tonight, Danks is 0-7. His ERA is good at 4.34, and he has 6 quality starts, but he has pitched in bad luck and made some very bad pitches. The 2 he made to Hamilton and Cruz on Monday are examples. I’m sure, although he would never say it publicly, wants to beat the Rangers. Not only is he a very proud Texan, he was once was a high draft pick of the Rangers. Remember, he was traded to the Sox for Brandon McCarthy 5 years ago. I know there were other players involved, but they were the main pieces.

Alexei Ogando, seen him pitch before. Never seen him pitch that well. He threw nothing but strikes as he baffled the Sox for 9 innings on his way to his first complete game shutout. Ogando joins teammate Colby Lewis, and Francisco Liriano in pitching their first career shutouts against the Sox. I almost included Max Scherzer and David Price, who came within 3 outs of doing the same thing.

While the Sox were going down for the 27th time, there was a funny event. Going after a foul ball, AJ Pierzynski, nearly collided with former President George W. Bush. The video is better than my writing, take a look:

Where were the Secret service guys? Aren’t they supposed to protect the President–haha? My favorite part of the Video is Nolan Ryans wife, with her hands covering her head, looking for any place to hide. She should be tougher than that. Doesn’t she remember her husband laying a beat-down on Robin Ventura of the Sox when he was 46 years old.

to this day, I still love that picture, but the video is much better.

Amid Tornado warnings, hail the size of baseballs, and strong winds, the game on Tuesday was delayed for over three hours. I think that’s unfair, because it has been an awesome game for Carlos Quentin. The right fielder has hit 2 home runs to account for all 4 Sox runs. Quentin, who was nursing a knee injury a few days ago, gave the Sox what they needed with the 2 bombs.

While Quentin is finding his stroke, Adam Dunn is once again is hitting the lineup road—again. The longtime slumping Dunn has been moved to the 5th spot in the batting order. Dunn, who is hitting .189, is hitless against lefthanders this season, and leads the American League in strike outs. Out of 42 games, Dunn has a strikeout in 37 of them. He has also struck out in 18 straight games. I wonder if the Sox will start sitting him against all leftys. On this trip the Sox could still face Toronto’s Ricky Romero and Jo Jo Reyes, plus Boston’s Jon Lester. Since the game just came back on, I will add that Dunn likes right handers. He just hit an upper deck shot off Brett Tomko, who, amazingly, is still in the league.

Jake Peavy didn’t look as good as he did against the Indians, but he was getting the outs when he needed. At 63 pitches over 3 innings, Peavy wasn’t going to go much more than 5 innings anyway. So far, Peavy looks awesome at home, and not so great on the road. His next start will be in Boston, and that isn’t a tough place to play for a road team—yeah, right.

After the delay, the Sox offense came to life, while every pitcher in the bullpen got a chance to see the Rangers up close and personnel.

Before the delay the Sox had 4 hits and 4 runs. After the break, they had 6 hits and 4 runs. However, it was the ability to answer every time the Rangers made a charge that made things so impressive for Chicago. Did I mention, Quentin hit his 3rd home run of the night in the 9th, his first three home run game of his career. it was feast or famine for Q on Tuesday, who struck out in his other two at bats. Quentin now has 12 home runs, which leads the Sox, and ties him for 3rd in American league with Mark Teixeira.

About the bullpen. What do you say? Tony Pena, Chris Sale and Matt Thornton looked less than stellar–again! Jesse Crain and Sergio Santos looked good–again!! Will Ohman looked good–tonight!!

After blowing his first save of the year a few days ago against the Dodgers, Santos was lights out tonight. Man, he sure can pitch–for a shortstop. He should work on tagging out guys though. On a come backer n the 9th, he didn’t tag out David Murphy, who ran right by him. Luckily, Santos was alert enough to throw Murphy out.

Same goes for Brett Morel. Santos walked Michael Young in the 8th, right about the time Josh Hamilton stole 3rd. Hamilton should have been out by 3 feet, except Morel didn’t tag him.

Sox lose 4-0 on Monday, and win 8-6 on Tuesday. Which team will show up on Wednesday is anyone’s guess.

Go Sox!!