SURPRISE, Ariz.-
Bruce Chen kept the competition tight for the No. 5 spot in Texas’ rotation on the same day two other candidates were taken out of the mix.
Chen pitched three scoreless innings Sunday in the Rangers’ 12-8 victory over the Colorado Rockies. The left-hander gave up five hits, picked off two runners and lowered his ERA to 0.77 in four spring training games.
“I obviously would have liked to pitch better,” Chen said. “I gave up five hits, but no runs, and when I left the game we were ahead. … All I want to do is help this team win and prove that I still can get people out.”
Texas slugger Mark Teixeira was 1-for-2 in his return after missing six games because of a bruised left knee.
Chen’s performance came after equally strong outings the previous two days by Kameron Loe and Jamey Wright, the other candidates for the final spot in the rotation. John Koronka (12.00 ERA) and Josh Rupe (15.43 ERA) were dropped from the competition when they were among eight players the Rangers sent to the minor leagues Sunday.
Matt Kata, a non-roster invitee trying to become the Rangers’ utility infielder, was 4-for-5 with a pair of home runs. His grand slam highlighted an eight-run outburst in the seventh that erased Colorado’s 8-4 lead.
Colorado starter Jeff Francis left with the lead after six innings, having allowed 11 hits and four runs. Matt Herges got only two outs while allowing five runs and four hits.
Mike Wood, the fifth and final Texas pitcher, threw three scoreless innings.
After winning 13 games for Baltimore in 2005, Chen was 0-7 with a 6.93 ERA for the Orioles last season. The Rangers signed him to a minor league deal after he had a solid performance in Puerto Rico’s Winter League.
Rangers manager Ron Washington admitted it was a horse race for the fifth spot, but he wasn’t concerned that six of 13 batters Chen faced got on base. None of them scored, and Chen helped himself with the pickoffs.
“Good things happen when you throw strikes, and he did that,” Washington said.
Loe, who was in the rotation last season before going on the disabled list, pitched five scoreless innings Saturday and hasn’t allowed an earned run in 13 2-3 innings this spring. Wright has a 2.16 ERA after he allowed two earned runs in 3 1-3 innings Friday night.
Brad Hawpe had three of Colorado’s 16 hits. That included a two-run homer, his third in two days and his fourth of the spring. Cory Sullivan was 4-for-4 for the Rockies.
Jerry Hairston was 3-for-4 and scored three runs for Texas. Nate Gold, assigned to the minor league camp Sunday, homered for the Rangers.
Sammy Sosa was 0-for-2 with a sacrifice fly, marking the first time in 12 games this spring he didn’t have a hit. He is still batting .417.
Notes:@ The Rangers have an off day Monday, their only one this spring. … Hawpe has five hits his last seven at-bats.
