Chirinos solid behind plate so far

ARLINGTON -- For the second time this season, Robinson Chirinos threw out a pair of attempted basestealers in Saturday's loss against the Red Sox.

Chirinos caught David Ross stealing in the second inning of that game and caught Pedroia stealing in the fifth. He has now thrown out 41.2 percent (7-of-17) attempted basestealers while Rangers pitchers have gone 12-9 and posted a 3.74 ERA in the 21 games Chirinos has played. They are 7-9 with a 5.67 ERA in the 16 games he hasn't played.

Chirinos has been working with Rangers first-base coach Bengie Molina, a former catcher, on his craft.

"You see a transformation in him becoming a pretty good catcher," Rangers manager Ron Washington said. "He's got a quick release. I'm surprised at the strength. But then I never had a chance to see it. So maybe it was there, I just never had a chance to see it."