Lowe earns respect with extra inning

ARLINGTON -- Rangers manager Ron Washington considered using Scott Feldman in the ninth inning during Monday's 8-2 loss to the Tigers. Mark Lowe told him that wasn't necessary.

Lowe had already pitched two innings, but was willing to pitch the ninth. That kept Washington from using Feldman or Alberto Gonzalez, the Rangers' utility infielder who was going to pitch if Lowe ran into trouble. Washington did not want to burn Feldman, who is scheduled to start on Thursday against the Athletics.

Lowe prevented that and has now pitched nine scoreless innings over his last six outings.

"He earned a lot of respect from his teammates," Washington said. "But he already had a lot of respect. But that's what our guys do. He knew we needed him to pick us up and he picked us up."

Feldman was in the bullpen because the Rangers replaced him in the rotation with rookie starter Justin Grimm. Now, Feldman is going back into the rotation to replace Colby Lewis, who was placed on the disabled list with tendinitis in his right forearm. Feldman is 1-6 with a 6.43 ERA in eight starts for the Rangers this season.

"I'm not worried about his record; he saved us a lot," Washington said. "I can't say enough about what Feldman has done for us."