ARLINGTON, Texas -- Alexi Ogando once again showed why he's been the most consistent Rangers' reliever so far in the postseason. The bad news is, he won't pitch again.The right-handed setup man had retired all five batters he faced in Game 4 of the World Series before he had to leave with what the team called a strained left oblique muscle.
Manager Ron Washington said Ogando would be replaced on the roster for the remainder of the series. He didn't say who would replace him, but it is expected to be Dustin Nippert, who had been on the postseason roster for the first two rounds.
"Ogando was pitching great," fellow reliever Darren Oliver said. "This guy has unbelievable stuff. He'll definitely be missed. Whoever takes his spot will have to go out and help us out any way he can."
Although Washington announced that Ogando was done, Ogando was still holding out hope that tests scheduled for Monday would reveal a less serious injury.
"I never give it a thought like that," Ogando said through a translator. "I'm always positive."
Ogando entered in the fifth inning on Sunday, replacing Tommy Hunter. He got through his first inning without a hitch, retiring all three batters. He started to feel some pain his second inning, and it got worse and worse, Ogando said. He retired two hitters, but after he bounced a slider to Juan Uribe, he could not continue. He motioned for the trainer and he was quickly pulled.Ogando gave up one run in six innings in his first postseason. He struck out eight.
Nippert gave up two runs in his only inning in the first two rounds of the postseason. For the season he had a 4.29 ERA and a WHIP of 1.676.
