2011 Texas Rangers season

Did You Know?

• The Rangers signed free agent draftee Barret Loux, the 6th pick in the 2010 MLB draft, after the Arizona Diamondbacks voided his $2 million bonus due to a failed physical.
• The Rangers signed 18-year-old Dutch shortstop Nick Urbanus in November 2010.
• In December 2010, the Rangers signed 16-year-old Venezuelan shortstop Rougned Odor.

Offseason

The Rangers' pursuit of free agent pitcher Cliff Lee dominated the offseason. Despite a statement from lead investor Bob Simpson that the team would pursue Lee 'hard' and had the financial resources to do so, and a meeting with Lee and his agent by principal owner Chuck Greenberg, team investor Ray Davis, and assistant GM Thad Levine, Lee signed a five-year deal with the Philadelphia Phillies. The Rangers declined their 2011 option on Vladimir Guerrero on November 3, 2010; Guerrero later signed with the Baltimore Orioles as a Type A free agent, but the Rangers received no draft pick compensation. The team hired Thad Bosley as hitting coach after Clint Hurdle became manager of the Pittsburgh Pirates. In November, the Rangers signed Japanese relief pitcher Yoshinori Tateyama and catcher Yorvit Torrealba from the San Diego Padres; Torrealba was a Type B free agent and cost no draft pick. Bengie Molina, the primary catcher in 2010, retired. On December 26, the Rangers agreed to a one-year contract with pitcher Brandon Webb, who had not pitched since opening day 2009 due to shoulder surgery.

Spring training

C. J. Wilson was named opening day starter early in spring training, followed by Colby Lewis and Tommy Hunter. Brandon Webb, recovering from shoulder surgery, was not ready for opening day and began the season on the disabled list. An injury to Hunter also placed him on the disabled list to start the season, moving Matt Harrison from the fourth spot to third. Derek Holland, Michael Kirkman, Eric Hurley, and closer Neftalí Feliz competed for the final two rotation spots; Kirkman and Hurley were sent to AAA, and Feliz returned to the closer role due to a weakened bullpen. Alexi Ogando became the number 5 starter behind Holland. On March 11, Chuck Greenberg resigned as CEO, with president Nolan Ryan adding the CEO title. Reports indicated that Greenberg's involvement in attempts to sign Cliff Lee and in potential trades involving Michael Young—specifically a demand that Young forfeit deferred interest—may have contributed to his departure. General manager Jon Daniels met twice with Young during spring training to discuss the trade demand, which Daniels attributed to continued trade discussions after Young had been told he would not be traded once Adrián Beltré was acquired. The Rangers traded Matt Treanor to the Kansas City Royals (Treanor was later traded back to the Rangers at the end of August).

Regular season

The Rangers finished April with a 16–11 record, the first time under manager Ron Washington they ended the month above .500. After sweeping the first two series against Boston and Seattle, the Rangers lost their first game on April 9 in a doubleheader against Baltimore; they were the last team in 2011 to record a loss. Each of the first five starters earned a win from game 2 through game 6, the first team to have five different starters each win at least one game. The Rangers then lost three straight series to the Tigers, Yankees, and Angels before sweeping the Royals, losing a series to Toronto, and splitting two games with Oakland. They spent only one day out of first place in the AL West during April. Ian Kinsler became the first player to hit a leadoff home run in the first two games of a season; he and Nelson Cruz became the first teammates to each hit a home run in the first three games. Cruz hit a home run in the first four games, the third player in MLB history to do so and the first in the American League. Elvis Andrus hit his first home run since 2009 in the fourth game. Alexi Ogando earned wins in his first two starts, going 6+ innings with 2 or fewer hits and no runs in each, joining only four other pitchers since 1919. On April 12, Josh Hamilton left a game after a first-inning play at the plate and was diagnosed with a fractured right shoulder; Hamilton later said he considered the play 'stupid' and had hesitated before running.

Postseason

After losing the first game of the ALDS against Tampa Bay, the Rangers won the next three games to take the series 3–1. Colby Lewis' Game 3 start was only the 17th postseason game in which a starter went at least 6 innings with 1 hit or fewer, and Lewis became the eighth pitcher to do so while recording 6 or more strikeouts. Matt Harrison recorded 9 strikeouts in 5 innings in Game 4, becoming the 10th pitcher to throw 9 or more strikeouts in fewer than 6 innings in a postseason game. Adrián Beltré hit three home runs in a playoff game, the first to do so in a League Division Series game and the first player to hit three homers in a postseason game since George Brett in 1978. The series included two rain delays totaling 1:50 in Game 1, a rescheduled Game 2 due to rain, an 11th-inning walk-off in Game 2, and a pre-game rain delay of 2:13 in Game 4 that extended into 11 innings.