Written by Adam Burke

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The Indians fought hard to battle back from the 4-0 hole that Ubaldo Jimenez and the defense dug, but it wasn't enough as the Indians fell a couple runs short, losing 6-4 to the Rangers in the series opener. The patchwork Tribe lineup, without Asdrubal Cabrera or Michael Brantley, didn't manage a hit through the first four innings. By the time they got their first hit, they were down by four runs and could never quite recover.

The second inning was a disaster for the Indians and was really the turning point in the game. The inning began with a Russ Canzler error at first and opened the floodgates. Following the error, which put Adrian Beltre at second, David Murphy just missed hitting one out to left center, sending Beltre to third. Beltre scored on a Michael Young single. Mitch Moreland doubled, sending Young to third, and Young scored on a wild pitch. After a walk, a sacrifice fly, and a double, the Indians trailed 4-0.

The game stayed that way until the fifth when the Indians got on the board. After Brent Lillibridge walked, Jason Donald singled for the first Indians hit of the game. Thomas Neal bounced into a fielder's choice, sending Lillibridge to third, before Ezequiel Carrera singled to cut the deficit to 4-1. Shin-Soo Choo struck out swinging to end the threat. The Rangers added another unearned run in the fifth on some Jason Donald fielding foibles.

Matt LaPorta got the Indians a run closer with a RBI double in the sixth, driving in Canzler. The Rangers answered in the sixth off Cody Allen, who relieved Jimenez, who went five innings, allowing five runs, two earned, on four hits, with four walks and four strikeouts. Allen gave up a double to Leonys Martin. Martin stole third and scored on an Elvis Andrus single to push the lead back to 6-2.

The Indians made the final score a little bit more appealing in the eighth, scoring two runs, and emptying their bench. Choo walked, Kipnis singled, Carlos Santana grounded out, and Canzler drove in Choo with a fielder's choice. Lonnie Chisenhall pinch hit for LaPorta and drew a walk, extending the inning for pinch hitter Casey Kotchman. Kotchman singled home a run and got the game to its 6-4 final.

With the loss, the Indians fell to 59-83. The Rangers improved to 84-57. Ubaldo Jimenez lost for the 16th time. Matt Harrison won for the 16th time. Joe Nathan locked down the save, his 32nd.

Stat of the Night: Ubaldo Jimenez picked up his 16th loss of the season, making him the first Indians pitcher to lose 16 games in a season since 1991. Greg Swindell lost 16 games that year with a 3.48 ERA. Jimenez's is two runs higher.

Player of the Game: Jason Kipnis reached base three times with a couple of hits and a walk.

Tomorrow's Game: Jeanmar Gomez will take on Ryan Dempster at 8:05.