Rangers' rally falls short in 8-7 loss

Aug. 19--ARLINGTON -- Mix equal parts poor fielding with subpar pitching, and what do you get?

Well, you get the 2008 Rangers.

The Rangers mixed those two combustible components in an 8-7 loss to Detroit on Monday. It was the club's 10th loss in the last 12 games. They've allowed at least seven runs in nine of their last 10 games.

In that 12-game stretch, they've allowed 13 unearned runs, including four Monday. They have allowed 90 unearned runs for the season, on pace for 116, which would shatter the team record. In the last 50 years, 10 teams have allowed as many as 115 unearned runs.

On Tuesday, the unearned runs were the result of one error by third baseman Travis Metcalf and a tired bullpen's inability to close out an inning after the mistake.

With Detroit leading by a run, Metcalf mishandled Edgar Renteria's two-out hard bouncer in the eighth. It allowed one run to score, but Jamey Wright followed by hitting Brandon Inge and allowing a bases-loaded triple to Curtis Granderson to make the score 8-3. The Rangers scored four runs in the bottom of the inning.

"The runs we allowed tonight hurt," manager Ron Washington said. "We just didn't make a play. I don't like to make mistakes on the defensive side, but they are going to happen."

McCarthy-ism: Rangers general manager Jon Daniels said Brandon McCarthy is a "consideration" to join the rotation this weekend after McCarthy made a second straight shutout appearance at Triple-A Oklahoma on Sunday.

McCarthy's next scheduled day to pitch is Friday. Because of an off day Thursday, the Rangers could push their other starters back an extra day after McCarthy pitches.

McCarthy has pitched 13 scoreless innings at Oklahoma since a tutorial in Arlington with Nolan Ryan. He's allowed four hits and two walks in the stretch, striking out 11.

Third base talk: Chris Davis said he believes he's in better condition to play third base than he was a year ago, when he tried the position full time. Davis will move to third when Hank Blalock returns to the active roster, which will occur Friday if Blalock's three-game rehab assignment with Double-A Frisco goes well.

Davis said he's 25 pounds lighter than he was a year ago. He also played much of last year with a sore foot, which led to off-season surgery to remove a small broken bone in the foot.