Contact: Rangers Communications
Thursday, April 10, 2014 817-273-5203
TEXAS RANGERS HOST ASTROS, MARINERS, AND WHITE SOX BEGINNING FRIDAY NIGHT
Club marks 20th anniversary of first regular season game at Globe Life Park in Arlington tomorrow night
Arlington, Texas—The Texas Rangers return to Arlington on Friday night for the first extended homestand of 2014 that features three games with the Houston Astros, four contests with the Seattle Mariners and a three-game set with the Chicago White Sox. The ten-game homestand runs through Sunday, April 20 and matches the team’s longest of the year (also September 4-14).
The first segment of the 2014 Lone Star Series features 7:05 p.m. games with the Astros on Friday and Saturday, April 11-12 and a 2:05 p.m. matinee on Sunday, April 13. The Rangers have captured the coveted Silver Boot, emblematic of the season’s series champion, each of the last seven years.
On April 11, 1994, the Rangers lost to the Milwaukee Brewers, 5-3 in the first regular season game at The Ballpark in Arlington. The club will recognize that anniversary as the first 15,000 fans entering the park will receive an AT&T 20th Anniversary Ballpark Replica. Former Arlington Mayor Richard Greene, who played a key role in the building of the new ballpark, will throw out the ceremonial first pitch on Friday. Catching Mayor Greene will be former Rangers outfielder David Hulse, who singled in the first inning of that game for the first hit in the park’s history.
On Sunday, Christian rock band Mercy Me will perform a post-game on-field concert presented by Buckner International. The concert is free to all fans attending the game that day and field passes can be purchased for an additional $12.00 at texasrangers.com. Mercy Me will also sing the National Anthem prior to the game.
The Mariners follow for 7:05 p.m. games on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, April 14, 15, and 16 and a 1:05 p.m. start on Thursday, April 17. The first 15,000 fans, 14 and older, get a Coca-Cola Shin-Soo Choo T-Shirt on Tuesday night. Tuesday is also the 67th anniversary of the day that Jackie Robinson became the first African-American in Major League Baseball with his Brooklyn Dodgers debut. All players on both the Rangers and Mariners will wear #42 that night.
The White Sox conclude the homestand with 7:05 p.m. games on Friday and Saturday, April 18 and 19 and a 2:05 p.m. contest on Sunday, April 20. April 18 is the first Fireworks Friday, which is presented by Windmill Suites as fans will be treated to a post-game fireworks show themed to Movie Funnies. On Saturday, the first 15,000 fans receive a Reliant Yu Darvish Strikeout King Bobblehead.
Tickets for the upcoming homestand can be purchased at texasrangers.com, by calling 972.RANGERS, and at the Globe Life Park in Arlington ticket office.
Game-by-game highlights of the homestand:
Friday, April 11 vs. Houston Astros – 7:05 p.m. – TXA 21-HD
· AT&T 20th Anniversary Ballpark Replica to first 15,000 fans
· Ceremonial first pitch by former Arlington Mayor Richard Greene caught by David Hulse
· National Anthem by Cody Johnson
Saturday, April 12 vs. Houston Astros – 7:05 p.m. – FSSW-HD
· KIA Prince’s Kingdom (all fans seated in a designated outfield section will receive a Prince’s Kingdom T-Shirt, Crown, and KIA coupons)
· National Anthem by Erica Gonzaba, San Antonio CVB
Sunday, April 13 vs. Houston Astros – 2:05 p.m. – FSSW-HD Gates open at 12:30 noon
· Mercy Me Post-Game Concert presented by Buckner International
· Blue Bell $1 Ice Cream Sunday (youngsters, 13 and under)
· Chevy Kids Take the Field pre-game
· Youth baseball on-field pre-game parade
· National Anthem by Mercy Me
· God Bless America by Sony Music, Reunion Records recording artist 1 Girl Nation
Monday, April 14 vs. Seattle Mariners – 7:05 p.m. – FSSW-HD
· University of Texas at Arlington Night
· National Anthem by Josh Young, Dallas Summer Musical actor
· Ceremonial first pitch by UFC Welterweight Champion Johny Hendricks
Tuesday, April 15 vs. Seattle Mariners – 7:05 p.m. – FSSW-HD
· Jackie Robinson Day Activities—all players will wear #42
· Coca-Cola Shin-Soo Choo T-Shirt to first 15,000 fans, 14 and older
· Ozarka Online Ticket Tuesday
· National Anthem by Erica King
Wednesday, April 16 vs. Seattle Mariners – 7:05 p.m. – FSSW-HD
· Nolan Ryan Beef Dollar Hot Dog Wednesday
· Dr Pepper Autograph Wednesday
Thursday, April 17 vs. Seattle Mariners – 1:05 p.m. – FSSW-HD Gates open at 11:30 a.m./ Home Plate Gate at 9:30
· KIA Choo Crew (all fans in a designated outfield section will receive a Choo Crew T-Shirt, Cheer Card, and KIA coupons)
· Wildlife Education Day with the Dallas Zoo (advance tickets required)
· National Anthem by Emmanuel Espiritu
· Pre-game moment of silence for one-year anniversary of explosion and fires in West, Texas
Friday, April 18 vs. Chicago White Sox – 7:05 p.m. – TXA 21-HD
· Windmill Suites Fireworks Friday postgame themed to music of Movie Funnies
· Fireworks Fridays ticket offer. Fans may enter FIREWORKS as the coupon code on texasrangers.com to purchase $15.00 Upper Reserved tickets.
· Ceremonial first pitch by Taylor Lipsett, ice sledge hockey player and Paralympic Gold and Bronze medalist
· National Anthem by One Voice
Saturday, April 19 vs. Chicago White Sox – 7:05 p.m. – FSSW-HD
· Reliant Yu Darvish Strikeout King Bobblehead to first 15,000 fans
· KIA Prince’s Kingdom (all fans seated in a designated outfield section will receive a Prince’s Kingdom T-Shirt, Crown, and KIA coupons)
· National Anthem by Brent Kern
Sunday, April 20 vs. Chicago White Sox – 2:05 p.m. – FSSW-HD Gates open at 12:30 p.m.
· Blue Bell $1 Ice Cream Sunday (youngsters, 13 and under)
· Chevy Kids Take the Field pre-game
· National Anthem by X-ALT
· Appearance by the Easter Bunny
· Run the Bases post-game
I-30 West/Tom Landry Freeway HOV Lane Closed for Construction Beginning With Homestand
The HOV lanes in both directions along I-30, from Dallas westbound to the Baird Farm Road Bridge in Arlington, are closed for widening and improvements of the HOV lane facility, effective with this homestand. These lanes will be closed until August when they will reopen as TEXpress Lanes, or managed toll lanes.
Rangers fans traveling on I-30 from Dallas should use the exits at SH161, Ballpark Way, AT&T Way or Collins Street for access into the Entertainment District and Globe Life Park parking areas. The same access roads should be utilized for egress from Globe Life Park. The Baird Farm Road Bridge will remain open during the construction process.
Some modifications will be made to exit routes from Globe Life Park parking lots. Parking attendants will distribute specific route information to customers in lots that are impacted upon arrival at upcoming games. This information is also available on texasrangers.com/parking.
RANGERS RE-SIGN CHRIS GIMENEZ TO ROUND ROCK CONTRACT: The Rangers have re-signed catcher Chris Gimenez to a contract with Triple-A Round Rock. Gimenez was claimed on waivers by Texas from Oakland on March 28 and was on the team’s opening day roster but did not appear in a game. He was designated for assignment on April 1, cleared waivers and offered outright assignment on April 3, and granted free agency on April 5.
Gimenez had been acquired by Oakland on a waiver claim from Tampa Bay on December 20, 2013. He was in major league spring training camp with the A’s, batting .242 (8-33) with 3 doubles, no home runs, and 3 RBI in 25 games. Gimenez has seen action in 143 major league games with Cleveland (2009-10), Seattle (2011), and Tampa Bay (2012-13), batting .199 at the plate. Primarily a catcher, he has also seen action in the majors in the outfield, as well as at first base and third base.
In addition, the Rangers have released RHP Doug Mathis and catcher Jose Felix from Round Rock.
-RANGERS-
