Ian Kinsler helps focus Robbie Ross

June, 28, 2012
6/28/12
8:00
AM CT
ARLINGTON, Texas -- Texas Rangers second baseman Ian Kinsler's leadership skills were on display in Wednesday's 13-9 victory over the Detroit Tigers. And it was appreciated by young left-handed reliever Robbie Ross.

Ross came in the game in the seventh in relief of Roy Oswalt and his team had an 11-5 lead. But Ross was nibbling and trying to be too fine with his pitches. After Ross walked Prince Fielder to start the inning, Kinsler trotted in from second base and looked Ross in the eye.

"He said, 'Man, the ball's moving, just throw it in there and we've got your back,'" Ross said. "He told me to throw strikes and let my defense get out of the inning."

Ross got Delmon Young, the No. 5 hitter, to ground out and then retired Alex Avila on a lineout and Jhonny Peralta on a groundout to first. Just like that, Ross was out of the inning with no damage done.

"It helped," Ross said of Kinsler's talk. "I sometimes need to be put back in a good mindset and that was really helpful. He's a teammate that's been around for a while and is a great player and a guy that will back me up. I knew he was right and I listened."
Richard Durrett joined ESPNDallas.com in September 2009. He writes about colleges, the Dallas Stars and the Texas Rangers. Richard spent nine years at The Dallas Morning News covering the Rangers, Stars, colleges, motorsports and high schools.

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TEAM LEADERS

WINS LEADER
Yu Darvish
WINS ERA SO IP
7 2.97 86 60
OTHER LEADERS
BAL. Berkman .311
HRN. Cruz 11
RBIN. Cruz 33
RE. Andrus 28
OPSM. Moreland .920
ERAY. Darvish 2.97
SOY. Darvish 86

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