ESPN

ARLINGTON, Texas -- It's not necessarily a decision that cost the Rangers a game Wednesday night. But it's one that manager Ron Washington even second-guessed -- make that triple-guessed -- after a 5-2 loss to the Chicago White Sox.

PODCAST
Randy Galloway, Matt Mosley and Mark Friedman discuss the latest with the Rangers, including their loss last night and Ron Washington's decision to leave Nick Tepesch in the game. Listen

Washington had reliever Joseph Ortiz ready in the bullpen for a lefty-lefty matchup with Alejandro De Aza with a runner on first and two outs and the Rangers trailing 3-2 in the top of the seventh. Starter Nick Tepesch had given up the lead on a leadoff home run by White Sox third baseman Conor Gillaspie and was at 103 pitches.

But Washington stuck with his rookie right-handed starter and Tepesch gave up a two-run home run to put the Rangers down 5-2 and make it more difficult for the offense to make a comeback.

"Bad decision by me," Washington said. "I stayed with Tepesch one batter too long. I should have brought in Ortiz and I didn't. I'll take the blame for that one."

Washington said he actually second-guessed himself. His intention was to go get Tepesch and bring in Ortiz to face De Aza. But Washington changed his mind and decided to give Tepesch a chance to get out of the inning.

"It didn't work," Washington said. "So it's a bad decision on my part."

Note that today’s report includes ten players; six of them are relievers, and four of those are in Double-A or Triple-A. While the Rangers bullpen has thrown way too many innings, the club is cultivating enough depth in the upper levels to absorb a number of those late season innings. Tanner Scheppers should lead that charge.

RHP Tanner Scheppers, OKC - Scheppers threw his first three inning game Thursday. It went…let’s just say that it went well - he struck out seven, walked one and didn’t allow a hit, while throwing a season high 55 pitches. The pitch count was a bit high, but he did fight through an error, and when seven of your nine outs come via strikeout, you’re going to throw a few pitches. Scheppers exhibited control issues in his first three games in Triple-A, walking five in six innings. In his last three, spanning seven innings, he has walked two. For the season Scheppers has struck out 41 in 24 innings.

RHP Blake Beavan, Frisco - Beavan dominated his fourth straight Double-A outing Wednesday, completing seven shutout innings and allowing just four hits and no walks, while striking out five. The strikeout totals are still not high (42 on the season), but he has walked just nine all season in 63.1 innings. That ratio of almost five strikeouts per walk paints a picture of an extreme control pitcher who has enough stuff to miss bats - in other words, a legitimate starter. Beavan will pitch this entire season at age 21, and he may need a promotion to Triple-A to be challenged.

OF Engel Beltre, Bakersfield - Beltre is still hitting (.340/.373/.456 for May), but he’s stopped walking again - he last walked on May 9, 19 games ago. He also has just two extra base hits in his last 11 games. Progress has been made here, but this will still be a process for Beltre, improving his approach over time and putting his game together slowly. Fortunately, he is still just 20 and won’t require a first of three options until next season.

LHP Miguel De Los Santos, Hickory - This guy hasn’t received the fanfare that Alexi Ogando and Omar Beltre saw this spring, but he could be just as important. De Los Santos last appeared in the U.S. in 2008, pitching for the Rangers’ rookie league club in Arizona and piling up 54 strikeouts but also 18 walks in 34.2 innings. The lefty had shown enough stuff - including a blistering fastball - to excite, but visa issues kept him out of the country in 2009. The Rangers pitched him in their Dominican summer league entry, where he had pitched in his first pro season in 2006, and he posted a startling 70 strikeouts in 32 innings. He allowed just eight hits, but even at the lowest level in organized ball, he walked 22. He was allowed into the country once again this spring, and his season with an unspectacular inning last Wednesday. His second outing on Monday was more intriguing, as he struck out five in two innings and allowed a hit and a walk. Now 21, he is still quite raw, but this is a talented arm.

LHP Matt Harrison, Frisco - Working his way back in Frisco’s pen: 3 IP, 3 H, 0 BB, 4 K so far
RHP Josh Lueke, Frisco - Getting his feet on the ground, struck out four of the five batters he’s faced this week in 1.2 perfect innings
RHP Cody Eppley, Frisco - Developing story here, hasn’t slowed down ( 9 K, 1 BB) after jumping from Low A to AA in less than a season
LHP Joseph Ortiz, Hickory - Another precocious Venezuelan lefty, repeating Low A for a third season at age 19, opened his season Monday (2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 4 K)
SS Leury Garcia, Hickory - Still filling up the stat sheet - 26 SB, 15 E - but hasn’t been walking or getting on base
LHP Robbie Ross, Hickory - Solid again Thursday: 7 IP, 7 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 3 K