1.   After getting leadoff hitter Eric Young on a fly ball to center fielder Wayne Kirby, Nomo walked Quinton McCracken on four pitches.

2.   Dierker smiled about that comment Monday, saying he had nothing but admiration for someone getting hitters out simply by throwing curveballs and changing speeds on his fastball.

3.   He claims he would rather get a hitter with two pitches than strike him out.

4.   He gets our hitters back out on the field quicker.

5.   Hill got six hitters out by throwing one pitch to each.

6.   The aim is to get hitters to put the ball in play faster, use fewer pitches and give the Rangers more innings.

7.   The minute you get hitters not looking for his fastball, the fastball becomes almost unhittable.

8.   Then Gordon got leadoff hitter Otis Nixon to ground to short, ending the threat.