The Rangers faced Johan Santana on Sunday and Erik Bedard on Tuesday, striking out a total of 28 times in 15 innings. Given a chance to face some mortal pitching in a doubleheader Wednesday against the Orioles, they exploded for 39 runs, including a record-setting 30 runs in Game 1. Thirty runs. A simple look at the Game 1 boxscore is good for a laugh and the game produced a seemingly endless supply of crazy numbers, stats, and records.

Among them is that the Rangers became the first team to score 30 runs in a game since 1897 and did so despite trailing 3-0 after three innings. In fact, they did all their scoring in four innings, scoring five in the fourth, nine in the sixth, 10 in the eighth, and six more in the ninth. You know, because the 24-3 lead probably wasn't safe. They became the first team in baseball history to score nine-plus runs in two different innings and forced the Orioles to throw 252 pitches.

Nine different Rangers scored at least twice and four hitters knocked in at least four runs, including seven RBIs apiece from the unlikely duo of Jarrod Saltalamacchia and Ramon Vazquez. Travis Metcalf, who was called up from Triple-A in the morning, came off the bench with a grand slam in Game 1 and then went 2-for-3 with four RBIs in Game 2. Metcalf managed just six RBIs in his first 98 career at-bats, but had eight RBIs in six at-bats Wednesday.

The most amazing stat from the game might just be that Wes Littleton picked up a save. Seriously. Littleton entered the game with a 14-3 lead in the seventh inning and pitched the final three frames while the Rangers tacked on 16 more runs. Apparently it doesn't take a "closer's mentality" to protect a 27-run lead. Between the two games, the Rangers collected 40 hits and 16 walks, and because all 39 runs were earned the Orioles' team ERA rose from 4.41 to 4.66.

While I avoid going on for another thousand words because you probably get the point, here are some other notes from around baseball …

* Gary Sheffield began the season in a 17-for-89 (.191) slump, but then hit .346 with 21 homers, 57 RBIs, 63 runs, 12 steals, and a 1.086 OPS in his next 66 games. That dominant stretch ended on July 21, when Sheffield went 3-for-5 in a game that also saw him suffer a shoulder injury during an outfield collision with Placido Polanco. Since then, Sheffield has hit just .172 with one homer, six RBIs, and a .500 OPS in 23 games.

Sheffield took a week off earlier this month to rest the shoulder after receiving a cortisone shot, but went 10-for-51 (.196) after coming back and has once again shut things down. He's officially listed as day-to-day, but Sheffield made it clear Wednesday that the situation is more serious than that. "I'm doing myself and my team a disservice by trying to play hurt," Sheffield said. "It's one thing to be hurt and another to be injured. This is more on the side of injured."

He's complained of numbness in his arm previously and said Wednesday that his "right hand comes off the bat for some reason and it does it on its own." With Sheffield sidelined indefinitely and Craig Monroe cut loose earlier this week, Marcus Thames and Cameron Maybin figure to play nearly every day. Ryan Raburn could also see extended action in the outfield depending on whether or not manager Jim Leyland uses him to spell Brandon Inge at third base.

* The Phillies received good news Wednesday when an MRI showed that Cole Hamels doesn't have ligament damage in his injured left elbow, but he's been placed on the disabled list anyway. Hamels has been diagnosed with a strained elbow, which makes it possible that he could return fafter the minimum 15 days. However, given the 23-year-old's injury history the Phillies may choose to be extra cautious depending on how their playoff chances fare between now and then.

* Chris Young experienced back tightness in Tuesday's start, staying healthy for just three outings since returning from a strained oblique. The Padres reportedly think that the two injuries could be related, so Young is scheduled to see a specialist while missing at least one start. Young has been fantastic, leading all of baseball with a 2.12 ERA, but he's never thrown as many as even 180 innings in a season and still needs another 27 innings just to qualify for the ERA title.

* It didn't take long for Brandon Webb's 42-inning scoreless streak to end Wednesday thanks to Prince Fielder's first-inning RBI single. Webb recovered to hold Milwaukee to a pair of runs over seven innings to pick up his 14th victory, which ranks second in the league. He's won six straight starts since losing three straight games in July and leads the NL with 191.2 innings. Webb ranks "only" fourth in ERA, but his 2.63 mark gets more impressive given his hitter-friendly ballpark.

* Albert Pujols homered Wednesday for the fifth straight game and his mediocre early numbers are a distant memory. Pujols leads the league with 14 homers since the All-Star break and he's up to .322 with 30 homers, 83 RBIs, and a 1.003 OPS in 122 games overall. Pujols has seven straight 30-homer seasons to begin his career and he's on pace for a .320-40-110 campaign that will fit right in with his first six years, all despite batting .245 with a .750 OPS through mid-May.

AL Quick Hits: A CT scan and MRI showed that Chone Figgins (wrist) doesn't have a fracture or tear, but he's expected to miss several more games with a bone bruise … Mark Teahen looks headed for the disabled list after being diagnosed with a strained muscle in his left elbow … Bartolo Colon (elbow) is scheduled to begin a minor-league rehab assignment Saturday at Triple-A … Dr. James Andrews didn't recommend surgery for Akinori Otsuka (forearm), but going under the knife remains an option … Scott Podsednik (ribs) pinch-ran Wednesday, but manager Ozzie Guillen indicated that he may be shut down soon … With Huston Street getting Wednesday off, Alan Embree converted a four-out save … After allowing three runs in one-third of an inning Wednesday, Scot Shields has an 11.07 ERA in 13 innings since mid-July … With seven innings of one-run ball Wednesday against the Angels, Andy Pettitte has won five straight starts … Dustin Pedroia left Wednesday's game after being hit on the elbow by a pitch, but X-rays revealed merely a bone bruise … Esteban Loaiza pitched well in his season debut Wednesday, holding the Blue Jays to one run over 7.1 innings.

NL Quick Hits: Edgar Renteria aggravated his ankle injury in his first at-bat back from the disabled list Wednesday and could be sidelined again … With 11 strikeouts in Wednesday's win over the Mets, Jake Peavy reached double digits for the third time this month and seventh time this season … Nate McLouth homered twice Wednesday, giving him seven long balls this month after hitting a total of 15 during his first 233 games … Meanwhile, Freddy Sanchez's homer Wednesday was his seventh since the All-Star break after beginning his career with just 13 in 409 games … Rich Hill held the Giants to a pair of runs over seven innings Wednesday, reaching double-digit strikeouts for the second time this season … After hitting just .188 with Hunter Pence out, Jason Lane headed back to the minors Wednesday … With 6.1 innings of two-run ball Wednesday, Woody Williams has gone 5-2 with a 3.70 ERA since beginning the season 3-10 with a 5.75 ERA … Zach Duke (elbow) could begin a minor-league rehab assignment soon after throwing a pain-free simulated game Wednesday.