Dustin Nippert revealed his basis for retaining the No. five role in the Texas Rangers' starting rotation in the franchise's 5-2 victory over the Blue Jays in the 1st game of Tuesday's doubleheader. Next in line, Brandon McCarthy, making his first because departing the rotation in early June for the disabled list.

Nippert had much better control than in his prior start last week in New York. In the Bronx, he surrendered eleven base runners (4 hits, 7 bases on balls) and was only responsible for 11 outs. On Tuesday afternoon, he pitched out of trouble to secure his 5th win of the season and 3rd as a starting pitcher. Nippert let up 5 hits, and walked merely one. He reduced his ERA as a starting pitcher to 4.43 and on the whole to 3.91. It was his third fruitful start in his most recent 5 appearances.

Nippert insisted there honestly wasn't a lot difference between how he threw last week and on Tuesday: "Simply able to pitch strikes. In Yankee Stadium, I believe I pitched one curve for a strike. The bigger mess I dug myself in, I tried relentlessly to get beyond it. I was merely going the wrong way. I continued walking guys, trying to make that ideal pitch.

"Yesterday, I was able to throw it ahead in the count, behind in the count. Keep 'em off my fastball."

Insisted boss Ron Washington: "I do not believe he was pitching too hard. He was spreading things around with his change-up and his moving stuff. Increased the speed of his fastball."

Washington and Nippert both indicated Nippert wasn't throwing to guard his spot in the pitching rotation. And Nippert claimed he will happily start or come out of the bullpen. Since the Rangers are in wild card pursuit, each player's function augments in importance.

"I absolutely would like to help out this team," he said. "It's great for us that we have further arms currently. Whoever's hot you might choose to start.