The Texas Rangers scored five runs while the Cleveland Guardians scored three runs.
With a need for an opener, a lineup that would have perhaps been questionable if it had been for Round Rock, and a bulk pitcher that I suspect was on the mound for Texas tonight because he was close enough in proximity to make it to the ballpark in time, the Rangers showcased the state of the American League this season albeit with a gutsy victory over the AL Central-leading Guardians on ESPN’s Monday Night Baseball.
Because the schedule is quite inconvenient for Texas at this point and time, there was a lot of necessities that otherwise I’d imagine they would have liked to avoid tonight. All that accomplished was spotlighting some unsung heroes, however.
For example, Tyler Alexander opened for the Rangers despite saving the previous two games, something no one has ever done in the history of the game.
Corey Seager was on the bench as he slowly works his way back to regular playing time. Evan Carter and Alejandro Osuna were in against left-handed starter Parker Messick because Wyatt Langford just hit the shelf and Brandon Nimmo was unavailable after crashing into the right field fence in yesterday’s finale in Toronto.
Because of the thin outfield, the Rangers had Ezequiel Duran in right field which meant they needed a second baseman. Tonight, that meant the debut of Cam Cauley, who was called up earlier today.
Needing to stitch together basically a bullpen game, the Rangers also tasked Jacob Latz with yet another two-inning save after Jakob Junis, following a shaky seventh in which he allowed Cleveland’s third run, was unable to toss two innings as he exited with an injury to start the eighth.
And then there was that bulk guy, Chris Paddack, he of the 4.83 career ERA and 6.96 ERA for two previous teams entering tonight’s game for Texas. There’s the likelihood that Paddack won’t even be a Ranger in a couple of days or weeks, but for tonight, they needed him.
Paddack allowed two runs in four innings. When he exited, the Rangers trailed 2-1 but despite the fact that he was basically as advertised, he also did just enough to keep Texas in the game and allowed them to complete a comeback.
Down 2-1, the Rangers tied the game in the top of the sixth when Jake Burger singled for a two-out RBI. In the top of the seventh, Cauley made his presence – especially his speed – felt with his first career hit, a one-out triple.
Starting shortstop Nicky Lopez singled in Cauley to give the Rangers a 3-2 lead and then Justin Foscue doubled in Lopez with two outs. Up 4-2, the Guardians scored off Junis in the bottom of the seventh but the Rangers gave Latz an insurance run when Foscue doubled in Carter after Carter’s second hit against a lefty on the evening.
The Rangers hadn’t been above .500 since they were 14-13 back on April 25. Now, thanks to a lot of “this is just the way it has to be” that worked out tonight, the Rangers have won more games than they’ve lost.
Player of the Game: It was a patchwork effort tonight but Foscue’s two RBI doubles in the two biggest rallies of the evening stand out. Foscue continues to be more of a weapon against left-handed pitching than perhaps I’ve given him credit for and tonight he was instrumental in Texas claiming the win.
Up Next: The Rangers will have Jacob deGrom on the mound for the final game of June, and maybe some more of their regular hitters will be in the lineup versus RHP Tanner Bibee for Cleveland.
The Tuesday evening first pitch from Progressive Field is scheduled for 5:40 pm CDT and will be back on the Rangers Sports Network.
