Rangers
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7, A’s 2
- Reminded once again that baseball is weird.
- Michael Helman and Cody Freeman leading the charge in a seven run outburst? Who’da thunk?
- Jack Leiter picked up a Quality Start, despite having his command coming and going throughout the night.
- It was a very Three True Outcome night for Leiter, who faced 27 batters, walked four, struck out seven, gave up a homer, and also hit a batter.
- Leiter leaned heavily on his changeup, throwing it 29 times (out of 95 pitches in all), generating five of his eight whiffs with it, picking up six called strikes, and allowing just two balls in play on it.
- The changeup, which Leiter only started throwing this year, looks like it can be a tremendous out pitch for Leiter. The problem is his command of the pitch is very much a work in progress, as he will sometimes take the spike in spike change literally, with the ball hitting the ground well before home plate, and at other times will see it go well wide of the plate as a non-competitive pitch. If Leiter can refine his command and locate his changeup more consistently, it will result in him taking a big step forward.
- Leiter made it into the seventh but allowed a double and a walk, prompting Bruce Bochy to go get him and bring in Hoby Milner. I was surprised Leiter went back out there — he was at 87 pitches through sixth, had allowed a homer and a four pitch walk in the sixth inning, and it seemed like he’d get an attaboy and be done. Still, no harm done, as Milner got a bunt fielder’s choice, a fly out and a ground out to end the inning with no runs scored.
- The Rangers offense added a couple of runs in the bottom of the seventh, providing a fie run lead, and giving Bochy the opportunity to use Shawn Armstrong and Cole Winn for the eighth and ninth. Winn seems likely to be heading back down later this week when Jon Gray is activated, so might as well use him now while you can.
- The 2 through 6 spots in the lineup for the Rangers went 1 for 18, with a Corey Seager RBI single (that extended his on-base streak to...I forget, exactly, but 20-something, I think) being the only hit from that group, though Marcus Semien and Wyatt Langford each drew a walk.
- But the middle of the lineup didn’t have to produce because the bottom of the lineup did. Josh Jung, newly promoted in a decision that seemed odd, timing-wise, homered in his first plate appearance back in the majors to give the Rangers the lead. He ended up going 2 for 2 with a walk, so clearly, his being sent down and now being brought back up was a success, based on the one game sample size.
- Cody Freeman, getting his second career major league start and hitting ninth at DH, picked up his first major league hit in the fifth, an RBI double that brought home Josh Smith (who had a pair of hits in the game). That was followed up by a Michael Helman three run home run — Helman’s first hit as a Ranger, and his first major league home run.
- Interestingly, Helman has four hits in the majors, but just one single. He has a pair of doubles and a home run for the other three hits.
- Also interesting was the decision to have Helman hit in the leadoff spot. It worked out, it appears.
- One of the kind of amusing moments in the game — amusing because the Rangers won, it would be less amusing if they didn’t — came when Wyatt Langford followed up his two out walk by attempting to steal second base. Marcus Semien had stolen second earlier in the game, and after Langford was called safe, the broadcast booth discussed how the Rangers were going to be able to steal bases at will against A’s starter Jacob Lopez.
- The A’s challenged the call though, and Langford was called out on replay (and he was very clearly out), and the Rangers didn’t attempt another steal the rest of the game.
- Jack Leiter hit 97.9 mph with his fastball, averaging 96.2 mph, and 99.1 mph with his sinker, averaging 95.6 mph. Hoby Milner hit 87.9 mph with his sinker. Shawn Armstrong’s sinker topped out at 94.3 mph. Cole Winn maxed out at 97.1 mph with his sinker.
- Kyle Higashioka had a 106.4 mph fly out. Michael Helman had a 104.1 mph home run. Josh Jung had a single at 103.0 mph.
- Let’s get back to two games over .500 behind Jacob deGrom.
