Rangers
AD
6, Angels 3
- And the Rangers don’t get swept!
- After a couple of not terribly well played games, the Rangers finished things off in Anaheim with a solid performance, one I think we can feel good about.
- Big Game Nate, Nathan Eovaldi, came up big once again. Needing to end this two game losing streak, Eovaldi threw seven innings of one run ball, lowering his already microscopic ERA to 1.49 on the season.
- And needed just 92 pitches to do so. Eovaldi’s ability to work efficiently and keep runs off the board has been exceptional this season.
- Yeah, Hoby Milner gave up a homer, making things a little more exciting, but that just meant that Robert Garcia had a save opportunity that he got to convert.
- Jacob Webb’s going onto the injured list reduced the number of established, reliable arms in the pen to, well, probably the three guys who pitched in this game — Milner, Garcia, and Shawn Armstrong. Which is why the Rangers are expected to add at least one established reliever at the deadline.
- It would have been nice if Milner had shut down the Angels in the eighth, avoiding the need to use Armstrong and Garcia, allowing Cole Winn to maybe pitch the ninth, or Luis Curvelo make his debut. But whatever. It’ll be fine.
- Rangers bats continue to do the things we thought they’d be doing all year, but didn’t start doing until, like, mid-June. Adolis Garcia homering. Kyle Higashioka continuing to breath fire. Marcus Semien picking up three hits, Wyatt Langford two.
- Despite the fact that the Rangers lost 2 of 3 in Anaheim, they scored 15 runs in the three games, which, you know, that’s something.
- Really, at this point, I’m kinda worried more about the pitching than the bats. The rotation, after Eovaldi and Jacob deGrom, is a bit concerning, and the bullpen started the year being put together with twine and chewing gum, and the twine has fallen off.
- Mason Miller was held out of Oakland’s game Wednesday, despite it being a save situation and him being rested, and there’s talk that a move may be imminent. Wouldn’t it be funny if the Rangers were the team that finally landed Miller?
- Texas is now tied with Seattle for WC3, 1.5 games behind Boston for WC2, and 2.5 games back of New York for WC1. They are five games back of the Astros.
- Nathan Eovaldi topped out at 95.4 mph with his fastball, averaging 93.9 mph. Hoby Milner’s sinker touched 88.7 mph. Shawn Armstrong’s sinker maxed out at 93.9 mph. Robert Garcia’s fastball hit 96.1 mph.
- Wyatt Langford had a 109.6 mph double. Corey Seager had a 109.3 mph ball that went for an error. Evan Smith had a 107.8 mph ground out and a 102.8 mph single. Adolis Garcia had a 105.9 mph GIDP and a 105.2 mph homer. Josh Smith had a 101.8 mph ground out. Jonah Heim had a 100.4 mph ground out. Marcus Semien had a 100.3 mph double.
- Four in Seattle. Kind of a big deal. Think positive.
