What is the story about?
Rangers
6, Giants 0
- Bradford’s back, and you’re gonna be in trouble…
- Hey ya, hey ya, Bradford’s back…
- That was a fulfilling victory.
- And not least of which, among the fulfilling aspects of the victory, was the return of Cody Bradford.
- Bradford had a very solid outing for Texas, throwing 70 pitches in 4.1 innings and keeping the Giants off the board.
- Having not thrown more than 56 pitches in his five rehab appearances in the minors, 70-75 seemed like the most that Bradford would go this time out.
- Maybe if there were two outs in the fifth, Bradford would have been left in for one more batter in an attempt to get him the win. But with two on and one out, Bradford had done his job, and even if Tyler Alexander, coming into the game behind Bradford, got the “W” next to his name in the box score, Bradford felt like the winning pitcher in this outing.
- It was pointed out during the game that, of the players who appeared in Bradford’s last major league start for the Rangers, only two of them were still in the organization — Wyatt Langford and Justin Foscue.
- Langford, of course. But Justin Foscue isn’t someone I’d have guessed as the other part of the answer to that particular trivia question.
- The much-maligned Rangers bullpen — justifiably maligned of late, I would say — stepped up behind Bradford and kept the Giants off the board the rest of the way, resulting in the tenth shutout by the Rangers this season, and just the second since June 7.
- Even Cole Winn recorded a scoreless inning, in his first appearance since the unfortunate events in Houston this past Sunday. Way to go, Cole!
- Every Ranger starter got on base except for Cam Cauley, who got the start at second base as the Rangers shuffled their infield with Corey Seager getting the day off.
- It felt like every Ranger starter got on base in the third inning, when they put four runs up on the board, but it was only five players who got on base that inning, highlighted by a Justin Foscue two run triple.
- Foscue had been 0 for his last 11, and in a 2 for 23 slide, before recording what was the first triple of his major league career. And Joc Pederson pinch hit for him the next time up, so Foscue left the game on a high note.
- Not only was it the first triple of Foscue’s major league career, it was his first triple, period since 2023, when he was with Round Rock.
- Foscue has only registered six triples in the minors, for that matter, and never had one during his college career at Mississippi State.
- Tip of the cap to Giants left fielder Eddys Leonard, whose problems corralling the ball in the corner allowed Foscue to make it to third base.
- Ezequiel Duran, hero of the previous game, was just 0 for 3, lowering his OPS on the year to 787.
- Brandon Nimmo was 2 for 3 with a walk and an opposite-field homer that was just far enough to make it into the stands down the left field line, raising his OPS on the year to 787.
- Nicky Lopez had entered the game slashing .132/.227/.132 in his previous 46 plate appearances. He even contributed a pair of hits, though he also got thrown out trying to steal.
- Cody Bradford topped out at 90.5 mph with his fastball, averaging 88.8 mph. Tyler Alexander hit 92.8 mph with his fastball. Robby Ahlstrom’s sinker reached 95.1 mph. Chase Silseth maxed ouat at 96.8 mph with his fastball. Cole Winn’s fastball touched 96.2 mph.
- Wyatt Langford had a 103.8 mph double. Joc Pederson had a 103.0 mph single. Elias Diaz had a 101.5 mph fly out and a 101.0 mph fly out. Ezequiel Duran had a 100.2 mph GIDP.
- An off day for us to enjoy now.
