The Texas Rangers scored six runs while the Chicago Cubs did not score a run.
Welcome to The Shed, Chicago.
Pure usual Rangers anti-scoring energy radiated from the Arlington den where the dreadful ley lines for impotent RISP ability seem deeply rooted. Luckily, those undesirable powers wafted from the home dugout over the visitors and the National League’s best and hottest club turned 13 scoring chances into zero runs while stranding eleven runners.
Meanwhile, the team that might as well hold the patent
on runless scoring chances collected four hits with RISP in nine such opportunities to plate six runs. Those six runs equaled Texas’ home high-water mark along with a 6-1 win over Pittsburgh back in late April.
Fresh off winning their tenth in a row last night in the series opener, the Cubs were made to take the place of the Rangers in run production misery. It was like watching two teams swapping fates akin to a zany ‘80s comedy where a straight laced nerd wakes up in the body of a charming popular kid.
It was an odd game in many respects as the Cubs wore down Rangers starter Jack Leiter with five walks and had him out of the game after 97 pitches and just 4 2/3 innings but they still came away with nothing to show for it.
Meanwhile, for Texas, several unlikely sources picked tonight to contribute. The top of the lineup went 0-for-11 with a walk but the bottom four produced six hits and five of the six RBIs.
As the Rangers sent the Cubs to the loss column for the first time in eleven games, they’ve earned a much-needed win and have a shot to claim the series in Sunday’s finale.
Player of the Game: Josh Jung had three more hits, including a home run. Alejandro Osuna had two hits and drove in two. Joc Pederson doubled and drove in a run.
But, No. 9 hitter Justin Foscue laced a solo home run for the first of his big league career. Foscue has notably had a pretty miserable go of it in the majors in a few stints over the last few seasons, so getting that first home run was special for the former first-rounder.
Congratulations, Justin!
Up Next: The Rangers close out this series and this treacherous 40-game stretch to begin the season with RHP Jacob deGrom expected to pitch for Texas against RHP James Taillon for Chicago.
The Sunday afternoon Mother’s Day finale from The Shed is scheduled for 1:35 pm CDT and will be aired on the Rangers Sports Network.
