Texas scores early and often in victory
The Texas Rangers scored eight runs while the Atlanta Braves scored three runs.
After a heaping helping of consternation for much of the season, July has been a brand new story for the Rangers. With a July record of 13-6 and a post-All-Star break tally of 6-1, Texas is writing a winning chapter.
The wave of success has helped the club climb back in the race as they’ve reached four games above .500 for the first time since they were 15-11 back on Apr 25.
To accomplish this latest victory, they needed a gutsy performance from tonight’s starter Nathan Eovaldi in his first start of the second half. After missing the finale in the series against the Tigers with a balky back, Eovaldi returned and tossed five shutout innings but with traffic to navigate through during his 86 pitches.
Eovaldi lived up to his bulldog reputation as, though he walked four and allowed three base hits, he also struck out seven and kept Atlanta stymied in RISP situations. For his effort, the Peagle empowered right-hander lowered his season ERA to a miniscule 1.50 while picking up his eighth win of the season.
Eovaldi was a winner thanks to the Rangers cashing in on their opportunities with big extra base hits in multiple different scoring frames before they put the game to bed late.
The bats produced a run in each of the first, second, fourth, and fifth innings, before the big inning finally appeared with a four-run eighth. Jonah Heim, Wyatt Langford, and Sam Haggerty each drove in a run via the three extra base hits that Texas produced on the night. Heim’s came via his ninth dinger of the year, a solo shot in the second inning.
Player of the Game: Haggerty deserves his flowers for a two-hit night with a double, a run driven in, and the game’s first run which he manufactured when he followed a single with a stolen base that saw him reach third base on a throwing error.
Up Next: The Rangers and Braves are back at it tomorrow with RHP Kumar Rocker set to make the start for Texas against RHP Grant Holmes for Atlanta.
The Saturday evening first pitch from The Shed is set for 6:05 pm CT and will be shown back on the Rangers Sports Network.