Rangers 3, Braves 1
ARLINGTON, Texas, Apr 30 — The Texas Rangers made their triumphant return to the win column on Saturday night against the Atlanta Braves. In their second game of three against Atlanta, they were able to gain a little bit of respectability against the 2021 World Series champions. The final score of Saturday’s game was 3–1. Rangers’ manager Chris Woodward has to have a feeling of relief about him right now. It is certainly needed by him, and his players. This was a quick one as well. The official time of the game was two hours, and 16 minutes. The series finale between these two clubs is on Sunday afternoon. First pitch is scheduled for 1:35 PM Central. Lefty Taylor Hearn (0–2, 7.47 ERA) will take the mound for the Rangers. Atlanta’s starter is still to be determined.
First Time for Everything
For the first time in quite awhile, the Rangers got on the board first on Saturday. They took a 1–0 lead on a Corey Seager home run to right field. Seager’s home run snapped a string of 19 straight games without a first inning run for the Rangers. It seemed like a huge weight had been lifted off of everyone inside Globe Life Field. Then in the bottom of the second inning, a call was reviewed by the Braves on a tag play. The call was eventually overturned. Catcher Sam Huff drove in Zach Reks to make it 2–0 Rangers.
Reks would be in the spotlight once again in the bottom of the fourth inning. He singled on a line drive to right field. This drove in Andy Ibanez, making the score 3–1 in favor of Texas. The base hit was also the first in Zach Reks’ major league career. His first career RBI came on the single as well. He will surely get the ball from that knock to keep in his trophy case. He deserves it.
Braves’ Sluggish Offense
The Braves could only push one run across the dish on Saturday night in Arlington. It came in the top of the 3rd inning. Ronald Acuna Jr. singled on a soft line drive to right field. This brought in Travis Demeritte. Demeritte has to be getting a little winded at this point in the series. He scored the Braves’ only run on Saturday and he also hit an inside the park home run the previous night for Atlanta. That is a lot of running.
Rangers-Braves Pitching Notes
Dane Dunning got the start for the Rangers in this one. At 7 2/3 innings pitched, it became the longest outing in Dunning’s career. He gave up one run, which was earned, on three hits. He didn’t give up any home runs. Dunning also didn’t walk anyone, and he struck out seven on the night. Dennis Santana pitched a third of an inning, and got his out. Then Joe Barlow finished it in the ninth, and got the save for the Rangers. It was his first of the season. Dunning got the win for the Rangers (1–1, 3.81 ERA). Bryce Elder took the losing decision for the Braves (1–3, 4.74 ERA).
Main Photo:
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Players/Managers Mentioned:
Taylor Hearn, Corey Seager, Zach Reks, Andy Ibanez, Ronald Acuna Jr., Travis Demeritte, Dane Dunning, Dennis Santana, Joe Barlow, Bryce Elder, Chris Woodward, Sam Huff
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