Rangers 3, Angels 1
Rangers 3, Angels 1
- Was not expecting that from Patrick Corbin.
- One run allowed in 5.1 IP for Corbin in his second start of the season, six Ks, just one walk.
- Through five Corbin had faced just one above the minimum, thanks in part to Jonah Heim picking off Travis d’Arnaud at first base in the second and the defense turning a 5-4-3 double play in the third.
- The Angels finally did a little damage in the sixth, when there was a single-double-single sequence with one out that brought a run home and prompted Bruce Bochy to bring Shawn Armstrong into the game. Armstrong stranded the runners, leaving Corbin with a nice looking final line.
- Even the one run that the Angels scored was almost not a run. Luis Rengifo hit a ball deep into the hole at shortstop that Corey Seager fielded. He was not going to get Rengifo at first, so he threw home instead, with the home plate ump ruling that Kevin Newman beat the tag. I thought that the call might be challenged, but it wasn’t. Alas.
- The surprisingly effective Rangers bullpen was effective once again, with Armstrong recording four outs, Jacob Webb recording four outs, and Luke Jackson needing just nine pitches to get the save in the ninth.
- Meanwhile, the offense actually had a better performance than the three runs would suggest. The Rangers had 11 hits on the day, along with two walks, putting a lot more traffic on the bases than we’ve tended to see in recent days. From a going-forward perspective, I’m more encouraged by a bunch of hits and just three runs than I would be with, say, five runs on six hits.
- All three runs came in the second inning. Dustin Harris had a one out ground rule double, then scored on Jake Burger’s single. A walk to Jonah Heim, a fielder’s choice by Leody Taveras, and a Marcus Semien walk loaded the bases for Corey Seager, who sent an 0-1 pitch into center field for a two runs single.
- Seager and Burger each had three hits, and for Burger, in particular, that had to be encouraging. One of Burger’s hits was one of weakly hit infield variety, but when you’ve been struggling like he has to start the season, you will take what you can get.
- Marcus Semien, another guy who has been struggling, had a hit and a walk, along with a rocket of a ball that went for an error, though I tend to think that if you hit the ball at least 110 mph, like Semien did, and the fielder doesn’t make a play on it, you should get credit for a hit.
- On the negative side, Joc Pederson was 0 for 3. He is now 0 for his last 32.
- Patrick Corbin hit 92.4 mph with his fastball. Shawn Armstrong’s sinker touched 95.1 mph. Jacob Webb’s fastball topped out at 94.0 mph. Luke Jackson threw one fastball that was 95.0 mph.
- Jake Burger had a 112.7 mph single. Marcus Semien had a 110.0 reached on E6 and a 102.2 mph fly out. Corey Seager had a 108.9 mph fly out and a 103.4 mph single. Joc Pederson had a lineout at 105.7 mph. Adolis Garcia had a 103.3 mph fly out, a 100.2 mph GIDP and a 100.1 mph double. Dustin Harris had a 102.6 mph double. Leody Taveras had a 101.2 mph single.
- Now let’s finish off the sweep on Thursday.