Rangers 4, Nationals 2
Rangers 4, Nationals 2
- Two in a row.
- Texas rotation is on such a heater even Jacob Latz had a good start.
- Latz got to head up a bullpen game, necessitated by Kumar Rocker getting sent down, and did surprisingly well. 3.1 innings, 7 — count ‘em, 7 — strikeouts, just two walks. He faced the minimum through three, with a first inning walk and erased on a GIDP and a third inning single erased on a strike-em-out-throw-em-out double play.
- In the fourth he gave up a leadoff homer, fanned his 7th batter, and then walked Amed Rosario, after which a finger issue resulted in his being lifted for Jacob Webb. Rosario ended up scoring, and so Latz gave up two runs in 3.1 innings, and so yeah, you can say that’s not a good start, but I’m sticking with he had a good start.
- The Jacobs Webb and Latz both pitching in a game, along with Hoby Milner and Shawn Armstrong, is usually not a good sign. And yet, the Nats were kept off the board after the fourth, and Robert Garcia got a four out save.
- Offensively, there were just four runs scored by the Rangers, which isn’t great but which sufficed for the win. More positively though there were 11 hits, including three doubles and two triples. From a process standpoint, that’s tres encouraging.
- Particularly given that Evan Carter and Jake Burger, two bats that the Rangers really need to get production of going forward, each were a triple shy of a cycle.
- And Marcus Semien continued his recent hot streak with a single and a double. Maybe he’s not dead just yet?
- Jacob Latz’s fastball topped out at 95.8 mph, averaging 94.5 mph. Jacob Webb hit 95.0 mph with his fastball. Hoby Milner’s sinker topped out at 88.5 mph. Shawn Armstrong touched 96.1 mph with his sinker. Robert Garcia’s fastball maxed out at 94.7 mph.
- Josh Jung had a 111.2 mph ground out. Sam Haggerty had a 104.0 mph single and reached on an error that was 109.6 mph. Evan Carter had a 106.0 mph double and a 100.2 mph homer. Josh Smith had a 104.7 mph double. Jake Burger had a 104.5 mph home run.
- Monday is an off day, so we get to enjoy this W twice as long.