Thursday newsletter time: Rangers drop fourth straight, this time with their stopper on the mound
(AP photo/Tony Gutierrez)
ARLINGTON — Something wasn’t right Wednesday afternoon with left-hander Martin Perez.
The All-Star allowed five runs on nine hits in five innings as the Rangers fell again to the Astros, 5-3, a fourth straight loss to finish a short five-game homestand.
Interim manager Tony Beasley was watching the same thing as the rest of us. The Astros weren’t missing many pitches, they were taking a lot of close pitches, and Perez was uncomfortable on the mound because he and backup catcher Meibrys Viloria were not in sync.
That was only their second pairing of the season. The first came a few weeks ago when Perez walked five in six innings and allowed three runs (one earned). Perez walked four Wednesday, including two with two outs in the fourth inning.
The Astros scored two to make the score 5-2. With they kind of pitching Houston has, that was two runs too many.
Nate Lowe, the reigning American League Player of the Week, went 2 for 2 with an RBI and walked twice to close out the best month of his career. He finished August with a .389/.450/.648 slash, seven home runs, 21 RBIs and an MLB-leading 42 hits — numbers that make him a strong candidate to be AL Player of the Month.
His average on the season climbed to .301.
Marcus Semien stole his 20th base of the season to join Adolis Garcia as the only teammates in the majors with 20 homers and 20 steals this season.
But it was another loss ahead of a seven-game road trip to Boston and the Rangers’ house of horrors, Minute Maid Park in Houston.
Yikes.
Call-ups coming
The Rangers left for Boston on Wednesday evening without the two players they are planning to call up as rosters expanded today by two.
The Rangers know who they are, one position player and one pitcher. One of them was expected to play for Triple A Round Rock on Wednesday night.
Yes, Josh Jung was in the lineup at third base. So was catcher Sam Huff, though at DH, and left fielder Nick Solak and center fielder Josh Smith. Yerry Rodriguez was the starting pitcher for Round Rock, which seems like a good way for him to get in his work and get his bags packed. Of course, he probably won’t be ready to pitch until Saturday, and that might not help his cause.
The guess here is Huff and Rodriguez. I’m guessing some of you hope I’m wrong on Huff, and I forgive you.
ICYMI …
A four-game losing streak can happen just like that, and things had been going so well, too. That’s Rangers baseball, at least the past few seasons. They can happen even faster with two sick kids at home. Fortunately, all tests were negative and we’re free to roam about the country. The work continued, though, the fruits of which will be seen this weekend in most cases. For instance, general manager Chris Young will be the guest on this 50th edition of the Rangers Today Baseball Podcast (subscribe). Until then, here’s our latest in case you missed it.
Rangers farm report: Look who’s rebounding at Frisco
The Sunday Read: Bubba Thompson going old school?
Friday on the Farm: The underrated Luisangel Acuna
Doggy video!
He was this close, but a fine recovery. Enjoy. See you Friday.
— Heckin Good Dogs (@HeckinGoodDogs) August 30, 2022
Jeff Wilson, jeff@rangerstoday.com
