Tuesday newsletter time: Judge collects a hit (not No. 62), Rangers get two as Yankees win 3-1
(AP photo/Tony Gutierrez)
ARLINGTON — Rangers Today almost spoke too soon.
Recall that the Monday newsletter opened by saying that the Rangers had reached rock bottom after getting swept by the Angels.
Well …
The Rangers were almost no-hit Monday by Luis Severino and two Yankees relievers in a 3-1 loss at Globe Life Field. The Rangers, who finished with only two hits, were no-hit twice last season at Globe Life Field, including by then-Yankees starter Corey Kluber.
Aaron Judge (1 for 4) didn’t hit one of the two New York homers, leaving him tied with Roger Maris at 61, but Marwin Gonzalez did. At least Gonzalez, who knocked the grounder through Yu Darvish’s legs in 2013 one out away from a perfect game, was booed for popping out to end the eighth inning.
Had he reached, Judge would have batted one more time.
Instead, his next at-bat will come a little after 1 p.m. today in the first inning in Game 1 of a doubleheader. Game 2 starts at 7 p.m., and the regular-season finale is scheduled for 3 p.m. Wednesday.
Josh Jung broke up the Yankees’ no-hitter bid with a one-out single off Miguel Castro in the eighth. Jung’s line drive was just high enough to get over the leap of Yankees shortstop Isiah Kiner-Falefa. Jonah Heim followed with a single, and Jung scored on a Kole Calhoun groundout.
Perez goes sub-3
Left-hander Martin Perez walked five and allowed five hits in six innings, but he allowed only one run as he finished the best season of his career with a 2.89 ERA.
He entered his 32nd start with a 2.93 ERA, but said he wasn’t watching his numbers. Nevertheless, it feels good to have a sub-3.00 ERA.
“I feel really good because every time when I had the ball in my hand I was just trying to win a game and trying to give good moments for my teammates,” Perez said. “I’m really happy with the season. When I started the season, I was just trying to win as many games as I can.”
Perez benefited Monday from five double plays, which helped erase the free passes. He walked 69 batters this season, a number that he would say is too high, but he struck out 169 and logged 196 1/3 innings.
The question now, of course, is if the Rangers will re-sign the All-Star. They badly need starting pitching and have exclusive negotiating rights until five days after the World Series.
It seems like a no-brainer.
Rocker to make debut
Right-hander Kumar Rocker, the Rangers’ first-round draft choice this year (third overall), is the scheduled starter tonight for Surprise in the Arizona Fall League.
The former Vanderbilt star is expected to log two or three innings at Surprise Stadium in his first competitive innings since before the draft. Rocker did not pitch during the full instructional league, throwing only live batting practice.
He logged 20 innings in the independent Atlantic League before the July draft to show scouts that he was healthy after the Mets flunked him on his physical exam in 2021. He underwent what is believe was microscopic surgery, and the Rangers’ medical team signed off on imagery that showed no injuries.
Surprise opened play Monday, and three Rangers played significant roles in an 11-6 victory. Trevor Hauver, part of the Joey Gallo trade, went 2 for 2 with a three-run homer and four RBIs; 2021 second-round pick Aaron Zavala went 2 for 4 with a solo homer; and Luisangel Acuna went 2 for 5 with a double.
Doggy video!
This one folds under questioning. Enjoy. See you Wednesday.
Who made this mess? pic.twitter.com/8HujNEj0hd
— Heckin Good Dogs (@HeckinGoodDogs) September 25, 2022
Jeff Wilson, jeff@rangerstoday.com
