Tuesday newsletter time: Rangers’ winning formula includes no home runs, one robbery
(AP photo/Tony Gutierrez)
ARLINGTON — So, Brad Miller, did you happen to see the exit velocity on your game-winning hit Monday night?
“What was it, 12?” he said. “I don’t know. Fifty?
His opposite-field chopper against the Astros’ drawn-in infield traveled at 66 mph, but it looks like a line drive in the box score that shows Rangers 5, Astros 3 at Globe Life Field.
Miller drove in the second run in the Rangers’ three-run eighth inning that erased a 3-2 deficit. The inning was made possible by stolen bases by Charlie Culberson and Ezequiel Duran, and all five of the Rangers’ runs were scored without a home run.
In an age when the home run is king, manufacturing three runs is like seeing a unicorn.
“It would have been a lot easier if we’d hit a home run,” Miller said. “A lot of good stuff. Not necessarily the big flashy stuff, but a lot of just solid, just finding a way to beat the other team.”
The Astros didn’t hit a home run either, thanks to Adolis Garcia. Now playing right field with Leody Taveras recalled, Garcia reached above the right-field wall and with just a little hop robbed Yordan Alvarez of a two-run homer and kept the Rangers’ deficit at 3-1.
While Taveras made several nice plays, including one to end the game, the Garcia catch won the game.
“It was like nothing for him,” manager Chris Woodward said. “That, obviously, was a huge play in the game. It kept the score where it was. It gave us a chance if we could scratch a run across and be within a run.”
Concern for White
No one feels worse about the outfield collision Sunday in Chicago than Eli White, who broke his right wrist and will undergo surgery today. He will have no baseball activities for six weeks and then will likely need another month before he can return from the injured list.
Besides White, though, no one feels worse about the collision than fellow collidee Charlie Culberson. He lost Danny Mendick’s flyball in the sun and was pulling up to get out of the way when White dived into him.
“I just feel bad for Eli,” said Culberson, who was uninjured. “I’ve been on that side of the ball. It’s unfortunate when it happens between you and a teammate.”
Culberson put a different spin on things: It could have been worse. He thought it was worse when it initially happened.
“I thought head, neck and shoulder, and he said he couldn’t move his wrist,” Culberson recalled.
The two spoke Monday morning, and Culberson said that White was up and moving around and, all things considered, in good spirits.
White was at the game Monday, but wasn’t particularly chatty. Hard to blame him. He was placed on the 10-day injured list and will likely be transferred to the 60-day IL when a spot on the 40-man roster is needed.
That could be within a week with reliever Jose Leclerc (elbow) nearing the end of his rehab assignment with Triple A Round Rock.
Family Fun Tuesday
Looking for a way to entertain the kiddos for a few hours on a Tuesday? The Rangers have you covered.
All remaining Tuesday home games are Family Fun Tuesday. Fans can purchase select tickets for 50 percent off with the code COKE50. Parking in Sienna Lot M can be had for $15, either by purchasing it in advance online or upon arrival (subject to availability).
Fans can also find a family pack of food and soft drinks for $30. It includes four jumbo hot dogs, four regular sodas and a choice of candy or peanuts. The family pack can be found behind section 233 on the upper concourse.
One more, and this might be burying the lead: Two Rangers players or coaches will be signing custom autograph postcards for fans 13 and under. No individual items will be autographed. The sessions will take place behind section 223 on the upper concourse from 5:15 p.m. until 5:45 p.m.
And the autographs are open to everyone, not just those who take advantage of the COKE50 offer.
See you later tonight.
Doggy video!
It’s funny because it’s true. Enjoy. See you Wednesday.
When you’re over 40 and the movie starts.. 😅 pic.twitter.com/do1MqHD5UP
— Buitengebieden (@buitengebieden) June 13, 2022
Jeff Wilson, jeff@rangerstoday.com
