Wednesday newsletter time: Rangers’ first September win snaps nine-game slide
(AP photo/Eric Christian Smith)
All the Rangers had to do Tuesday night to keep their losing streak from reaching double digits was beat Astros left-hander Framber Valdez and have their bullpen slow down one of the best lineups in baseball.
And that’s what happened.
Baseball, man.
Corey Seager scored the go-ahead run in the seventh inning on a wild pitch from Valdez, and four relievers tossed four scoreless innings in relief of Glenn Otto as the Rangers squeaked out a 4-3 victory for their first win of the month.
The win was the Rangers’ 59th of the season, leaving them one shy of matching their paltry 2021 total.
“It feels good to get in the win column again,” Otto said.
The Astros were the team fumbling the ball Tuesday. Two of the Rangers’ four runs were unearned, which allowed Valdez to extend his streak of quality starts to 23. He hadn’t lost a game since July 9.
Nate Lowe and Leody Taveras collected two hits apiece. The Rangers scored three times in the second inning, including two on a double by Ezequiel Duran.
The game was tied at 3 after five, when interim manager Tony Beasley went to the bullpen. Left-hander Taylor Hearn (6-7), right-hander Jesus Tinoco, lefty Matt Moore and righty Jose Leclerc finished off the win.
“Each one of those guys came on and did their jobs,” Beasley said.
The Rangers will go for a series win at Minute Maid Park, something they haven’t done since 2018, tonight with rookie lefty Cole Ragans returning from the injured list (calf). The Rangers are off Thursday and Ragans’ innings are being monitored the rest of the way, so don’t be surprised if the bullpen is leaned on.
Worst outfield in baseball?
Move over Oakland Coliseum. Minute Maid Park has replaced the decrepit ballpark for having the most beat up outfield in baseball.
Oakland’s was always bad until a couple years ago because the stadium doubled as the home for the Oakland Raiders. Mount Davis, the massive section of seats in the center field, would be moved onto the outfield grass for football games.
It never looked as bad as Minute Maid Park looks now following two Bad Bunny concerts last week.
The outfield conditions at Minute Maid Park are not great after a Bad Bunny concert was held there pic.twitter.com/vEYtP7T2Iw
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) September 6, 2022
Lady Gaga is coming to Minute Maid Park next week.
The grounds crew will have about three weeks to get the field in playing shape for the postseason. The field as it is now is going to be a national embarrassment for the playoffs TV audience.
It’s already hard enough to grow natural grass at Minute Maid, which has a retractable roof. Remember, there was considerable consternation when the Rangers selected an artificial surface for Globe Life Field over natural grass, which would have been difficult to keep up because of the whole roof thing and because it’s further below ground than Minute Maid.
The Rangers have had no issues rolling in music acts, such as Lady Gaga, during the season. Elton John is coming up at the end of the month.
Rangers win? Yes.
Condor sighting
The Yankees placed first baseman Anthony Rizzo on the injured list and dipped into Triple A to find his replacement.
Ronald Guzman is back in the major leagues.
The former Rangers first baseman was having an OK season at Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, where he was batting .260 with an .823 OPS. He’s also been experimenting with becoming a pitcher.
He hasn’t played in the majors since April 12, 2021, when he tore up his knee while playing left field for the Rangers at Tampa Bay. Should he stick on the Yankees’ roster the rest of the season, he will be in the visitors dugout Oct. 4-6 at Globe Life Field for the final the Rangers’ final series of the season.
Guzman’s defense at first base has been missed, but Lowe has been an upgrade offensively over Guzman, who has a .227 career average.
Doggy video!
The pug was of absolutely no help. Some friend he is. Enjoy. See you Thursday.
That last step is a doozy…😏😂🦮💦 pic.twitter.com/tTTXGPi62F
— Fred Schultz (@FredSchultz35) September 5, 2022
Jeff Wilson, jeff@rangerstoday.com
