The Texas Rangers were back in Arlington to host the Detroit Tigers in a three-game set at Globe Life Field from Monday to Wednesday. Here’s my Rangers vs. Tigers series recap for your information.
Monday, June 3
The Rangers struck first but ultimately dropped a 2-1 decision to the Tigers in Monday’s series opener on Bark at the Park night, where fans brought their dogs to the ballpark in Arlington. Texas fell to 29-31, while Detroit improved to 30-30. Rangers starting pitcher Nathan Eovaldi pitched 5 2/3 innings and gave up three hits, one earned run, and seven strikeouts. Meanwhile, Tigers starting pitcher Tarik Skubal pitched six innings and gave up seven hits, one earned run, two walks, and six strikeouts. Before the ballgame, Texas Rangers Today’s Jeff Wilson announced Rangers manager Bruce Bochy wouldn’t manage the team on Monday night due to a previously scheduled personal matter. Will Venable filled in for Bochy, but the final result went on Bochy’s record. The Rangers wasted no time getting on the board. Marcus Semien homered on a fly ball to left field for an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. The Tigers responded to the Rangers’ first-inning run. Jake Rogers homered on a fly ball to left field to tie the game 1-1 in the top of the third inning. The Tigers took the lead and never looked back. Jake Rogers homered on a fly ball to left field to make it a 2-1 game in the top of the eighth inning. The Rangers fell to the Tigers 2-1 after nine innings. For Texas, Leody Taveras went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts. And, for Detroit, Beau Brieske pitched three innings and gave up four strikeouts.
Tuesday, June 4
The Rangers dropped game two against the Tigers 3-1. Texas fell to 29-32, while Detroit improved to 31-30. Before the ballgame, Texas Rangers Today’s Jeff Wilson reported rookie outfielder Evan Carter will be out of the Rangers’ lineup longer than expected, and veteran pitcher Max Scherzer threw two 20-pitch innings of live batting practice and said he hopes his next step is a rehab assignment. Rangers starting pitcher Dane Dunning pitched five innings and gave up four hits, three earned runs, one walk, and four strikeouts. Meanwhile, Tigers starting pitcher Jack Flaherty pitched five innings and gave up two hits and four strikeouts. After a scoreless inning, Detroit got on the board. Zach McKinstry homered on a fly ball to right field. Colt Keith scored for a 2-0 lead in the top of the second inning. The Tigers tacked on a run. Riley Greene homered on a fly ball to right field for a 3-0 lead in the top of the fifth inning. The Rangers finally got on the board, but it was too little, too late. Ezequiel Duran singled on a fly ball to Riley Greene. Josh Smith cut the Tigers’ lead to 3-1 in the bottom of the ninth inning. The Rangers lost to the Tigers 3-1 after nine innings. For Texas, Wyatt Langford went 0-for-3 with one walk. And, for Detroit, Jason Foley pitched 1/3 inning.
Wednesday, June 5
The Rangers tried to avoid a three-game sweep against the Tigers in the rubber match, and they did in a 9-1 blowout. Texas improved to 30-32, while Detroit fell to 31-31. Detroit won the series 2-1. Before the ballgame, Texas wished veteran pitcher Andrew Heaney a Happy 33rd Birthday. Heaney was born on June 5, 1991, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and played college baseball at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Starting pitcher Jose Urena of the Rangers pitched the game of his life in the series finale. Not only did he pitch five perfect innings, he gave up only one home run and one walk before he retired after 6.2 innings. He also recorded his 600th career strikeout. Meanwhile, Tigers starting pitcher Joey Wentz pitched 2 2/3 innings and gave up four hits, three earned runs, four walks, and two strikeouts. After a scoreless inning, Texas got on the board. Corey Seager singled on a ground ball to Riley Greene. Travis Jankowski scored for a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning. Marcus Semien went to third base. Seager reportedly suffered left hamstring tightness. The star shortstop missed 31 games last year with a left hamstring injury. The Rangers tacked on four runs. Josh Smith homered on a fly ball to right field for a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the third inning. Jonah Heim homered on a fly ball to right field. Nathaniel Lowe scored to make it a 4-0 game in the inning. The Tigers finally got on the board. Justyn Henry-Malloy homered on a fly ball to left center field to cut the Rangers’ lead to 4-1 in the top of the sixth inning. The Rangers tacked on two runs. Ezequiel Duran reached on a fielding error by Colt Keith. Jonah Heim scored for a 5-1 lead in the bottom of the sixth inning. Marcus Semien went to third base. Josh Smith singled on a sharp line drive to Matt Vierling. Semien scored to make it a 6-1 game in the inning. Duran went to second base. The Rangers tacked on three runs. Ezequiel Duran singled on a ground ball to Matt Vierling. Leody Taveras scored for a 7-1 lead in the bottom of the eighth inning. Marcus Semien went to second base. Josh Smith reached on a fielder’s choice fielded by Mark Canha. Semien scored to make it an 8-1 game. Ezequiel Duran went to second base on a throwing error by Canha. Nathaniel Lowe singled on a ground ball to Matt Vierling. Duran scored to extend the lead to 9-1 in the inning. Smith went to second base. The Rangers beat the Tigers 9-1 after nine innings. For Texas, Kirby Yates pitched one inning and gave up two strikeouts. And, for Detroit, Andy Ibanez went 0-or-1 with one strikeout.
Up Next
The Rangers will continue their homestand with a three-game set against the San Francisco Giants starting Friday at 7:05 p.m. Central.
