Series Recap: Texas Rangers vs. Tampa Bay Rays 4/1-4/3

The Texas Rangers traveled to St. Petersburg, Florida, to take on the Tampa Bay Rays for a three-game series. The Rangers and Rays matchup is a rematch of the AL Wild Card Series in October 2023. Here’s my Rangers at Rays series recap.

Monday, April 1

The Texas Rangers took on the Tampa Bay Rays on Monday. The Rangers had a fast start, allowed the Rays to get back into the ballgame, started a late scoring streak, and ultimately won 9-3 at Tropicana Field. Texas improved to 3-1, while Tampa Bay fell to 2-3.

Rangers pitcher Dane Dunning pitched 6 1/3 innings and gave up three hits, three earned runs, four walks, and seven strikeouts. In relief, David Robertson pitched 1 2/3 innings and gave up one walk, while Brock Burke pitched one inning and gave up two hits and two strikeouts.

Meanwhile, Rays pitcher Ryan Pepiot pitched 5 2/3 innings and allowed four hits, six earned runs, four walks, and three strikeouts. In relief, Chris Devenski pitched 2 1/3 innings and allowed three hits, one earned run, and one walk, while Phil Maton pitched one inning and allowed one hit, two earned runs, two walks, and one strikeout.

The Rangers wasted little time getting on the board. Texas grabbed a 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning as Josh Jung homered on a fly ball to left field. Both Marcus Semien and Evan Carter scored for a three-run lead. The Rangers scored again until the top of the sixth inning. Texas took a 4-0 lead after Josh Jung singled on a line drive to Jose Siri. Corey Seager scored, while Evan Carter went to third base. The Rangers made it a 5-0 game on a throwing error by Rene Pinto during the top of the sixth inning. Josh Jung stole second base. Evan Carter scored, and Jung went to third base. The Rangers snatched a 6-0 lead when Jared Walsh singled on a line drive to Richie Palacios. Josh Jung scored for a six-run lead in the top of the sixth inning.

The Rays finally got on the board in the bottom of the seventh inning. Richie Palacios homered on a fly ball to right center field to cut the Rangers’ lead to 6-1. The Rays cut the Rangers’ lead in half, 6-3, in the bottom of the seventh inning. Jose Siri homered on a fly ball to left center field. Curtis Mead scored to help the Rays inch closer to the Rangers. The Rangers scored again in the bottom of the eighth inning. Adolis Garcia homered on a fly ball to left field to give the Rangers a 7-3 lead. With the homer, Garcia recorded his 100th career home run. The Rangers extended the lead, just moments after Adolis Garcia got hit by a pitch in the top of the ninth inning. Travis Jankowski scored to extend the Rangers’ lead to 8-3. Corey Seager went to third base, while Evan Carter went to second base. The Rangers expanded their lead to 9-3 in the top of the ninth inning. Josh Smith walked and Corey Seager scored. Evan Carter went to third base, while Adolis Garcia went to second base.

The Rangers won the series opener 9-3 over the Rays. With the win, Texas is now 12-0 in their last 12 road games. The only Rangers’ downside was that an up-and-away fastball hit Josh Jung’s wrist in the ninth inning. Jung suffered a fractured wrist, per Rangers manager Bruce Bochy.

Tuesday, April 2

The Texas Rangers and Tampa Bay Rays met again on Tuesday. The Rangers couldn’t get going from the get-go, and although they scored two runs late in the ballgame, they lost 5-2 to the Rays at Tropicana Field. Texas fell to 3-2, while Tampa Bay improved to 3-3.

Rangers pitcher Andrew Heaney pitched 4 2/3 innings and gave up four hits, one earned run, and seven strikeouts. In relief, Yerry Rodriguez pitched 1 1/3 innings and gave up two hits, two earned runs, and one strikeout, while Jacob Latz pitched two innings and gave up one hit, one walk, and one strikeout.

Meanwhile, Rays pitcher Zach Eflin pitched 6 1/3 innings and gave up five hits, one earned run, one walk, and five strikeouts. In relief, Colin Poche pitched 2/3 innings and gave up one strikeout, Jason Adam pitched one inning and gave up one strikeout, and Pete Fairbanks pitched one inning and gave up two hits, one earned run, one walk, and one strikeout.

After two-and-a-half scoreless innings, Tampa Bay got on the board first. Yandy Diaz singled on a ground ball to Leody Taveras deflected by Andrew Heaney. Jose Caballero scored for a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third inning. The Rays doubled their lead in the bottom of the fifth inning. Randy Arozarena singled on a ground ball to Adolis Garcia. Yandy Diaz scored to make it a 2-0 game. Harold Ramirez went to third base. The Rays quickly extended their lead when Isaac Parades homered on a fly ball to left field. Harold Ramirez and Randy Arozarena scored to extend the Rays’ lead to 5-0 in the bottom of the fifth inning.

The Rangers finally got on the board in the top of the seventh inning. Jonah Heim singled on a fly ball to Amed Rosario. Adolis Garcia scored to cut the Rays’ lead to 5-1. Jared Walsh went to second base. The Rangers added another run in the top of the ninth inning, but it was too little, too late. Jonah Heim singled on a line drive to Jose Siri. Jared Walsh scored to cut the Rays’ lead to 5-2.

The Rangers lost 5-2 to the Rays in game two of the three-game series.

Wednesday, April 3

The Texas Rangers and Tampa Bay Rays wrapped things up with a rubber match on Wednesday. The Rangers defeated the Rays 4-1 at Tropicana Field to win the series 2-1. Texas improved to 4-2, while Tampa Bay fell to 3-4.

Rangers pitcher Nathan Eovaldi pitched seven innings and gave up four hits, one walk, and eight strikeouts. In relief, David Robertson pitched one inning and gave up two hits and one strikeout, while Jose Leclerc pitched one inning and gave up two hits and one earned run.

Meanwhile, Rays pitcher Aaron Civale pitched six innings and gave up four hits, one earned run, two walks, and eight strikeouts. In relief, Shawn Armstrong pitched two innings and gave up one hit and one strikeout, while Garrett Cleavinger pitched one inning and gave up five hits, three earned runs, and one strikeout.

After five scoreless innings, Texas broke the scoreless deadlock. Corey Seager homered on a fly ball to right field for a 1-0 lead in the top of the sixth inning. The Rangers tripled their lead in the top of the ninth inning. Josh Smith singled on a sharp line drive to Jose Siri. Adolis Garcia and Jared Walsh scored to make it a 3-0 game. Smith went to second base. The Rangers added a run. Marcus Semien singled on a ground ball to Jose Caballero. Josh Smith scored to give the Rangers a 4-0 lead in the top of the ninth inning. Leody Taveras went to second base. The Rays finally got on the board in the bottom of the ninth inning. Harold Ramirez singled on a line drive to Travis Jankowski. Isaac Parades scored to cut the Rangers’ lead to 4-1. Richie Palacios went to second base.

The Rangers beat the Rays 4-1 to win the series 2-1.