Exactly one month after the final fireworks fizzled out to celebrate Independence Day, the Rangers’ offensive fireworks also disappeared against the Baltimore Orioles in a 3-1 win on Saturday.
It’s not that you expected the Rangers to maintain averaging 14 runs per game as they did in the first two games of the series, but it was probably a safe bet that the bats wouldn’t cool off against Dylan Bundy, a guy who has allowed the most home runs in MLB this season.
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Bundy had allowed 26 homers coming into Saturday, tied with Jakob Junis of the Kansas City Royals (next two names on the list are Bartolo Colon with 24 and Cole Hamels with 23, but I digress). In a way, Bundy had really had sole possession because his three home runs allowed against the Boston Red Sox in a washout a couple of weeks ago aren’t factored in.
The offense overall may have cooled against Bundy, but the primary heroes of the series stayed hot with Joey Gallo and Rougned Odor going yard for the third straight game.
“Both of them are swinging the bat very well, seeing the baseball very well,” manager Jeff Banister said. “Obviously, Odor has been on a stretch where he’s seeing the baseball very well, laying off the chase zones, drawing the walks [and] very patient at the plate. Gallo continues to be aggressive in the zone, getting some pitches to drive and when he does, he’s driving them out of the ballpark.”
Since the All-Star break, Odor’s batting average is .418, OBP is .492, slugging percentage is .873 and has an OPS of 1.365. Gallo’s numbers since the break are .244, .382, .733 and 1.115. While the contributions from both were enough, it was thanks in large part to superb performances on the mound. Mike Minor, pitching as well as anybody for the Rangers, went seven innings and allowed just one run in the seventh after six scoreless.
“He filled up the strike zone with all of his pitches,” Banister said. “All the hits were singles, so no real damage against anything.”
It wasn’t anything new for Minor, who has an ERA of 2.50 in his last 18 innings pitched.
“Same thing as the last couple of starts, we’ve just kind of mixed it up with all four pitches instead of the two-pitch mix,” Minor said. “Threw more curveballs, more changeups [and] just mixed it up pretty well.”
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He exited with the Rangers clinging to a 2-1 lead after seven innings. Cory Gearrin got out of the eighth without any damage and after Odor homered in the bottom of the eighth to make it 3-1, the stage was set for the Rangers’ first save opportunity since the departure of Keone Kela on July 30th.
In come, José Leclerc.
Leclerc posted a clean, 11-pitch inning to close things out with a 2.21 ERA to record his first save of the season. It was the first episode of what may be his new permanent role to fill the void left by Kela. Although it was a good start to the post-Kela era, there are some unanswered questions.
“It’s going to be a learning process for Leclerc,” Banister said. “He’s got the stuff; what it feels like, that’s what these young guys go through with the back end when that heart rate has a chance to get elevated.
“How does he get through an inning when he gives up a hit or there’s a ball that’s not played behind him or how he continues to pitch in those situations? Also, does he come in with runners on base in the back end, there’s nobody behind him in that situation. That’s when we’ll evaluate — this kid’s got grit. There’s no doubt about it.”
Leclerc didn’t know when he would be inserted in the game, but he stayed prepared to pitch regardless of what stage of the game his services would be required. His mentality also didn’t waver.
“Just keep doing what I’m doing,” Leclerc said. “Don’t think too much about it, OK, I’m going to be the closer or whatever. Like I throw in the seventh or eighth inning, just doing it.”
The thing for Leclerc is to keep his head out of it, not think too much and just let his arm do all of the talking. He says he’s “super excited” to assume the new role and is confident in his abilities to be effective as the closer.
The guy catching him has little doubt about it as well.
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“Honestly, I’ve seen the same guy that’s been pitching all year for us,” Isiah Kiner-Falefa said. “He’s been doing a great job and he did the same thing, just in a new role. Just goes to show how well he’s been throwing the ball and the confidence he has in himself.
“I’ve seen the same intensity from him that I see every day. He’s a competitor, so no matter what opportunity he gets to be on the mound, he’s going to give you everything he has.”
Notes
Honoring Guerrero: After recently being inducted into the Hall of Fame, the Rangers honored Vladimir Guerrero on the field prior to the game, joined by Adrian Beltre, Pudge Rodriguez and Bartolo Colon. Guerrero just played one season with the Rangers, but it was 2010 during the first leg of back-to-back World Series appearances for Texas. In 152 games, he had 178 hits, 83 runs, 29 home runs and 115 RBIs.
Thank you, @vladguerrero27 and congratulations on your induction into the @baseballhall! pic.twitter.com/7X7he3WcaB
— Texas Rangers (@Rangers) August 5, 2018
Another Ranger streaking: Shin-Soo Choo had his streak watch earlier this season, now it’s Elvis Andrus’ turn. He had a double in the first inning to extend his hit streak to 15 games. That’s the longest active hit streak in the majors and he’s one game shy of matching his career high.
Trumbo hits 1K: There are just some guys that love playing against the Rangers and count Mark Trumbo in that category as well. His 89 career hits against the Rangers are the most against any opponent so it’s fitting that he reached No. 1,000 against Texas in the seventh inning with an RBI single.
Pitching shakeup: The Rangers announced during the game that they have signed RHP Drew Hutchison and he will be thrust into action immediately with a start Sunday in the series finale against the Orioles.
“It’s his day and look, we were able to sign him and all of the reports have been really good,” Banister said. “He’s been throwing the ball well in Triple A so we just felt like keeping him in turn. It also gives us an opportunity to give us a little bit of separation those days and give those starters an extra day of rest also.”
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The new lineup for the next few days is expected to be Hutchison on Sunday, Martin Perez on Monday, Colon on Tuesday and Yovanni Gallardo on Wednesday.
Hutchison will make his first major-league start since Sept. 10, 2016, when he was with the Pirates. Most recently, he was with the Oklahoma City Dodgers and went 3-0 with a 1.22 ERA over his final seven games/starts.
(Top photo of Mike Minor by Andrew Dieb/USA TODAY Sports)
