Joey Gallo entered Thursday’s contests as the only player undefeated throughout the tournament. However, the competition became more challenging on Thursday. Following Joey in the standings were Bo Bichette and Gavin Lux, both whom Gallo was scheduled to play in the meat of the night. In sixteen games combined, Lux and Bichette had struck out a total of one time, so the pitching and defense would be a challenge for Joey. Coming into Thursday’s action, Gallo leads the players’ league in home runs with twenty-four as a team, and fifty-seven total runs scored. Joey added nineteen more runs with ten more home runs on the night. Although the undefeated streak ended, Joey still completed a positive 3-1 on the night.

Game 9: Marlins (Ryan Stanek) at Rangers (Joey Gallo)

Joey started the game sending out Lance Lynn and wearing the clean white jerseys while Stanek went with the black uniforms in the first game of the night. It was a quick first inning for both players had runners on base. However, both players hit into inning-ending double plays. In the second, two defensive miscues loaded the bases for Stanek with nobody out. Finally, Gallo got out of the inning without any damage. The inning ended thanks to a cannon arm by Danny Santana. Joey showed some frustration during the game with the struggling defense. “That’s odd, having The Show have my guys commit errors,” said Gallo after a Todd Frazier miscue. Joey took the lead in the second after a dropped flyball in left field that scored two runs with some “interesting” baserunning. Jose Leclerc finished with a one-two-three inning retiring the Marlins to close out a 2-0 victory.

Game 10: Rangers (Joey Gallo) at Blue Jays (Bo Bichette)

After a long and lengthy delay for Joey (with some entertaining commentary), Joey and Bo finally commenced with the match of the night. Joey started it with a bang with a two-run home run from Danny Santana and took a quick 2-0 lead in the first inning. Joey added four more in the first, including a walk of Corey Kluber to complete the first inning statement. Bichette’s team had an ERA of 4.24 coming into the night (2nd best in the Players League). Bichette added an answer run, but a big double play ended any further damage. After a scoreless top of the second, Bichette added two more off a Randal Grichuk 2-run home run but left a runner in scoring position. Bo retired Joey in order in the third as it came down to Jose Leclerc in the bottom of the third inning. Bichette got the first two guys on base and scored a run with one-out, but Joey closed out the game on a near high throw form Todd Frazier. Joey got out of a tight game with another win. It certainly had the intensity of a real Rangers game.

Spoiler alert: He got 'em. pic.twitter.com/IjE1telCKG

— Texas Rangers (@Rangers) April 17, 2020

Game 11: Dodgers (Gavin Lux) at Rangers (Joey Gallo)

Joey went with Corey Kluber again in this game (also went with Kluber against Bichette), but it didn’t work out as well against Lux. Justin Turner hit a quick two-run home run followed by another two-run home run by Joc Pederson. Gavin retired the Rangers in order in the first inning. In the bottom of the second, Joey got a run back on another Willie Calhoun home run. Ronald Guzman tacked on another run to cut the deficit to a two-run game, but a double play ended any further threat. Lux added a run with two hits and two hit-by-pitches but ran himself out of the inning. Joey cut the lead to one run on another Willie Calhoun home run (who overtook the lead on the team of HRs with seven). However, he came up short as Lux closed the game and handed Joey Gallo his first loss of the tournament.

Game 12: Rangers (Joey Gallo) at Indians (Carlos Santana)

Gallo ran out with some sick jerseys and started the game with back-to-back-to-back jacks from himself, Willie Calhoun, and Robinson Chirinos. Joey added another homer from Rougned Odor to put a five-spot in the first inning. Carlos made Lance Lynn work in the first with twenty-five pitches (two walks), but Joey escaped the inning scoreless. In the third inning, Joey went back-to-back with again Willie and Chirinos. Willie’s second home run put him at nine of the tournament, which leads the Rangers team. In all, Gallo hit six home runs in the game and committed an error with himself in right field. “We’re just going to say the sun got in my eyes. I’ll take myself out.” said a baffled Gallo after the dropped fly ball. Santana erased the goose egg with a three-run third inning, but Joey’s lead was too much and finished the game strong, 7-3.

Here’s a clip of the Joey Gallo “glitch” error in the second inning.

In this tournament, @JoeyGallo24 has hit 9 home runs with @11WillieCalhoun in 12 games (leads the team, he's hit 7 with himself). So yea, Willie can rake in the Show (and on the real field as well) #Rangers @Rangers

— Alex Plinck (@aplinckTX) April 17, 2020

Joey remains at the top of the Players’ League standings despite the first loss with Lux’s loss to Blake Snell. Gallo’s next set of games begins Sunday at 8 PM CT. This string of games begins against TCU alum, Matt Carpenter of the St. Louis Cardinals. Also, Gallo faces Dwight Smith Jr. of the Orioles, Niko Goodrum of the Tigers, and David Dahl of the Rockies. The Players’ League page provided the playoff format once the regular season concludes. The top eight players make the postseason where the first two rounds are a best of three games. In the Championship Round, the top two players will go head-to-head in a best of five series. You can follow along with standings, scores, and other information at MLB.com/playersleague.

 

Here’s how Joey’s four game sweep on day one turned out.
Check out how Joey responded on his second night of action.