Riding on a three-game win streak, the Rangers opened up a three-game series against the reeling birds of Baltimore Tuesday. The Orioles come into Arlington riding the lowest winning percentage in MLB (.305). However, the night went the Orioles way as they blasted through the Rangers 12-11, despite an amazing ninth inning comeback.
"WE WILL NOT GO QUIETLY INTO THE NIGHT!
The @Rangers are clawing back in the 9th and still have 0 outs!#TogetherWe pic.twitter.com/CLTnigfG3t
— FOX Sports Southwest (@FOXSportsSW) June 5, 2019
The Orioles belted five home runs on Tuesday. In the first inning, Dwight Smith Jr. and Pedro Severino went deep, and in the fourth, Keon Broxton took Drew Smyly yard. Severino followed with his second home run in the seventh inning, and he wasn’t finished after that. In the top of the ninth, Pedro took Brett Martin deep for his third home run of the night. It was his first multi-homer game in his career.
The Rangers countered with a Shin-Soo Choo homer (career number 200) in the first inning. The Orioles’ Dwight Smith Jr. set a career-high driving in six runs. DeShields racked up a couple of base hits and a stolen base on Tuesday. It was his first start since his recall due to the Joey Gallo injury. The Rangers made it really interesting in the ninth with a two run double by Cabrera, an Odor RBI single, a two run double by Forsythe, and an infield RBI single by Choo crawled the club within one. However, the game ended on an Elvis Andrus strikeout that nearly escaped catcher Pedro Severino.
💯 x 2 pic.twitter.com/1IQv8edZLp
— Texas Rangers (@Rangers) June 5, 2019
Drew Smyly’s outing was subpar at best. Smyly recorded ten outs, allowed eight hits, seven runs, and walked two. David Carpenter made his Rangers debut and finished the fourth inning. However, Carpenter allowed two runs and two walks capping a second four-run inning for Baltimore (4th inning). Shelby Miller pitched a solid fifth and sixth but allowed a two-run home run in the seventh inning.
One bright spot was Nomar Mazara adding to his hot streak. Maz went one for three on Tuesday, going 13 for his last 31 (.419). His base hit was to the opposite field in the first, and he drove a fly ball to deep right field in the third inning. In addition, Nomar walked in his last two at-bats to add to his on-base total.
I inquired to Chris Woodward about the recent success of Nomar Mazara. “He’s been on time, we had a conversation with him, and our hitting coaches have had conversations with him all the time, you have to be on time better. It’s not so much a swing thing, but a timing thing.” Woody added, “When he’s on time, he can do a lot of damage. It doesn’t matter the pitcher or the tempo of the pitcher, he’s learning how to sync up that timing with different pitchers. That’s the key for long term success.”
The Rangers and Orioles square off on Wednesday at 7:05, with a special ceremonial first pitch by Dallas Mavericks great, Dirk Nowitzki. The Rangers send their ace, Mike Minor (5-4, 2.74). The Orioles counter with John Means (5-4, 2.80).
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