ARLINGTON, Texas — Jacob Latz struck out Andruw Monasterio with the bases loaded in the eighth inning Tuesday night. He then pitched the ninth to finish the Texas Rangers’ 4-2 win over the Boston Red Sox at Globe Life Field.
It was Latz’s 30th save in 33 chances this season. He pitched 1 2/3 innings and allowed 1 hit and no earned runs, with 1 walk and 3 strikeouts. His ERA dropped to 2.00, and the All-Star has 76 strikeouts in 67 1/3 innings over 54 appearances.
Latz came in with one out in the eighth and two runners aboard. Robert Garcia had allowed a pinch-hit single to Jahmai Jones and a walk. Latz intentionally walked Trevor Story. Monasterio then pinch-hit for Jarren Duran and struck out with Texas ahead by two.
Latz said he left one pitch to Monasterio down in the zone, where Monasterio does damage.
“We needed to trust the fastball,” Latz said. “And that one I had down in the zone where he does hit it. Almost [paid] for it. Luckily, he didn’t. We got out of some big jams tonight, all night. And just a great, great team win right there.”
Jacob Latz Piles Up Multi-Inning Saves For The Texas Rangers
Since Aug. 7, Latz is 9-for-9 in save chances, MLB.com reported. His 13 saves of 1 1/3 innings or more lead the majors. No Rangers reliever had recorded that many saves of four outs or more in a season since Tom Henke in 1993. Henke, a two-time All-Star, finished his career with 311 saves.
Three outs or six, Latz takes whatever he is asked to get.
“Just riding the wave and going out there trying to get three, six outs, whatever is being asked, and then thinking about that stuff after the fact,” Latz explained. “So, yeah, just really not thinking about numbers and just trying to get outs.”
Rangers manager Skip Schumaker said Latz came close to a clean ninth after the escape in the eighth.
“Jacob Latz, I mean, just stopping the bleeding in the eighth inning and then getting a clean ninth or almost a clean ninth,” Schumaker said. “… But Jacob Latz was enormous getting out of that bases-loaded threat.”
Texas Rangers Open Final Homestand With 11 Games Left
Tuesday opened a nine-game homestand. At 75-76, Texas is one game behind the Houston Astros in the American League West, and Houston holds the tiebreaker. The Rangers are 1 1/2 games behind the Cleveland Guardians for the third and final American League wild card.
Latz said the Rangers have been talking for a while about what is in front of them.
“We’re at the right time here,” Latz said. “We know what’s in front of us. We’ve been saying that for a while, and it’s crunch time, and we’re up for the challenge.”
MacKenzie Gore (8-11, 4.62 ERA) starts Wednesday against Red Sox rookie left-hander Jake Bennett (9-7, 3.69 ERA). First pitch is 7:05 p.m. CT on Rangers Sports Network.
