ARLINGTON, Texas — Four Texas Rangers relievers held the Boston Red Sox scoreless over the final 4 innings Tuesday night, five days after the bullpen let a 3-0 lead slip in Seattle. Texas won 4-2 at Globe Life Field.
Chase Silseth allowed 1 hit and struck out 3 in the sixth on 20 pitches. Tyler Alexander retired the side in order in the seventh on 11 pitches.
In the eighth, Robert Garcia recorded one out and allowed a single and a walk. Jacob Latz got the last 5 outs for his 30th save, and he struck out pinch-hitter Andruw Monasterio with the bases loaded to end the eighth.
The bullpen struck out 7. Boston went 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position and left 9 on base.
Silseth’s inning started with the heart of Boston’s order, and Willson Contreras led off. Contreras leads the Red Sox with 26 home runs and came off the injured list Sunday.
“They were really good,” Rangers manager Skip Schumaker said. “I thought Silseth had a great outing, struck out a couple guys, heart of the order with Contreras leading off … Thought he did a fantastic job. Tyler Alexander, another really good outing.”
“Jacob Latz, I mean, just stopping the bleeding in the eighth inning and then getting a clean ninth or almost a clean ninth,” Schumaker continued. “… But Jacob Latz was enormous getting out of that bases-loaded threat. So, yeah, really good job by the entire bullpen.”
Texas Rangers Bullpen Responds After Lost Lead in Seattle
On Thursday at T-Mobile Park, Jacob deGrom left with a 3-0 lead after 6 scoreless innings, and the Seattle Mariners won 4-3. On Monday, Rangers president of baseball operations Chris Young said on 105.3 The Fan’s G-Bag Nation that it was the most painful loss of the season for him.
On Tuesday, deGrom handed the bullpen a 4-2 lead after 5 innings and 92 pitches.
Latz stayed in for the ninth. He pitched 1 2/3 innings and allowed 1 hit and no earned runs, with 1 walk and 3 strikeouts. His 13 saves of 1 1/3 innings or more lead the majors, MLB.com reported.
Boston Red Sox Bullpen Matches Texas Rangers Relievers
In the same Monday segment, Young ranked Boston’s bullpen ahead of its starters.
“It’s a team that can really pitch. Their bullpen is really good. Their starters are solid,” Young said. “We’ve got to jump out and get an early lead.”
Texas led 4-0 after two innings. After that, Brayan Bello, Alec Gamboa, Wyatt Olds, and Jovani Morán held the Rangers scoreless over 5 1/3 innings on 3 hits.
Schumaker said Boston’s relievers matched up every inning.
“But their bullpen, they matched up, it feels like, every inning to try to stop us, and they did,” Schumaker explained. “They did a good job, but four was enough, and our bullpen was equally as good, which was great to see.”
At 75-76, Texas is one game behind the Houston Astros in the American League West. MacKenzie Gore starts Wednesday against Boston at 7:05 p.m. CT on Rangers Sports Network.
