SEATTLE — Texas Rangers manager Skip Schumaker emptied his bullpen and his bench to win Sunday, and he said on Rangers Sports Network that the off day which followed was as much about recovery as the win was about momentum.
Riding Sunday’s result into the next day was one side of it for Schumaker.
“I think there’s a number of ways to think about it. That was arguably our best win of the year. And so you kind of want to ride that momentum into the next day,” Schumaker said. “However, when you use your entire bullpen and everyone on your roster, having an off day to kind of give your body a break and your mind a break is also essential. So I think it’s a combination of things.”
“I know those guys are excited. We have 18 left to get this thing going against a really good Seattle team on the road, which we have to figure out, obviously,” Schumaker continued. “And so it’s a good vibe so far, and hopefully we can carry that into the game tonight.”
Six pitchers worked Sunday’s 8-6 win over the Tampa Bay Rays at Globe Life Field. MacKenzie Gore started and allowed 5 runs on 7 hits over 3 innings with 2 walks and 1 strikeout. Jacob Latz, Chase Silseth, and Tyler Alexander each worked an inning. Trevor Williams threw 2 scoreless innings on 30 pitches for the win, and Jakob Junis retired the side in the ninth for the save.
The Texas Rangers Trailed 4-1 After Two Innings Sunday
Texas trailed 4-1 after two innings, scored four in the fourth and two in the fifth, and added a run in the eighth. Jake Burger homered twice and drove in 3 runs. Corey Seager homered. Ezequiel Duran went 3-for-5.
The Rangers took Monday off and flew to Seattle.
Robert Garcia’s Activation Added A Left-Handed Arm
Schumaker said the front office and the pitching coaches made the Robert Garcia call, and that health alone was not the bar.
“I think it’s a front office decision and a combination of talking with our pitching coaches. It’s just kind of time to go,” Schumaker explained. “We’re 18 games left. We’re at a time where if you’re healthy and we can use you, we’re going to, we need you active. And I think that’s kind of where we’re at with Robert. He had one good outing. The velo, everything was where we wanted it. And we felt like he could be a useful option in a winning game.”
Texas reinstated Garcia from the 60-day injured list Monday and optioned right-hander Ben Peoples to Triple-A Round Rock.
On Saturday night at Dell Diamond, in the only game of that assignment, Garcia allowed a leadoff single and retired the next three, striking out two. He threw 16 pitches, 10 of them for strikes.
April 16 at the Athletics was Garcia’s most recent major league appearance. Through nine appearances before the injury he was 0-1 with a 3.38 ERA, allowing 5 hits and 3 earned runs over 8 innings with 7 walks and 6 strikeouts. No left-handed hitter has a hit against him this season in 13 at-bats.
Rosters expanded from 26 players to 28 on Sept. 1, with the pitcher limit rising from 13 to 14. The Rangers carried nine relievers into Seattle, six of them left-handed.
Nathan Eovaldi threw a live batting practice session of about 30 pitches Tuesday. Schumaker said a bullpen or opener role is among the options being discussed for him.
Texas opened the trip at 71-73 with 18 games left, two games behind the Houston Astros in the American League West and two games out of the third American League wild card spot. The Rangers are 31-41 on the road this season.
Cal Quantrill started the series opener against the Seattle Mariners on Tuesday night at T-Mobile Park. Cody Bradford follows Wednesday and Jacob deGrom takes the finale Thursday, both at 3:10 p.m. CT on Rangers Sports Network. The Rangers open a three-game series at the Arizona Diamondbacks on Friday.
