ARLINGTON, Texas — The Texas Rangers had 4 relievers available for Monday’s game against the Athletics, 2 of them in high-leverage roles, and Jacob deGrom‘s 7 innings meant Texas needed only 2 of them in an 8-1 win at Globe Life Field.
Robby Ahlstrom struck out 2 in a scoreless eighth inning on 14 pitches, 9 of them strikes. Ben Peoples allowed 1 run in the ninth on a leadoff single to Carlos Cortes and a double by Jonah Heim, with Darell Hernaiz driving in the run on a sacrifice fly. Peoples threw 18 pitches, 13 for strikes.
Closer Jacob Latz did not pitch. He has 26 saves in 29 chances and a 1.68 ERA.
Texas had used five relievers a day earlier in Milwaukee, in the last game of a six-game trip.
“It was a good complete team win, something that we’ve hoped for over that road trip,” Rangers manager Skip Schumaker said. “We’ve had some good starts and some tough offensive days, some really good offensive days and some tough starts from a starting pitcher. So for Jacob to go out and do what he did, seven innings of one-hit ball was exactly what we needed. We had four available guys really in the bullpen as well, and two of them were high leverage. So we didn’t want to use anybody, obviously, in a down game. And so whatever the game plan and everything else that he executed was fantastic.”
“The sinker that he was utilizing inside on the righties was really, really good,” Schumaker continued. “It opened up the slider. And then I thought the Díaz getting the first run in after Foscue flying out to shallow right was big. Just for us to get the first run across and then obviously Freeman getting another run right after that was really, really big for the offense as well.”
How The Texas Rangers Used Their Bullpen In Milwaukee
Kumar Rocker threw 86 pitches Sunday and did not finish the fourth inning. Five relievers covered the rest of a 7-4 win at American Family Field: Tyler Alexander, Adam Macko, Jordan Montgomery, Jakob Junis, and Latz, who picked up his 26th save.
Milwaukee had won the first two games of that series. Between the White Sox and the Brewers, Texas went 2-4 on the trip.
Ezequiel Duran and Joc Pederson homered Sunday. Elias Díaz doubled home Cody Freeman in the second inning.
Where The Texas Rangers Bullpen Stands
Nobody on the staff has pitched in more games than Alexander, who has been out there more than 60 times for a 3.47 ERA over 57 innings. Junis is at 2.84 across 44 1/3. Peyton Gray has a 3.83 ERA in 54 innings. Cole Winn‘s sits at 5.63 in 48.
Chase Silseth has a 3.18 ERA in 11 1/3 innings since arriving from the Los Angeles Angels in late July. Texas acquired him in the same deal that brought catcher Logan O’Hoppe to the Rangers.
Cal Quantrill‘s 27 appearances include 10 starts. He has a 2.90 ERA over 83 2/3 innings with 60 strikeouts. Four of his five August outings were starts, and he gave up 2 earned runs in 25 innings that month.
Ahlstrom entered Monday with a 6.03 ERA in 31 1/3 innings and left it at 5.85. Peoples is at 2.93.
The Rangers carry a 4.36 bullpen ERA, which ranks 23rd in the majors. The staff ERA is 4.27, with a 4.24 mark from the rotation, and Texas pitchers have struck out more than 1,130 batters.
Who Is Not Available
Five pitchers who opened the season in the organization’s bullpen plans remain on the 60-day injured list: Robert Garcia, Jack Leiter, Carter Baumler, Jose Corniell, and Jalen Beeks.
Nathan Eovaldi is on the 15-day injured list with right posterior elbow inflammation. The move was made retroactive to Aug. 9.
Junis had his own 15-day stay in late July and early August before returning to the active roster.
The Rest Of The Homestand
The Rangers have played 138 games and have 24 left, 16 of them at home. Texas is 68-70 and trails the Cleveland Guardians by 1 1/2 games for the third American League wild-card spot.
The homestand continues Tuesday and Wednesday against the Athletics, and the Tampa Bay Rays arrive Thursday for four games. Wednesday’s game is a 1:35 p.m. CT start, and Sunday’s finale against Tampa Bay is also set for 1:35 p.m. CT.
Left-hander MacKenzie Gore (7-10, 4.40 ERA) starts Tuesday against Athletics left-hander Brady Basso (0-1, 4.50). First pitch is at 7:05 p.m. CT on Rangers Sports Network.
