Thoughts on an 8-1 Rangers win
Another series, another sweep.
That's two in a row for Your Texas Rangers, and five series wins in a row.
Jack Leiter did work. Just two hits allowed in six innings.
One of those hits was a bloop ground rule double down the left field line that was barely fair, and fell in out of the reach of Wyatt Langford, Josh Jung and Corey Seager. It was in the second inning, with one out, after Leiter had walked the first two batters to start the inning.
From that point — runners on second and third, one out in the second — through the end of the sixth, the only baserunners Jack Leiter allowed were a fifth inning single and a sixth inning walk.
Caleb Boushley and Cole Winn handled the final three innings, which can be either a very good thing or a very bad thing. In this case it was a very good thing.
The offense put up crooked numbers early. Three in the first, two in the second, and three in the third. Then didn't do anything in the final five innings, but whatever, it didn't matter, the pitching shut the Braves down.
A two out, bases loaded double from Wyatt Langford in the first brought home three runs, which was all the Rangers would have needed. Langford went two for three with a walk and we can only hope that he's headed for a hot second half.
Josh Smith had a two run homer in the second. He was 3 for 4 with a walk.
Jonah Heim had a couple of hits. Adolis Garcia had a hit and a couple of walks.
It was a game that felt like watching the 2023 team.
Meanwhile, a Seattle loss means the Rangers are now tied with Seattle for the third Wild Card spot. They are a half game back of the Red Sox for WC2, and a game and a half back of the Yankees for WC1. Houston lost, and so Texas is just four back in the division.
Jack Leiter's fastball topped out at 99.3 mph, averaging 97.2 mph. Caleb Boushley hit 93.3 mph with his fastball. Cole Winn touched 96.8 mph with his fastball.
Josh Smith had a 105.6 mph home run. Joc Pederson had a 104.2 mph groundout. Josh Jung had a 101.5 mph single and a 100.6 mph fly out. Wyatt Langford had a 100.3 mph double.
Now a seven game West Coast trip. Texas needs to win three out there, and four or more would be even better.
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