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Austin Bibens-Dirkx, spot starter extraordinaire, was awesome today giving the Rangers seven innings of one-run ball on just five hits and a walk. ABD struck out just three but he limited Yankees threats and allowed the lone run on an Aaron Judge solo shot. No shame in that.
For a Rangers franchise that is littered with the corpses of pitchers who threw like Yankee Stadium was too big and scary for them, ABD just kind of shrugged and looked like a guy who knew he had nothing to lose after spending the last dozen or so years just trying to get here.
Perhaps more important than allowing just one run was giving Texas seven innings after last night's loss in extra innings which stretched out Matt Bush and put in bullpen in flux.
It took the Rangers until the ninth inning to score a run last night whereas today they scored a run in the first inning on an Elvis Andrus RBI single. And while Yu Darvish is perhaps rolling his eyes at the offense, a first inning lead for ABD was helpful.
Carlos Gomez and Robinson Chirinos each homered for Texas to pad the lead and four ninth inning runs eventually made the final score 8-1 as Texas put last night's sadness behind them thanks largely in part to their 32-year-old rookie starting pitcher.
Player of the Game: Aside from Bibens-Dirkx, who was truly the PotG, Gomez continued his torrid streak since returning from the DL with a two-run blast in the fourth to give ABD a three run cushion to work with. In the ninth, Gomez scored the Rangers' fifth run via a walk, stolen base, advancement to third on a fly out, and touching home on a wild pitch.
Up Next: The Rangers and Yankees play another day game in the finale with Nick Martinez set to pitch opposite RHP Michael Pineda of New York. First pitch of the rubber match from Yankee Stadium is scheduled for 1:05 pm CT.