There was Mike Minor, continuing to pitch like a legit ace. 9 innings, 5 hits, 2 walks, 7 Ks. The one home run was by someone who I can’t remember and won’t deign to look up. Other than the home run, Minor twice had runners on first and second and no one out, and got out of it with no damage.
Minor currently is sporting a 2.40 ERA. He’s got a legitimate argument right now for being the front runner for the A.L. Cy Young Award.
Something noteworthy...Jeff Mathis caught today for the second day in a row. The Rangers have been meticulous about not having him catch back-to-back games, generally, but they’ve also made a point of pairing him with Minor consistently. It seems to be working.
Three home runs by the Rangers in the fifth inning today. Willie Calhoun had one. Danny Santana, who Chris Woodward said before the game would be playing more, had one. And Jeff Mathis, of all people, had one. Yeah, I was surprised, too.
The first run, however, was probably the most interesting one. Willie led off the 3rd inning with a double, and then Ronald Guzman hit a blast to dead center that, according to Statcast, was hit farther than any of the three Ranger home runs did. JaCoby Jones tracked it down at the wall, ran into the wall, caromed off, and stumbled. Calhoun tagged at second and then headed to third, where Tony Beasley, seeing Jones having issues, waved Calhoun him. The relay throw was way off line, Calhoun slid in headfirst, and the Rangers were on the board with a sac fly that scored the runner from second.
Two things here: Statcast had that sac fly from Guzman going 421 feet, which means it is a home run most of the time. And the 2018 version of Willie Calhoun probably doesn’t score on that play. It is the sleeker, fleeter Calhoun that made that happen.
Texas plays early tomorrow, so get your rest and get ready for a matinee game that will be for the sweep.
:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/64138593/1152115480.jpg.0.jpg)