And a good thing, too. Brock Burke, battling a stomach bug, had his first bad start in the majors, giving up three home runs in 5 innings of work, including a two out, two strike, 3 run bomb to Rule 5 shortstop Richie Martin, who entered today with a 540 OPS. 6 runs allowed, with 2 walks and just 1 K. Not a good outing, but we can chalk it up to him not being 100% for now.
The bullpen came up big in relief of Burke, however. Brett Martin and Emmanuel Clase each threw a scoreless inning. Rafael Montero got in trouble in the 8th, putting 2 on with one out, but escaped with no damage. And Jose Leclerc started the ninth allowing a bunt hit, a walk, and a sac bunt before finishing off the game with a strikeout and a foul out.
Willie Calhoun hit a pair of home runs early on — this was his first career multi-homer game, and he set a career high with 4 RBIs. Willie continues to be a bright spot.
Every Ranger starter had at least one hit today except for the other bright spot bat-first young guy, Nick Solak, who was hitless but did draw a walk.
Two hit nights for Shin-Soo Choo, Rougned Odor and Elvis Andrus. Elvis’s first hit of the game was a two RBI single that flipped a one run Ranger deficit into a one run Ranger lead that they held the rest of the way.
Scott Heineman, Jose Trevino and Ronald Guzman each had a hit and a walk. Positive steps for those guys.
And former Ranger first rounder Dillon Tate came into the game and pitched for Baltimore! We probably don’t want to remember the Rangers taking Tate, however.
Jonathan Hernandez starts tomorrow, as what I expect with be the first pitcher in a bullpen game.
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