5-8 - Gallo blast launches Rangers to season’s first winning streak

The Texas Rangers shut out the Anaheim Angels tonight and, no matter the outcome tomorrow, they have secured their first series win of the season. Also, the Rangers have finally won consecutive baseball games.

Of course, in true 2020 Texas Rangers fashion, to reach these milestones, aesthetically attractive baseball wasn’t in the cards but it didn’t have to be because the Angels appear to be even uglier in this hell year if this series is any indication.

While we witnessed the standard fare of Texas being unable to get much going at the plate, the Angels of Mike Trout, Shohei Ohtani, Albert Pujols, and Anthony Rendon were matching zeros with the offensively challenged Rangers.

That means that Kolby Allard had a solid day in Corey Kluber’s spot in the rotation as he finished with a line of 5 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 6 Ks on 94 pitches. The beleaguered Rangers bullpen got through the final four innings unscathed on the scoreboard to secure the win.

The only runs that crossed the plate from either team today came when Joey Gallo followed a two-out Todd Frazier single with an opposite field, two-run dong off another left-handed pitcher that he definitely didn’t get nearly all of but it cleared the fence because Joey Gallo is super human.

As AJM noted on Twitter, with the win today, the Rangers — THESE Rangers — are now only a half of a game out of a playoff spot. All according to plan.

Player of the Game: There are probably a handful of people on the planet who can muscle a ball in The Shed on a pitch in this location and have it land in the bullpen. Luckily for us, Joey Gallo is one of those people.

Up Next: The Rangers go for their first sweep of the season on Sunday with their ace on the mound as Lance Lynn is scheduled to face off with LHP Andrew Heaney of the Angels in the finale. First pitch from The Shed is scheduled for 1:35 pm CT.