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The Texas Rangers scored three runs and the Anaheim Angels scored four runs.
Those four runs that these Angels scored all came in the top of the first inning before tonight’s starter Dane Dunning had settled into the contest. The Rangers scored one of their runs a half inning later and then two more an inning after that.
From the moment of Willie Calhoun’s two-out RBI single to pull Texas to within 4-3, until the end of the game, it was nothing but zeroes from both teams. In fact, there weren’t even many instances of a rally from either squad beyond those seven combined runs in the first two innings.
The closest either team got to scoring again was when the Rangers had a two-out, first and third situation in the bottom of the eighth with a chance to even things up but Angels’ reliever Mike Mayers got reigning AL Player of the Week Adolis Garcia swinging to end the threat.
It was an odd game.
You can’t excuse allowing four runs in the first inning but, overall, after that poor first frame, Dunning did settle down and made it five innings where he coughed up those four runs on six hits and just one walk in 70 pitches. A positive for Dunning is that he tied his high for strikeouts (six) during his tenure with Texas.
Just a couple of innings into this game and it seemed like we were in for a classic American League brawl on the scoreboard but, just as the deluge of runs had arrived, the scoring dried up and Dunning was left on the hook for the loss.
Player of the Game: Due to how the game played out, it’s clear that the middle relief for both teams was good tonight. For Texas, Dunning’s pseudo new tandem partner Kolby Allard tossed 2 2⁄3 shutout innings while allowing a hit, a walk, and collecting four strikeouts.
Also, no, Joey Gallo did not reach base tonight for the first time all season. :(
Up Next: The Rangers will welcome the first place Red Sox to Arlington for a four-game series beginning tomorrow night. RHP Kyle Gibson will make the start for Texas while old friend and lefty Martin Perez will start for Boston. Thursday’s first pitch from The Shed is scheduled for 7:05 pm CT.