44-81 - Rangers ambush Cleveland to take series opener 7-3

The Texas Rangers scored seven runs while Cleveland was held to three runs.

Four batters into this one, it was 3-0 Rangers and it looked like perhaps they were going to run away with the opener from Cleveland. That didn’t quite materialize as Texas only added one more run through the next very many batters until DJ Peters smacked a three-run shot with two-outs in the ninth to put this one to bed.

On the hill, Taylor Hearn picked up his first victory as a starting pitcher as he allowed the three Cleveland runs on five hits, a couple of walks, and six strikeouts over his five innings of work.

That win was also aided by four scoreless innings from a depleted bullpen and the Rangers are now 2-2 on this road trip which makes it one of the more successful adventures away from The Shed regardless of how the rest of this series plays out.

Player of the Game: Nate Lowe hit his first home run as Nathaniel Lowe (first since hitting two in Oakland back on July 1) and was a triple shy of the cycle during a five-hit night. Hearn got his W and Peters put on the exclamation mark but this was Lowe’s night.

Up Next: The COVID depleted Rangers will turn to lefty Jake Latz to make his MLB debut on Wednesday night. Cleveland will counter with RHP Zach Plesac. Tomorrow’s first pitch from Progressive Field is scheduled for 6:10 pm CT.