August 21, 2022 - Game 121
W - Kohei Arihara (1-1)
L - Joe Ryan (9-6)
S- Taylor Hearn (1)
HR: TEX: Semien (19), Lowe (18)
Time of Game: 2:54
Rangers Cowboy Hat Winner: Kohei Arihara (1st)
Game Recap
On Sunday, the Rangers and Twins met for the third game of a four-game. Before the game, Texas activated Kole Calhoun, who started in left field. To make room for Calhoun, the Rangers optioned Josh Smith to Triple-A Round Rock, who struggled in August. On the mound, Kohei Arihara is coming off an okay start against Oakland Tuesday. Meantime, Joe Ryan took the hill against Texas. On Monday, Ryan threw 5.1 innings giving up two runs and six hits against the Kansas City Royals. It was Arihara that came out firing on Sunday with a terrific start against Minnesota. "He came out and attacked hitters," Tony Beasley said. "[Kohei] worked with a good pace today, he got ahead with his fastball, and started using his off speed pitches effectively in and out of the zone for some weak contact. I was pleased with his outing."
The game was delayed for forty-five minutes to accommodate the Minnesota Twins Hall of Fame ceremony. Offensively it was a quiet first third of the game. The Twins had a base hit in the second erased on a double play while the Rangers went nine up and nine down against Ryan. In the fourth, Marcus Semien got the Rangers on the board in the hit and run column with a second deck shot to left field, putting Texas up 1-0. In the sixth, the Rangers drew two walks to start the inning. However, Marcus Semien hit a rocket behind second base for an out, and Corey Seager cracked a ball in front of Max Kepler, who threw a strike, getting Ezequiel Duran at second. Finally, Nathaniel Lowe lined a ball right into Ryan's glove to end the inning.
Texas had two on and one out after Adolis singled, stole second, moved to third, and Taveras reached on a hit by pitch. After Kole Calhoun struck out, Brad Miller laced a single up the middle putting the Rangers up 3-0. Then Semien added one more to his RBI total with a single to left, scoring Miller. However, Duran was lightly tapped out on the back of the pants to prevent a second run as Texas took a 4-0 lead to the seventh inning stretch. Minnesota got back-to-back hits in the seventh, but Taylor Hearn came in and worked out of the inning with no damage. The Rangers added insurance in the ninth, Brad Miller singled to center field scoring Leody Taveras. Then Semien picked up his third RBI on a sacrifice fly scoring Bubba Thompson who ran for Calhoun. "Brad has been having good at-bats the past four to five days," Beasley said. "I talked to him two days ago and told him that I need him to get back to where he was early in the season offensively. This challenged him on the front and let him know I trust him [and] I believe in him."
Kohei Arihara had his best start with the Rangers on Sunday. He went six-plus innings (pitched to two batters in the seventh). Arihara allowed four hits, no runs, no walks, and struck out three Twins. Two of the four hits came in the seventh inning and hit the corners nicely all afternoon. "He competed today and couldn't ask for anything more than what [Arihara] gave us today," Beasley said. Taylor Hearn picked up a save on Sunday. He came in the seventh for Arihara, but completed three innings. Hearn struck out five batters and didn't allow a baserunner in his three innings. It was Hearn's first save at any professional baseball level. "A'int nothing change but the weather," Taylor Hearn said after the game when asked about adapting to what the team is asking him to do. When asked about if he knew it was his first save, "I was going out there pitching and I wasn't even thinking about it and doing what I do."
Postgame Notes
The Rangers claim the season series vs. the Minnesota Twins. It's the first game since 2019 where a Rangers and Twins game was decided by more than 3 runs.
Marcus Semien didn't have a home run in his first 43 games. However, in his last 77, Semien has 19 home runs. It averages a home run per four games.
Kohei Arihara pitches six innings for the first time in his MLB career.
Adolis García extended his hitting streak to eighteen games with an infield single in the seventh.
Sunday was Arihara's first six shutout inning performance at any US professional level (Minor Leagues and Major Leagues).
The Rangers had the leadoff hitter in each inning between the fourth and seventh.
García nabs the Rangers' ninety-third stolen base this season (second in MLB). The Twins have twenty-five stolen bases, the fewest in MLB.
Jonah Heim has twenty walks between July and August. In the previous seven months, Heim walked twenty-five times.
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