June 24, 2022 - Game 70
W- Joe Barlow (3-1)
L- Kyle Finnegan (2-2)
S - None
HR: TEX: Lowe (10), García (15)
Time of Game: 2:42
Rangers Cowboy Hat Winner: Adolis García (6th)
Game Recap
The Rangers and Nationals played on another throwback Saturday. Texas sported their old school 1975 uniforms for the second time out of three this season. Initially, the Rangers were going to turn to Matt Bush to begin a bullpen game, but a last-second change turned to Brett Martin. Rangers manager Chris Woodward said that Taylor Hearn would begin his bullpen outing in the second inning and go for at least two-three innings. While Taylor was dominant, it was García finishing the show Saturday to cap off the win. "He has a flare for doing that," Chris Woodward said. "This guy is different. Some guys have the knack for coming up big, but it's just over and over again. It's not lucky, he constantly gives you a good at-bat in big moments and comes through a lot. You almost expect it."
It was a shaky start by both Hearn and Martin, where command became a slight issue. However, the Nationals did not come through with any baserunners, and both pitchers kept the game scoreless in the first few innings. In the bottom of the second, Nathaniel blasted a rocket shot to straight-away center field and put the Rangers up 2-0 off Nationals starter Josiah Gray. There was a point where Gray and Hearn retired nineteen straight hitters until Leody Taveras singled in the fifth to break the trend. In the sixth inning, the Nationals tied the game up on a two-run shot by Nelson Cruz.
The Nationals had an opportunity with two on and none out in the seventh. However, Lane Thomas hit into a double play, and Matt Moore struck out Juan Soto to end the threat. Texas had a chance with Leody Taveras at the plate and Josh Smith at second, but Josiah Gray struck out Leody Taveras to keep the game tied. Texas got a massive break in the eighth inning as Nelson Cruz hit a shot down the line that appeared to hit Josh Smith’s glove. However, third base umpire Chad Fairchild ruled the ball foul. "It hit my glove," Josh Smith said and said what the umpire told him. "[The umpire said] if the ball is in foul territory, then it's foul. I think it's where the ball is at [the umpire was saying]. It doesn't matter where I am at, it matters where the ball was at. I think the ball was in foul territory. We'll just go with that." The next play was another double play to erase any chance the Nationals had.
In the bottom of the ninth, Adolis García did his thing and won the afternoon with a massive shot to the Washington bullpen. It capped off the victory for the Rangers. "I continue to do the same things I do on a daily basis," Adolis said. "I continue on my plan and those things have helped me during the game, how they pitch me and that's where I've gotten."
Uncharacteristically, Brett Martin struggled with command in the first inning. He allowed a hit and two walks. However, a double play helped Brett out, and while the strike percentage wasn’t good, he threw a scoreless first inning. Saturday was about a confidence booster for Taylor Hearn and a good outing for Taylor. Hearn walked two of the first three batters he faced along with a wild pitch. After that, Taylor retired eleven straight to close out his afternoon. "It does a lot, not from a confidence aspect, but more so trying to get consistent in whatever role it is," Taylor Hearn said when asked what an outing like Saturday can do for him.
Brock Burke allowed an earned run in an outing for the first time since April. He allowed three extra-base hits, including a two-run home run in his an inning of work. Matt Moore had traffic in his two innings of work but induced two double plays in crucial spots. Joe Barlow came in and threw down a scoreless top of the ninth, keeping the game tied for García to do his thing.
Postgame Notes
Adolis García has 13 game-tying or go-ahead home runs in the 6th inning or later since the beginning of 2021, most in MLB since that period.
Nathaniel Lowe’s home run in the second racked up his eleventh extra-base hit in June. It’s tied for the most as a Texas Ranger (in August 2021, he had nine doubles and two home runs). Lowe has seven home runs and four doubles in June.
Brock Burke had gone twenty-two scoreless innings since allowing an earned run. The last earned run allowed by Burke was April 29th against the Braves.
Nelson Cruz hit his 457th home run Saturday, his twenty-third against the Rangers and second at Globe Life Field.
Taylor Hearn has allowed two earned runs in his last eleven relief outings dating back to June 20th, 2021.
Josiah Gray set a career-high in innings Saturday and retired a hitter in the seventh inning for the first time in his career.
Josh Smith singled in the seventh inning, extending his streak to nine straight games to reach base to begin his MLB career.
As a team, the Rangers have stolen sixty-two bases. It’s the most in MLB, with the Miami Marlins second with fifty-six.
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