September 11, 2022 - Game 139
W - Martín Pérez (11-6)
L - Trevor Richards (3-2)
S- José Leclerc (4)
HR: TEX: García (24), Taveras (4);
Time of Game: 3:17
Rangers Cowboy Hat Winner: Martín Pérez (6th)
Game Recap
The Rangers and Blue Jays concluded their three-game series on Sunday. It was Martín Pérez Day today, and he came off a terrific outing on Monday against the Houston Astros. Though, the eyes are set on the rough road schedule the Rangers are enduring this week. After Sunday’s game, the team will head to Miami for twenty-four hours, head back home for two games, and then go to Tampa Bay next weekend against the Rays. “It’s one of the weirdest days I’ve ever had,” Tony Beasley said. “I don’t think I’ve ever had a day that’s going to be ahead of us. We’ve all experienced [the day/night doubleheader], but it’s the one-day.” There was a nice rendition of the national anthem in addition to an appearance by former president George W. Bush before the game.
The Rangers struck early against Trevor Richards as Corey Seager singled and scored on the Nathaniel Lowe double, putting the Rangers up 1-0. The first two reached in the second off Martín Pérez, but Martín struck out Matt Chapman and Santiago Espinal. Whit Merrifield lined out to Marcus Semien to end any scoring threat. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. doubled with two outs in the third, but Bo Bichette struck out looking in the third. The Rangers added to their lead thanks to Adolis García’s two-run homer that crept the second deck in left field, which extended the Texas lead to 3-0. The Rangers loaded the bases in the fourth, but Adolis couldn’t bring a run home.
In the top of the sixth, the Blue Jays cracked the scoreboard on the double by Teoscar Hernández scoring Bo Bichette. Pérez got Chapman on strikes and Espinal to line back to Martín to preserve the Rangers' lead after six. With two outs, the Blue Jays picked up a walk and a Vlad Jr. single to center field, but Bichette lined out to end the scoring threat. Leody Taveras added an insurance run squeaking a ball over the right field wall, extending the Rangers lead to 4-1. "Hopefully that sparks because it gets into your mind a little bit," Tony Beasley said as Taveras was struggling prior to the at-bat. "It goes back to confidence, swag, you feel good about yourself [and] have a chance and be yourself." Toronto threated with a runner in scoring position, but couldn't bring a run home and went 0 for 10 with runners in scoring position on the day.
Martín Pérez did have to deal with baserunners throughout the afternoon but held the Blue Jays to 0 for 7 with runners in scoring position. In the afternoon, Pérez allowed six hits, one run, two walks, and seven strikeouts in six innings. "I'm not thinking about numbers or winning the game by myself. I'm just thinking about winning the game as a team and when I take the ball that's the only thing I have on my mind," Martín Pérez told me. "Hit my spot and try to get them out from the timing. That's the biggest thing I'm doing this year, don't give anything free for them." Jesús Tinoco dealt with two on with two outs but escaped the jam. He walked one and allowed a hit in his one inning Sunday. Matt Moore walked one in his one inning relief outing, but picked up two strikeouts and didn't allow a hit or run. José Leclerc walked the leadoff hitter, but retired the next three Jays (on two strikeouts) to earn his fourth save of the season.
Postgame Notes
Since the start of 2019, the Rangers are 6-11 against the Toronto Blue Jays.
The Rangers win their sixtieth game of the season, matching their 2021 win total. There are twenty-three games left.
Sunday was the seventeenth start for Martín Pérez, where he threw six or more innings and allowed one or fewer runs. It was his twenty-eighth start of the season.
Since July 25th, Nathaniel Lowe has been 66 for 167 (.393), which leads all MLB. Lowe’s .444 OBP is second in MLB in that span behind Aaron Judge of the Yankees.
Corey Seager hit .417 (10 for 24) this season against the Toronto Blue Jays. It’s the second highest against any opposition (he hit .423 against the Minnesota Twins).
Saturday and Sunday were the fourth time Adolis García had back-to-back games with a home run. The last came on July 24th (in Oakland) and July 25th (in Seattle).
Bo Bichette finishes the season series 10 for 26 (.385) with six extra-base hits. It’s the third-highest average against MLB opponents and the highest against an American League opposition.
Since the sixth inning Wednesday, the Rangers bullpen has thrown 15.1 innings allowing one earned run (0.59 ERA).
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