July 6, 2022 - Game 80
W - Spenser Watkins (2-1)
L - Glenn Otto (4-5)
S- Jorge Lopez (14)
HR: None
Time of Game: 2:46
Game Recap
The Rangers tried to bounce back after two heartbreaking losses on Monday and Tuesday. Before the game, Texas made a roster move by optioning John King to Triple-A Round Rock and calling up Kolby Allard. For Wednesday, the Rangers turned to Glenn Otto to make his second career start in Baltimore against the Orioles. Wednesday was his third start since coming back from the COVID-IL, and he had a bad outing against Washington, and a so/so start against the Mets. Meantime the Orioles sent Spenser Watkins to the mound coming off two good starts in Minnesota and Chicago. "Spencer was good," Rangers manager Chris Woodward said. "He pitched well against us. The fastball had a lot of life to it, the cutter was getting in on us, and we had a couple of opportunities to score there just couldn't quite cash in. I got to tip my cap to him, he pitched really well."
The Orioles had two reach-through walks in the second inning by Glenn Otto. After a wild pitch, both scored on a Ryan McKenna single (the second run scored on a Corey Seager error), putting the Orioles up 2-0. The Rangers had a chance in the top of the inning with a leadoff double but couldn’t bring Nathaniel Lowe home after a groundout and strikeout. The Orioles had another chance in the fourth with two on and one out, but Otto got Rougned Odor to fly out and Ryan McKenna to strike out. Unlike the second, the Rangers capitalized with a runner on second. Leody Taveras doubled in Kole Calhoun to put the Rangers on the board.
After the fifth, the Rangers had one chance in the seventh with two on. However, Charlie Culberson grounded out to shortstop to end the threat. The Orioles, meantime, had one walk in the seventh by Rougned Odor, and Odor didn’t get past first base. The Rangers tried their magic again in the ninth. Jonah Heim singled to put the tying run on. However, Texas couldn't cash in and drop all three at Camden Yards during the week. "We played decent on the road trip," Chris Woodward said. "This series we had two chances to win the game. They battled back and beat us and ended up sweeping today but [we'll] keep our heads up and try to stay confident, get some rest, come home, and kick some butt."
Wednesday was a good building start for Glenn Otto. He still had command issues and walked three in five innings, limiting the damage to two runs (one earned run). Otto struck out five and allowed three hits. Glenn retired nine of the final eleven hitters he faced. "I thought [Otto] was good," Woodward said. "The second inning [with] the couple of walks. That was something we talk about a lot. They seem to always bite us in the butt at the end of the game. I thought [Glenn] settled down and did a good job."
Brock Burke got an inning on Wednesday and threw a scoreless frame while striking out one batter. José Leclerc pitched two innings where he allowed one walk in the seventh and a hit in the eighth. Leclerc struck out two, one in each inning, and didn't allow a run.
Postgame Notes
The Rangers are 4-17 in one-run games, including losing all three one-run games in Baltimore.
The Rangers finished the nine-game road trip 3-6 and dropped six of their last seven after winning the first two at the Royals.
Wednesday was the first start since May 30th (three starts), where Otto struck out more batters than he walked.
Since June 1st, Kole Calhoun had one other game where he reached base three times (June 27th at Kansas City).
Spenser Watkins set a career-high with a 6.2-inning outing on Wednesday. His previous high in innings in a start was six (he did that three times).
Ryan McKenna entered Tuesday with four RBIs in fifty-three games. In addition, he picked up two RBIs in back-to-back games.
Wednesday was only the fourth game out of his last sixteen, where Marcus Semien did not reach base.
The Rangers are swept in a series of three games or more for the first time since September 20th-22nd, 2021. It was a series at the Bronx against the Yankees. The Rockies swept the Rangers on April 11th-12th at Globe Life Field.
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