June 27, 2022 - Game 72
W - Martín Pérez (6-2)
L - Kris Bubic (1-5)
S - None
HR: TEX: Garver (8)
Time of Game: 3:10
Rangers Cowboy Hat Winner: Mitch Garver (1st)
Game Recap
Texas began a nine-game road trip in ten days Monday, starting in Kansas City against the Royals. The Rangers came off a disappointing ending to the series against the Washington Nationals. Meantime, they got the free-falling Royals, who had won six of their last ten games. Texas turned to their ace, Martín Pérez, making another case for All-Star game starter. Instead, the Royals sent out their left-hander, Kris Bubic. Pérez’s last outing against the Royals turned into a 6.1 inning, four runs (one earned run), and six strikeouts on May 10th at Globe Life Field. The Rangers saw Bubic once in Arlington this season. On May 11th, Bubic threw a scoreless frame allowing a run in a Royals comfortable victory. "Overall he was Martín," Rangers manager Chris Woodward said. "The last part of the second inning got hit hard there, but overall he was Martín. Even though we gave up three runs in the second and they tied it up, we came back and scored and he goes four shutout after that, typical Martín fashion."
The Royals struck first against Martín. In some weak contact hit in the first, Bobby Witt Jr. drove in a run on a force out to put Kansas City up 1-0. In the top of the second, the Rangers kept a train going against Bubic. Bases loaded walk by Nathaniel Lowe tied the game up at one, followed by Leody Taveras going the other way on a two-run single putting the Rangers up 3-1. Corey Seager drove in a run on a groundout to cap off a four-run second. The Royals got their revenge against Pérez as Whit Merrifield doubled (hit off the glove of Taveras), scoring two runs. Then, Andrew Benintendi singled to left to tie the game up at four as Opening Day 2021 memories returned.
The Rangers broke the 4-4 tie on a Marcus Semien sacrifice fly in the fourth inning, and Mitch Garver extended the lead with a shot to left field in the fifth. In the sixth, Adolis García doubled to score Charlie Culberson, and Kole Calhoun singled to score two more runs. Initially, the call was a catch by Edward Olivares in right, but the replay clearly showed the ball hit the ground (and the call was overturned). Texas took a 10-4 lead after six. The six-run lead held in the final three frames as the Rangers took the first game of the series Monday. "Our stubbornness and willingness to take the walk, staying in the middle of the field, using the whole field, and laying off a lot of close pitches," Chris Woodward said on what stood out on the offense's attack Monday. "Overall I thought we put our foot on the gas the whole way and really made those guys work."
On paper, Martín Pérez’s start Monday wasn’t great. However, a lot of soft contact fell in for hits for the Royals. Pérez threw six innings but allowed seven hits; four earned runs, two walks, and six strikeouts. "When they scored runs on me I just told myself you have to stay in the game, you have to go deep in the game, [and] we have to produce because we're going to score some runs," Martín said. "It was a good game. I did some adjustments and some good work today." Brett Martin pitched a scoreless seventh inning with one strikeout. Brock Burke closed the game out with two scoreless. It was a good bounce back outing after allowing two runs Saturday against Washington. Burke allowed one hit and retired six of the seven he faced.
Postgame Notes
Martín Pérez’s six strikeouts looking ties a game-high in MLB. Gerrit Cole, Alex Cobb, and Aaron Nola had six strikeout-looking games in 2022.
Adolis García extended his nine-game hitting streak and a nine-game run-scoring streak Monday.
Nathaniel Lowe has a hit in ten straight road games and in every game he’s played at Kauffman Stadium (eight games).
Martín Pérez’s forty-three strikeouts looking leads all MLB.
The Rangers are 16-10 in games started by left-handed starters.
Mitch Garver’s forty-four plate appearances entering Monday at Kauffman Stadium were the most he had in a ballpark where he didn’t homer.
Monday was the sixth game where the Rangers scored ten or more runs. Four of the six games have been on the road.
Jonah Heim joins the Mets’ Jeff McNeil as the only two players to have three hits on their birthday.
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