April 26, 2022 - Game 17
W - Jake Odorizzi(1-2)
L - Taylor Hearn (0-2)
S - None
HR: TEX: García (3) HOU: Tucker (3)
Time of Game: 3:02
Game Recap
The night started before the game when Marcus Semien received his Gold Glove award minutes before the first pitch. Then it was game on. Both Taylor Hearn and Jake Odorizzi threw 1-2-3 first innings to begin the night. While Odorizzi only needed eight pitches to get through his inning, Taylor Hearn needed eighteen pitches. The Astros struck first in the second inning on a Jeremy Peña RBI single, but the Rangers quickly answered with the man that statically hits well against the Astros, Adolis García. García’s shot went 385 feet to tie the game at one. After both starters threw a scoreless third, the Astros threatened with runners on the corners and none out in the fourth inning. Yuli Gurriel grounded into what was initially called a double play, but Astros manager Dusty Baker challenged, and the call reversed. Gurriel was safe at first while the run scored (the run would have scored anyway as there were none out). The next batter, Kyle Tucker, launched a two-run shot to right-center field that went 426 feet at an exit velocity of 111.1 MPH, extending the Astros lead to 4-1.
Taylor Hearn was able to finish a 1-2-3 fifth inning, ending his night on a positive note. Hearn finished Tuesday, going five innings, five hits, four runs, one walk, and four strikeouts on eighty-four pitches. "First three innings were okay," Rangers manager Chris Woodward said after the game. "I felt the fourth inning he made some mistakes [and] his velocity was down (91s and 92s). [The outing] was okay." Taylor said he felt physically fine for the game and felt good to go five innings on Tuesday, especially after the Seattle start. "I've been looking at it from the positive aspect and looking at how these starts have been for me, seems like everything is trending up and slowly getting better," Taylor said.
Albert Abreu entered the game in the sixth, and control issues came back after his last outing. Abreu walked two batters, and after Alex Bregman moved to third on a Gurriel grounder, the Rangers tried to cut Bregman down at the plate, unsuccessfully, extending the Houston lead to 5-1. Brock Burke came into the seventh and allowed a base hit but stranded the runner. He returned for a second inning of relief and retired the Astros 1-2-3 in order with a strikeout. Dennis Santana came into the ninth and pitched a scoreless inning while retiring the side in order.
Meanwhile, the offense couldn’t solve Jake Odorizzi Tuesday. Odorizzi threw six innings, allowed one run and one walk, and struck out four Rangers. "He was making quality pitches," Jonah Heim said after the game. "He was nibbling and making some good pitches. We didn't' get many pitches over the heart of the plate." After six, Dusty Baker went to his bullpen and Blake Taylor. The Rangers first two hitters reached base on a Corey Seager single and Nathaniel Lowe walk, but the Rangers couldn’t cash in. After Jonah Heim walked, Willie Calhoun struck out with the bases loaded against Rafael Montero. Andy Ibáñez singled to begin the eighth inning, but a double play ended that threat. The Rangers couldn’t put together the big hit on Tuesday, unlike Monday.
Postgame Notes
Taylor Hearn allowed a home run Tuesday and two in his last outing in Seattle. Hearn had gone five straight starts going back to 2021 before the Seattle game without allowing a home run.
The sixth inning run off Albert Abreu was the first run the bullpen allowed since the eighth inning on Thursday against Seattle (17.2 scoreless) if you’re counting Garrett Richards, Sunday’s opener, a reliever, and Spencer Howard, the starter.
Andy Ibáñez is 2 for his last 19, going back to the previous game of the last homestand against the Angels.
Albert Abreu has walked seven batters in his last three outings. He didn't issue a single walk in his previous six outings (going back to last year with the Yankees).
The Rangers are six for their last fifty-nine at-bats (.102 avg) against opponents’ starting pitching going back to Sunday vs. Oakland (Cole Irvin, Framber Valdez, and Jake Odorizzi).
In five career starts and thirteen career outings in March/April, Taylor Hearn has a career ERA of 8.46.
In their last four games, the Rangers are 4 for 25 with runners in scoring position (.160).
Brock Burke's scoreless two innings extends his scoreless streak to five innings.
Your #Tarlos Gif Reaction
Comments