May 18, 2022 - Game 36
W - Dennis Santana (2-1)
L - Raisel Iglesias (1-2)
S - None
HR: TEX: Miller (6), Calhoun (5), Lowe (2, WO); LAA: Walsh 2 (8), Trout (11)
Time of Game: 3:23
Cowboy Hat Winner: Nathaniel Lowe (2nd)
Game Recap
Rangers and Angels played the final game of Wednesday's three-game series at Globe Life Field. Texas was looking for their first sweep of the 2022 season, but it became a tall task facing the Angels' ace, Shohei Ohtani. The Rangers handed Ohtani his worst start of the 2022 season on April 14, but with the stuff Shohei possesses, Texas would need to scratch and claw on Wednesday. The Rangers sent Dane Dunning to the mound coming off a 5.2 inning and five-run performance his last time out against the Boston Red Sox. "There were so many pieces to this game that everybody played a factor," Chris Woodward said after the game.
While Dane pitched a scoreless first inning, aided by a 3-6-3 double play, the Angels drew first blood in the second inning on a home run by Jared Walsh. Los Angeles added another run in the fourth inning on another homer by Mike Trout against the Rangers. Texas got one back in the bottom of the fourth inning with a bloop single by Jonah Heim, scoring Corey Seager, but the Rangers couldn't add more to the mix. Heim delivered another RBI against Shohei Ohtani to left field in the sixth inning, scoring Kole Calhoun. "If I knew I'd go against everybody like that," Heim chuckled when asked about his success against Shohei Ohtani. "I go up there and be as calm as possible. I know [Ohtani] throws hard and it's tough to see so I just slow myself down and see it and if it's somewhere in the zone, take some good swings."
The Rangers picked up the lead in the seventh inning with the sixth homer of the year by Brad Miller. Following in the eighth inning, Kole Calhoun continued his amazing homestand. He homered to right field after hitting a double in his previous at-bat. The Calhoun homer put the Rangers up 4-2. Matt Bush entered the ninth and quickly five pitches in surrendered the two-run lead. A double by Anthony Rendon and a two-run homer by Jared Walsh, his second of the game. The Rangers had a chance to win it with the bases loaded in the ninth, but Heim struck out and Texas couldn't win it in the ninth.
In extras, the Angels' runner at second scored on a fielders' choice as Andy Ibáñez tried to cut the runner down. The ball took Heim away from the plate and the Angels plated their run against Dennis Santana. However, Santana limited the damage to one run. The bottom of the tenth inning lasted a whole ten seconds and one pitch. Nathaniel Lowe blasted a 387 foot walk-off home run hugging down the right field line. "Walk offs are special," Nathaniel Lowe said on the walk off home run. "To be able to come through and be the guy that's going to come through is awesome."
Dane Dunning pitched six innings on Wednesday. He allowed a season-high two home runs (allowed two homers twice in 2021) but only yielded three hits on the night. Dunning walked three and struck out six on ninety pitches. Brock Burke took over the seventh and did what he does best, drop a scoreless frame. Burke allowed a leadoff hit to Luis Rengifo, but Burke stranded him at third base. After that, John King made quick work of the top of the Angels lineup. He threw seven pitches, struck out Trout, and retired the Angels in order. Los Angeles ambushed Matt Bush in the ninth (vying for save number two) instead of Barlow. Bush allowed a double, a home run, and a walk while striking out two. Dennis Santana legged out of a major jam. He allowed an unearned run with the zombie runner and retired Ohtani, Rendon, and Walsh with two on in the tenth. "I can't say enough about Dennis in the tenth. Top of their lineup, even after Andy makes a mistake, [Santana] picked him up. [He] didn't allow another run to score with first and second and nobody out. He gave us a chance," Woodward said.
Postgame Notes
Mike Trout ties Reggie Jackson for most home runs against the Rangers franchise in Arlington (43). Jackson had 54 career home runs against the Rangers/Senators franchise.
Dane Dunning entered Wednesday's game allowing three homers all season; he allowed two homers in two innings.
Dunning has a streak of six starts where he hasn't allowed a run in the first inning.
Jonah Heim is 5 for 5 with 7 RBIs this season against Shohei Ohtani. Heim was 0 for 6 last season against Ohtani.
Marcus Semien picked up his sixth multi-hit game on Wednesday. He also had his first three-hit game of 2022 going 3 for 4.
The Rangers swept a team at home for the first time since June 25-27 of 2021, when they swept the Kansas City Royals.
During the nine-game homestand, Kole Calhoun went 12 for 27 (played eight games). He hit three homers and drove in eleven runs in the eight games.
Texas picks up their fourth straight win. The second time in 2021 they had a four-game winning streak (April 30th-May 4th).
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