August 30, 2022 - Game 128
W - Framber Valdez (14-4)
L - Dane Dunning (3-7)
S- Hector Neris (3)
HR: TEX: Thompson (1), Duran (5); HOU: Altuve (22)
Time of Game: 2:56
Game Recap
On Tuesday, the Rangers and Astros began a short two-game series in Arlington. There was a lot of diversity throughout the game, including black managers squaring off against each other (Dusty Baker and Tony Beasley). Also, tonight was GSWS at the Ballpark night with NAGAAA. Before the game, I asked Tony Beasley about the diversity and inclusion for the game tonight between the Astros and Rangers. "We all live in this world together, and we all have to learn how to love each other and live together with each other. I don't live in a judgmental state. I love and appreciate people, and we should all be inclusive," Beasley said. It was Dane Dunning that took the mound against Framber Valdez, a pitcher, the Rangers, have always had troubles facing in the past.
Five minutes into the contest, Houston took the lead on a sacrifice fly by Alex Bregman. Then in the third inning, Jose Altuve leads off the frame with a solo home run, extending the Astros lead to 2-0. Christian Vazquez added a run on a bases-loaded single to right field, scoring Bregman. The good news for Dane Dunning after a forty-pitch frame was he stranded the bases loaded to prevent further damage. Texas got on the board in the bottom of the third as Bubba Thompson racked his first MLB home run on a 108 MPH shot to right field. "It felt good. All of them count and it felt good because up here it's always hard to get to first. Any time you can square one up like that it's a good feeling," Bubba said.
Texas added another run in the fifth on an Ezequiel Duran shot to the Houston Astros bullpen, cutting Houston's lead to 3-2. The Astros got a run on a bases-loaded walk which the last pitch was in the strike zone. However, Angel Hernandez called it a ball which forced a run-in and extended the Astros' lead to 4-2. José Leclerc issued the walk but got a lineout and a double play to limit the damage to one run. The Rangers couldn't get any late game momentum against Valdez or Hector Neris and fell to the Houston Astros on Tuesday. "We knew it was going to be a tough task. We challenged ourselves to compete [and] have fun. We knew the challenge that was ahead of us tonight [and] Valdez had been throwing the ball well for the better part of the season," Tony Beasley said. "I felt like we competed okay."
Dane Dunning's outing got victimized by a long third inning (forty pitches). However, Dane limited the damage on the evening to two earned runs (three total runs). Dunning allowed seven hits, three walks, and five strikeouts in five innings. "I was pretty close to being pulled out of the game in the third and fortunate enough to work out of it and being able to go five for the team," Dunning said. "I never want them to take the ball out of my hand, ever. I always ask for more innings when they try to pull me and I try to stay in the game as long as possible."
Taylor Hearn pitched a clean sixth inning but gave up a hit and two walks in the seventh. Taylor left pitching to three batters, and the bases loaded in the seventh for José Leclerc. Leclerc "walked" in a run, but did amazing work to limit the seventh inning of damage to one run. In the eighth, José retired the Astros in order and threw two quality innings on Tuesday. Matt Moore threw a shutout ninth inning by striking out one and not allowing a baserunner in eight pitches wrapping up the Rangers pitchers.
Postgame Notes
Adolis García is second among MLB right fielders in stolen bases with twenty-two. Only Ronald Acuña Jr. has more stolen bases among RFers (25).
Tuesday was the first time in his MLB career that Taylor Hearn pitched on his birthday. He had one minor league outing on his birthday back in 2016. Hearn threw four shutout innings, allowed three hits, one walk, and struck out six (with the West Virginia Power).
Framber Valdez allowed two home runs in a start for the first time this season. The last time he allowed two homers was October 1st, 2021, against Oakland.
In six of the last seven starts for Dunning, he's allowed three runs or fewer.
Jonah Heim is 1 for his last 29 at-bats with four walks.
Ezequiel Duran has homered in two of his last four games. He had three home runs in his previous forty-six games.
Tuesday was the first time since September 17th, 2019, that Angel Hernandez was the home plate umpire in a Texas Rangers game.
Framber Valdez has thrown eight straight quality starts against the Rangers since the start of 2020.
Your #Tarlos Gif Reaction
Comments