July 9, 2022 - Game 82
W - Matt Moore (4-2)
L - Jhoan Duran (0-3)
S- Brett Martin (2)
HR: TEX: Calhoun (11), Semien (11), Seager (18) ; MIN: Miranda (7), Sánchez (10)
Time of Game: 3:19
Rangers Cowboy Hat Winner: Marcus Semien (3rd)
Game Recap
The Rangers returned Saturday after a close win went to their favor on Friday. On the heels of a Corey Seager three-run home run, the Rangers took down the Twins in a rare one-run win. It was "Martín Pérez Day" at the ballpark as Pérez faced another former club, the Minnesota Twins. Meantime, the Rangers offense squared off against Devin Smeltzer. Smeltzer was making his first career start against Texas (two previous relief appearances in 2019). One aspect of the Rangers that was ready and waiting was the duo of Marcus Semien and Corey Seager. "It'll get better," Rangers manager Chris Woodward said before the game. "I'm not worried about that. Guys are going to have [an] unlucky or rough first month. That's not going to stop both guys."
The scoring started in the bottom of the second inning. Kole Calhoun ripped a ball to the Rangers bullpen scoring Nathaniel Lowe and Jonah Heim, putting Texas up 3-0. However, the lead didn't last too long, as chaos occurred in the fourth power. The Twins put six on the board with two homers and a double. Jose Miranda and Gary Sánchez each homered while Byron Buxton doubled in Nick Gordon to put the Twins up 6-3 against Pérez. Then in the bottom of the inning, the Rangers immediately had an answer with two digners of their own. Marcus Semien and Corey Seager went back-to-back and erased a 6-3 deficit to a 7-6 lead. "There's been plenty of games where he's gotten run [starts], to be able to help [Martín Pérez] out and redeem ourselves offensively when he's on the mound, it felt good," Corey Seager told me.
Offenses were quiet after the fourth inning until the eighth. The Twins loaded the bases with one out. Gilberto Celestino hit a grounder up the middle that slowly deflected a little off Dennis Santana. It slowed the velocity as Marcus Semien took the sure out at first, driving in a run and tying the game at seven. Then the Rangers went back to work. Leody Taveras led off the 8th with a single. After Josh Smith moved Leody to second with a bunt, Marcus Semien tripled to left to give the Rangers the lead. Mitch Garver added a run with a single to put Texas up 9-7. The Twins couldn't answer in the ninth and the Rangers take the first two games of the series. "I love when we hit home runs. Everybody feeds off each other. In my opinion it's the best way to score [and] I know we can do other things, [but] sometimes home runs are a gut punch to the other team."
Martín Pérez's afternoon became overshadowed by a struggling fourth inning. Pérez pitched six innings and allowed seven hits, six runs, one walk, hit a batter, and struck out five. In the fourth, the Twins got five hits, a walk, and were hit by a pitch along with six runs. Therefore, take that inning out and have your typical Martín-dominating afternoon. "It doesn't matter what happened in one inning, it's twenty-seven outs, that's what I say to myself," Martín Pérez said. "I have to go out there and throw zeroes on the ball and score runs. [I'm] not trying to do too much."
José Leclerc walked one batter but threw a scoreless seventh inning. Dennis Santana came in, but couldn't finish the eighth inning. He loaded the bases with a couple of hits and one walk. After the tying run came through, Matt Moore came on to finish the inning and get the Rangers out of trouble. Brett Martin came in for his second MLB save and shut the Twins down in order, picking up two saves in less than twenty-four hours. "[I'm] trying to treat it like any other inning [and] not put too much thought into it or too much pressure on myself and try to have a good time and have fun with it," Brett said.
Postgame Notes
It's the second time Martín Pérez allowed six runs this season. The other came on June 11th in Chicago against the White Sox. In that June 11th outing, Martín allowed fourteen baserunners in five innings, while Pérez allowed nine in six innings on Saturday.
Martín Pérez entered July, allowing two homers all season (93.1 innings). In his last two starts (12.2 innings, he's allowed four total home runs).
Devin Smeltzer's 3.1 innings is the shortest outing since September 14th, 2020, when he threw three innings at Cleveland in a doubleheader start. That was Smeltzer's first MLB start.
6th time the Rangers have gone back-to-back. The first time that Marcus Semien and Corey Seager have gone back-to-back.
Corey Seager's 20th career home run at Globe Life Field (includes Postseason). It ties Joey Gallo for 2nd in Globe Life Field History. Adolis García leads with 29th.
Charlie Culberson is six for his last thirteen at-bats. The thirteen at-bats span started June 13th.
To start July, Corey Seager is 11 for 31 with three home runs and eight RBIs.
Brett Martin went 1134 days and 27,214 hours in between his last professional save (5/31/19) and his first MLB save (7/8/22). He goes twenty hours in between his first MLB save and his second.
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