June 17, 2022 - Game 64
W- Jon Gray (2-3)
L- Tarik Skubal (5-4)
S - None
HR: TEX: Heim (8)
Time of Game: 3:01
Rangers Cowboy Hat Winner: Jon Gray (1st)
Game Recap
The Rangers took the momentum into Friday after another dramatic win Thursday against the Detroit Tigers. Jon Gray took the hill against Detroit, coming off an impressive start against the Chicago White Sox. It was Gray's first start against Detroit in his MLB career. On Sunday, Gray struck ten White Sox on 102 pitches on three hits and three walks. "I felt a lot better the last couple of times out. The things with the delivery are timing up better and I'm not going with that brace anymore so that's been wonderful," Jon Gray said. "I'm excited to be healthy and to have an arm like that." The Tigers sent their ace Tarik Skubal. Skubal's last start was a four-inning and four-run outing against the Toronto Blue Jays. It was a night that the Rangers needed some sort of relaxing flow to the game, and they got it early on Detroit. The offense picked up right where it left off in Thursday's ninth inning.
The first four batters reached against Skubal on Friday. Marcus Semien led off the game with a walk, Corey Seager singled, Adolis García doubled to score a run, and Jonah Heim drove in two with another double. The Rangers had another chance with Heim at second and none out but couldn't tack on another run. In the top of the third, Nathaniel Lowe continued to do damage against left-handed pitching. Lowe scored Corey Seager again with a double to center field as Texas extended to a 4-0 lead after three innings. Jonah Heim picked up his third RBI on Friday in the fifth with a solo home run to right field. "I don't' think you can find a better hitting catcher," Chris Woodward said about Jonah Heim. "What he does behind the plate, his leadership, his development in that area has been the biggest effect on the team. Offensively he's made some good adjustments. We saw it a little last year at times, but this year he's been more consistent. With Garver going down earl yin the season, he's stepped into that every day role and he's taking it and ran with it."
To start the sixth inning, the Rangers picked up three straight hits against the Tigers reliever, Will Vest. Ezequiel Duran, Charlie Culberson, and Leody Taveras all singled. First, Duran scored to put Texas up 6-0. Adolis García followed with a sacrifice fly to put Texas up 7-0. In the bottom of the eighth, Marcus Semien at shortstop robbed Spencer Torkelson on a fantastic play while getting Tucker Barnhart at first base too. Detroit couldn't muster much offensively on Friday as the Rangers took game two of the four-game series.
Jon Gray got better on Friday after Sunday's good outing in Chicago. Starting with a 3-0 lead, Gray dominated the Tigers with seven scoreless innings. Gray didn't walk a batter and struck out six in his seven innings on 102 pitches. "He was fantastic.," Chris Woodward said. "We've seen glimpses of him being dominant and today showed that. Showed why we gave him that contract and [why] he's our ace." Brett Martin pitched a clean eighth inning. It was Martin's first appearance since June 5th as Brett spent time on the COVID-IL. Martin induced two groundouts and a fly-out in his inning. Garrett Richards pitched a scoreless ninth inning to seal the deal Friday.
Postgame Notes
Jonah Heim's three RBI on Friday was the most since April 14th, his third game of the year, when Jonah picked up five against the Angels.
Jon Gray and Martín Pérez are the only two Rangers pitchers with seven shutout innings or more in a start this season.
The last time Jon Gray threw seven scoreless innings was August 16th, 2019, against the Miami Marlins. Gray threw eight shutout innings against Miami in that game.
Tarik Skubal's eight hits allowed Friday were the most he allowed this season. The last time he allowed eight hits was July 3rd, 2021, against the White Sox.
Leody Taveras reached base three times for the first time in his MLB career.
Taveras picked up a multi-hit game for the first time in his last ten MLB games. He entered Friday was one hit in eleven at-bats on the season.
Eight of the nine Rangers picked up a base hit on Friday. Sam Huff was the only Ranger in the lineup without a hit or reached base.
The Rangers' seven-run win ties the largest margin of victory in a game in 2022. They won 8-1 at Oakland on April 22nd and 11-4 at Oakland on May 28th.
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