Week 8 – May 3rd – May 5th – Dropped Two Against Texas but Decent Effort All Around
Today, we begin a 3-game series with the Texas Rangers at home. The Rangers are playing .563 ball this season, compiling a record of 18 wins and 14 losses. They are in 3rd place in the West Division, 1.5 games behind the leader. Their number of runs scored of 163 ranks 4th in the American League, and their .262 batting average ranks 4th. On the other side of the diamond, they have given up 173 runs (14th) with their starters compiling an ERA of 5.22, which ranks 12th. Their bullpen sports an ERA of 4.65, ranking 13th.
Here are the projected pitching matchups, with our pitchers listed first:
RHP C. Hernandez (0-0, 13.50 ERA) vs LHP A. Heaney (1-3, 7.47 ERA)
RHP M. Wacha (0-2, 3.83 ERA) vs RHP D. Dunning (2-0, 4.24 ERA)
RHP B. Singer (0-4, 6.31 ERA) vs RHP M. Lorenzen (2-2, 4.34 ERA)
The top 5 players on their team are:
1. SS Corey Seager (Age: 30, Overall: 80, Potential: 80)
2. 2B Marcus Semien (33, 65, 65)
3. LF Wyatt Langford (22, 65, 80)
4. SP Nathan Eovaldi (34, 55, 55)
5. LF Evan Carter (21, 55, 80)
Game Summary – May 3rd – Rangers Fall Short, 3-2, at Kansas City
In a low-scoring affair between the Kansas City Royals and the Texas Rangers, pitcher Carlos Hernandez was the difference between victory and defeat. The Kansas City right-hander earned accolades for his stellar performance in the 3-2 Royals win. The win has Kansas City at 13-20. Bobby Witt Jr., who is tied for 7th in the AL with a .585 slugging percentage, chipped in a solo home run for Kansas City in the bottom of the sixth. For the game, the shortstop had 2 hits in 4 at-bats with 1 home run, 1 single, 1 run scored, and 2 runs batted in.
Code:
Player Rslt (W-L) IP H R ER BB K HR PI ERA
C. Hernandez W (1-0) 6.0 3 2 2 1 10 1 86 6.75
"We were in it," said Texas manager Bruce Bochy. "We just didn't score enough runs."
I decided to send down SS/UT Nick Loftin and call up 3B Cam Devanney. Loftin did not impress well with a .154/.233/.308, 39AB, 1HR, 4RBI, 45 wRC+, and -0.4 WAR. I need better than that if we are to compete this season. Cam Devanney is currently batting a .270/.365/.568, 74AB, 5HR, 15RBI, 121 wRC+, .932OPS, and 0.5 WAR. Let’s see if things start to define themselves.
GAME NOTES
Player of the Game: Carlos Hernandez
Ballpark: Kauffman Stadium
Weather: Cloudy (58 degrees), wind blowing out to the center at 12 mph
Start Time: 6:40 PM CT
Time: 2:42
Attendance: 21863
Special Notes: RP John Schreiber was injured while pitching. He seems to have a tired arm, so I’m benching him for 7 days since I don’t want to lose him for longer. It’s a minimal injury, and he needs to rest his arm for a few days. He has been pitching well for us.
Game Summary – May 4th – Rangers Score Late to Beat Royals, 3-2
Fans witnessed a whale of a game between the Texas Rangers and the Kansas City Royals. Wyatt Langford left his imprint on the 3-2 Texas win against the Kansas City Royals. Langford, who is tied for 5th in the AL in doubles with 11, was 2 for 4 with a home run, while adding 3 RBI and scoring once. The win gives Texas a season record of 19-15. Langford had a timely hit for Texas in the top of the eighth. With Texas trailing 1-0, he turned a 2-0 fastball into a 3-run home run. It was his 6th home run of the season, making it 3-1, Texas.
"It's always great to put the barrel on the ball and contribute," said Langford.
Code:
Player Rslt (W-L) IP H R ER BB K HR PI ERA
M. Wacha L (0-3) 7.1 8 2 2 1 7 0 99 3.61
GAME NOTES
Player of the Game: Wyatt Langford
Ballpark: Kauffman Stadium
Weather: Rain (59 degrees), wind blowing out to the center at 10 mph
Start Time: 6:10 PM CT
Time: 3:26
Attendance: 23922
Game Summary – May 5th – Royals Beaten by Rangers, 3-2
Brady Singer pitched well enough to win, but it was not to be. The Kansas City Royals, despite Singer's fine outing, dropped a 3-2 decision to the Texas Rangers at Kauffman Stadium. Earning his 12th save of the year was Josh Sborz. The Rangers, now 20-15, know that wins in May count the same as wins in September. Nathaniel Lowe, who is tied for 3rd in the AL in hits with 43, had a direct impact on the outcome. Lowe contributed a run-scoring single in the top of the seventh inning to put Texas up, 3-0. Lowe called the win "a collective effort."
GAME NOTES
Player of the Game: Brady Singer
Ballpark: Kauffman Stadium
Weather: Partly Cloudy (61 degrees), wind blowing out to the right at 12 mph
Start Time: 1:10 PM CT
Time: 3:15
Attendance: 21612
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Overall, we had a good series against Texas as no game was a blowout. We stayed right with them in all three, but couldn't get over the hump in the last two. On to the next series...