Nick Solak ties career high 3 hits as Rangers top Mariners

It was a busy day for the Rangers prior to the start of the game tonight. They made quite a few moves which you can about here.

Prior to the game tonight Mike Minor was 0-3 with a 6.89 earned run average and a bWAR of -0.4 which will improve.

On the Mound

Minor, looking for that elusive first win, labored through the 1st inning throwing 28 pitches. He allowed 1 hit and 1 walk.

In the 2nd inning Minor did alot better keeping his pitch count down throwing 13 pitches with 2 strikeouts. As has been the case this season his fastball velocity is not where it was last season.

In the 3rd Minor had a hard time limiting the pitches. He threw 26 pitches and issued 2 walks and struck out 2.

In the of the 4th Minor threw 9 pitches and got a ground out, pop out and a fly out.

Minor only pitched 4 innings tonight but his oitch count was 76 and the Rangers announced a couple of days ago that he was going to be on a strict pitch limit. Personally, I think he should have gone out for the 5th.

Out of the pen

Nick Goody was not very good tonight. He pitched 2/3 of an inning and gave up 2 runs on 2 hits and 1 walk. One of those runs was unearned though due to a throwing error by Andrus.

Edinson V?lquez (2-1, 6.35) only pitched 1/3 of an inning and gave up a hit but then got Austin Nola to strikeout swinging to end the inning. V?lquez ended up earning the win.

Joely Rodr?guez pitched 2 scoreless innings and struck out 3 Mariners.

Jonathan Hernandez has been a godsend to this bullpen. He pitched a scoreless 8th inning and lowered his earnes run average to 1.80.

Rafael Montero earned his 3rd save of the season with his shut out inning. He struck out 1 as well and kept his prestine 0.00 earned run average.

The Rangers pitching staff held the Mariners to 4 hits, issued 4 walks and struck out 9. The Mariners did not get a hit after their 2-run 5th inning.

Swinging the bats

Solak delivered with the bases loaded in the bottom of the 1st. He singled to center and drove in Isiah Kiner-Falefa and the Toddfather. Score 2-0 Rangers

In the bottom of the 3rd the bats came to life again. Isiah Kiner-Falefa started with a double. The Toddfather grounded out. Gallo was HBP for the 2nd time in the game. Milk drinkin’ Solak hit a single to left which scores IKF. Willie Calhoun then singled which scored Gallo and put runners on the corners for Odor. Odor worked a 2-2 count and fouled off 3 balls and then worked it to 3-2 but unfortunately popped out to the catcher. Then Elvis grounded out to short. Score 4-0 Rangers

For Solak, it was the 3rd straight game with 2 hits. He later got another hit in the bottom of the 5th, which ties his career high with 3 hits.

After the 9

The Rangers won 4-2 over the Mariners bringing their record to 7-9, back to within two games of .500 ball.

Player of the game: Gotta go with Nick Solak, 3-4 with 3 RBI.

What’s next? The final game of the series is tomorrow at 8:05 PM. Rangers send Lyles (1-1, 5.56) to the mound vs Walker (1-2, 5.79) for the Mariners.