In the final game of the shortened season, the Rangers beat the Astros by a final of 8-4. Many fans on social media seem to be rejoicing that the end of the season is here. The Cowboys will help those fans get over this season quickly. It won’t be so quick for the rest of us.
Shin-Soo Choo was activated prior to the game and batted as the DH. Rookie, Sherten Apostel was placed on the 10-day IL retroactive to September 25th with low back tightness. In the first inning, Choo bunted and beat it out but injured his ankle in the process. If this was the last at bat for the Rangers, I have to stand up and give a long slow clap to Choo. Sure I’m happy to get out from his contract but you can’t say he hasn’t left everything out on the field and he has given alot back to the community. He even stepped up and payed the minor league players out of his own pocket.
Jordan Lyles (1-6, 7.02) started for the Rangers and pitched 3 innings. He allowed 2 runs on 4 hits, 2 walks and 4 strikeouts. It then turned into a bullpen game, I assume because it was the last game of the season.
Wes Benjamin (1-1, 4.84) pitched one inning and allowed 1 run on 2 hits, including the home run by Astros shortstop Carlos Correa and one strikeout.
Taylor Hearn (1-0, 3.63) earned his 1st Major-League win. He pitched a scoreless inning, walking one and striking out one.
Kolby Allard (0-6, 7.75) pitched another scoreless inning out of the pen. He walked one and struckout one. It’s a very small sample size but since he moved to the bullpen he has not allowed a run in 4 innings pitched. TR Sullivan mentioned Allard in a post today.
Brett Martin (1-1, 1.84) pitched a scoreless inning as well. You can bet that he will have a role in this bullpen next year.
Jonathan Hernández (5-1, 2.90) was probably the brightest star of the bullpen all season. He allowed one run in his innings today on a hit- a home run to Aledmys Diaz and a walk. He informed the Rangers that he’d like to come out of the bullpen again next year. I like this move myself. He’s been effective and has the confidence.
Add another who pitched a scoreless inning. Rafael Montero (0-1, 4.08) allowed one hit.
Swinging the bats
Sam Huff got the Rangers on the board in the bottom of the 2nd with his single that scored Joey Gallo.
Roigned Odor hit two home runs today. His 1st was a 3-run shot and his 2nd was a solo. really turned things around in his
Leody Taveras hit a single on a 3-1 count that scored Sam Huff and Anderson Tejeda. Taveras and Odor were the only Rangers to have a multi-hit game. Taveras is a special player. He hit a single in the top of the 7th and then stole 2nd base and 3rd and then scored on a throwing error by the catcher. He had 8 stolen bases on the season. Expect Leody to compete for the starting center fielder spot in 2021.
Overall this was a rough season for the Texas Rangers line-up. I was actually really impressed by what we saw from the rookies this year. None seemed overmatched and made some great hustle plays. At times they were over-aggressive on the bases but hopefully they turn that into a learning experience. Seeing Leody Taveras, Anderson Tejeda and Sam Huff made me excited for their potential and the future of this franchise. We all saw flashes of what made each one so highly regarded in the Rangers system.
