Sherten Apostel made his Major League Debut for the Texas Rangers. Catcher Sam Huff made his debut yesterday. If that doesn’t tell us the Rangers are evaluating for the future, I don’t know what does.
The Rangers just completed a double-header against the AL West leading Oakland Athletics. They won the first by a final of 5-2 and then lost the 2nd by a final of 10-1.
1st game of the double-header
The Rangers won the first game by a final of 5-2 with rookie Wes Benjamin (1-0, 4.38) earning his first MLB win. Benjamin pitched four solid innings, allowing 2 runs on 3 hits, 1 walk and 4 strikeouts.
Rafael Montero (0-1, 2.13) earned his 8th save of the season.
Offensively, all of the Rangers runs were scored in the bottom of the 1st inning. Odor hit a 3-run home run and then Ronald Guzmán hit a 2-run home run. Four of their five hits came in the 1st inning with their last hit of the game coming in the 2nd.
The Rangers record was 16-29.
2nd game of the double-header
Kolby Allard (0-6, 8.49) wasn’t able to get an out in the top of the 2nd before he was pulled. It was another rough outing and I have to wonder if he will get another start.
Taylor Hearn replaced Allard and pitched 1 inning. Hearn struck out the side but it wasn’t in order. He allowed 1 run on 1 hit, 2 walks and had 3 strikeouts.
The Oakland Athletics put up 7 runs in the top of the 2nd and basically put the game out of reach, especially for a seven inning game.
Joey Gallo kept the Rangers from being shut out with his 9th home run of the year. That baseball exited in a hurry- literally the blink of an eye.
Sherten Apostel makes MLB debut
The big news happened after the 1st game of the double-header. Third baseman Sherten Apostel was called up and shortstop Elvis Andrus was placed on the 10-day IL with his lingering back issue.
Alot of Ranger fans have been calling to see Apostel recently with the Rangers more willing to give their young guys a look. He commited his first error but I don’t really put alot into it as his nerves were probably getting to him and growing pains are expected.
Apostel grounded out in his first at-bat on the 2nd pitch. In his 2nd at-bat, he struck out swinging on the 5th pitch which was a 69 MPH curveball. The most impressive at-bat was the one in the bottom of the 7th. After working a 2-2 count on four pitches, he fouled-off four pitched in a row then hit a 73 MPH curveball into left field for his first Major-League hit of his career. He finished the game going 1-3 with a strikeout.
Sam Huff got his first Major-League hit in the bottom of the 6th.
As a unit the line-up got 10 hits. Taveras, IKF and Gallo each had two hits.
So far, I like what I’m seeing from the young guys and have to say the Rangers future is looking bright.
Other notes**
Willie Calhoun is expected to be activated from the IL on Tuesday.
John Blake reported that Anderson Tejeda was scratched due to a stomach bug.
In case you missed it, here is Marah’s recap from the 10-6 loss to the Athletics on Friday.
