The Texas Rangers scored five runs while the Seattle Mariners scored zero runs.
For the second time this season the Rangers and Mariners opened up a series with Jacob deGrom matching up against Logan Gilbert in a battle between former Stetson University right-handers turned AL rotation-toppers.
Like the game back in Arlington earlier this month, there was a first inning home run. This time, however, it was the Rangers getting out on top early with Brandon Nimmo homering to leadoff the game on the game’s third pitch. Little did we know, despite three hours of baseball to follow, that would be all the runs Texas would need.
In fact, the Rangers made a habit of getting on for extra bases in the early going against Gilbert as they led off with an extra base hit in each of the first three innings.
However, Texas had trouble bringing in runs throughout most of the game despite piling up base runners. On the night, the Rangers had 17 opportunities with runners in scoring position and though they collected five hits in those situations, only three of those hits brought in runs.
Wyatt Langford singled in a run in the top of the third. Jake Burger provided an insurance run with an RBI single in the top of the seventh. After a sac fly by Andrew McCutchen in the top of the ninth, Josh Jung doubled in Texas’ fifth and final run on their seventh extra base hit on the night.
Meanwhile, while the bats were doing everything but making this game a blowout for most of the night, the Mariners were doing anything but being particularly threatening despite the relatively close contest.
With deGrom lacking his usual swing-and-miss stuff, and still on a short leash in the season’s first month, the Mariners fouled off a ton of two-strike deGrom offerings and had him out of the game after four innings and 88 pitches.
Nevertheless, deGrom wasn’t especially hittable either as Seattle mustered four hits and worked two walks against deGrom with their best chance of the game coming with the bases loaded and one out in the bottom of the first when deGrom buckled down and collected two of his three Ks on the night to end the threat.
deGrom’s short outing meant the bullpen had to do a lot of the heavy lifting, certainly an early trend so far this season. Answering the call, a fivesome of Gavin Collyer, Tyler Alexander, Jalen Beeks, Cole Winn, and Jacob Latz combined to toss five innings of two-hit, scoreless relief.
The Mariners nearly broke through to get on the board in the bottom of the sixth in what was then still a 2-0 game when J.P. Crawford singled to shallow left with Josh Naylor at second base but an aggressive send had Naylor out by like ten feet at home thanks to a nice and easy throw from Langford.
Ultimately the Rangers were in charge of this game practically from pitch No. 1, even with the score close until late and with the Mariners opting for a gameplan of trying to get deGrom out as quickly as possible by working the count.
With the win, the Rangers are now 4-0 against the Mariners this season and have evened up their record on this current long road trip.
Player of the Game: Jung collected three of Texas’ seven extra base hits, all doubles, and drove in a run as the oft-maligned third baseman from a season ago continues to heat up on this road trip.
Also, congrats to Gavin Collyer for picking up his first big league win with 1.1 innings of scoreless relief.
Up Next: The Rangers and Mariners will take to primetime for the second game of this weekend three-game set. RHP Nathan Eovaldi is next up for Texas opposite RHP George Kirby for Seattle.
The Saturday evening first pitch from T-Mobile Park is scheduled for scheduled for 6:15 pm CDT and will be aired nationally on FOX.
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