The Texas Rangers scored seven runs but the Chicago White Sox scored eleven runs.
In the top of the first inning, Wyatt Langford popped a ball straight up for what should have been an easy third out but due to poor communication from the White Sox infield, the ball dropped and the Rangers had their first base runner.
You could argue that Langford had time to end up on second base had he been sprinting but he settled for a single on the mistake. One batter later, Brandon Nimmo roped a ball down the line for a double. You would assume that, with two outs, Langford would be chugging around the bases to attempt to score.
However, Langford seemed to think the ball was either fielded by the Chicago first baseman or deflected closer to the infield or something because he just stopped at second base with third base coach Corey Ragsdale screaming at him to get moving.
By the time Langford realized the ball had reached the outfield, the best he could do was stop at third base, ruining a shot at two-out RBI and an early lead. The Rangers had another crack at that with Ezequiel Duran up with two men in scoring position but he elected to bunt with two outs for some inexplicable reason.
Now, obviously Duran was trying to catch the White Sox by surprise with a bunt but in addition to that being asinine as essentially Texas’ most productive and dangerous hitter of the last few weeks or so was reduced to hoping for a surprise bunt hit, Duran’s execution on the bunt itself was also poor giving the White Sox an easy out to wiggle out of danger.
Despite being gifted some golden opportunities, the Rangers wasted them and as bad as all of that sounds, I regret to inform you that the top of the first inning was far and away the better of the two halves for Texas.
In the bottom of the inning, Rangers starter Jacob deGrom allowed six runs on five hits and two walks. None of the six hits featured an exit velo of above 80 MPH. The furthest of the hits went was a 230 ft single that left Miguel Vargas’ bat at 71.5 MPH. All were weakly hit. Some were obnoxious bloopers.
It wasn’t all tragic BABIP luck, though. The walks were killer and the frustrating sequence was compounded by Justin Foscue being unable to catch a throw and apply a tag that could have negated a leadoff double, and later Langford making one of the worst throws I’ve ever seen that turned into a throwing error that allowed Chicago to score their first run.
After that first inning, the Rangers outscored the White Sox 7-5 so I guess at least they battled and scored some runs. That will have to suffice for the silver lining for the evening. Unfortunately that first inning still counted and the Rangers are back below .500.
Lesson: Never bunt.
Player of the Game: Danny Jansen homered among his two hits and drove in a team-best three runs out of the No. 9 spot in the lineup.
Up Next: The Rangers will try to salvage a series win in tomorrow’s finale with LHP MacKenzie Gore expected to make the mound for Texas opposite RHP Sean Burke for Chicago.
The Wednesday evening first pitch from Rate Field is scheduled for 6:40 pm CDT and will be aired on the Rangers Sports Network.
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