The Texas Rangers scored three runs but the Baltimore Orioles scored eight runs.
If you had told me that the first week of the season would end with Texas taking their first two series on the road but with their two losses coming in the starts made by Nathan Eovaldi, I would have said “well, ok, baseball do be like that sometimes” but it certainly wouldn’t have been my first guess.
Near my last guess would have been how hittable Eovaldi has been so far. Like in his outing on Opening Day, Eovaldi ran into two-out troubles with Baltimore scoring their first four runs — two in the 2nd, two in the 3rd — after Eovaldi had retired two hitters.
That isn’t to say Eovaldi was unlucky. He simply wasn’t good today. And even after he got through those two-out run-scoring rallies, he allowed a home run in the fifth and saw another inherited run hit his ledger all while finishing the day with just four innings pitched with six runs allowed on eight hits and three walks with five strikeouts.
You know Eovaldi isn’t on track when he’s walking guys. Eovaldi hasn’t had a season in which his walk rate was a number above 2 since 2019. Mostly though, Eovaldi just hasn’t looked right so far this season in his two starts. For a guy coming off a great season, albeit one that was lousy with various injuries, it certainly a concern but one the Rangers are hoping their veteran bulldog can work through.
Ironically, the Rangers had their own two-out rallies going against Baltimore starter Trevor Rogers, but though they scored two runs off of one in the top of the 4th to cut the lead to 4-2, another died without a run in the previous inning and eventually the Orioles padded their 4-2 lead before Texas could mount a comeback.
Overall, the Rangers had a successful first stint to open the year with two series wins. Now they just have to see how Eovaldi bounces back.
Player of the Game: Old LSB comment section punching bag Leody Taveras had his revenge on the Rangers today as he went 2-for-2 with two walks, two RBI, and a run scored while reaching in each of his plate appearances.
The 6-9 hitters for Baltimore had seven hits, reached three more times via walks, and drove in five runs. You won’t win many games when the opposing bottom of the order does that much damage.
If you’re looking for a positive from the Rangers, Josh Jung had a couple of hits and an RBI after an abysmal first handful of games to start the year.
Up Next: The Rangers will take a day off on Thursday before opening up their home slate with a series against the Cincinnati Reds. The starting pitcher for Texas is still TBD but perhaps it will be RHP Kumar Rocker. The Reds, meanwhile, will expected to opt for RHP Brady Singer.
The Friday afternoon home debut first pitch from The Shed is set for 3:05 pm CDT and will be aired on the Rangers Sports Network.
