“Any time Beltre shows up in a batter’s box or baseball field you look for special things to happen”, Texas manager Jeff Banister said. “All we need him to do is be a solid fifth starter and go five, five and two-thirds and every once in a while go six”. The Detroit Tigers will exercise caution with Maybin, who is hitting.235 with one home run and seven RBI in 51 at-bats with Triple-A Toledo. In the meantime, everything went south. A pause, then the pitch. Detroit had the bases loaded in the ninth, but couldn’t overcome the deficit. Tigers 2, Rangers 0. The right-hander left in the third with stiffness in his throwing shoulder. Tom Wilhelmsen worked a scoreless seventh for the win. Texas has been hitting the Detroit pitching pretty well and that should continue today. “We’re facing some good teams, but we’ve got to find a way to win”.
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But Ranaudo would never get back into the game.
The Tigers led 5-2 entering the sixth, but Odor led off with a single and scored on Mazara’s double.
Chris Davis hit a two-run homer as the Orioles took the nightcap, 5-2. The third one was much fairer and much further, 377 feet into the right field stands. He leads the majors with 32 RBI and tops the AL with 11 home runs. Pelfrey (0-4, 6.23 ERA) settled down after allowing home runs to Rougned Odor and Nomar Mazara to start the game. Kyle Ryan left the game, but the damage was done.
Mitch Moreland singled and scored on a double to right by Andrus.
Aledmys Diaz sparked the winning rally with a leadoff single.
Detroit had men on first and second in the eighth when J.D. Martinez’s dribbler to the right of the plate turned into an inning-ending double play.
Tigers pitcher Mark Lowe stands near the mound while Rangers’ Delino DeShields rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run in the eighth inning. Tony Barnette loaded the bases with two out and gave way to righty Shawn Tolleson, who faced lefty Anthony Gose with Jose Iglesias on deck representing the tying run. The first pitching match up on Friday will be the best. He allowed consecutive homers by Odor and Mazara to start the game. His big fastball and late sink could be a lethal combination at times, even if he rarely got hitters to swing and miss or strikeout. They have exceeded their season average of 0.0 runs per game by averaging 0.0 during that stretch. Perez regained his composure and the strike zone to shut out the Tigers for the next three innings.
Wilson was traded from Texas to Detroit in March, and after playing five games for the Tigers, he was dealt back to the Rangers earlier this week for minor league pitcher Chad Bell. They threw a combined 167 pitches in the game.
Texas Rangers baseball should come with a motion sickness warning.
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The Rangers wrap up their three-game series in Detroit tomorrow.
