The Rangers notched their first win of the season, 10-5, over the Anaheim Angels on April 14 in Arlington, handing last year’s American League Most Valuable Player of the Year (MVP) his second straight loss of the season.
The visiting Angels got off to a quick start as three-time AL MVP Mike Trout hit his second homer of the season off a 91 mph sinker tossed by Rangers starting pitcher Dane Dunning in the top of the first.
Anaheim added another run in the frame to take an early 2-0 lead.
2020 MVP and two-way player Shohei Ohtani was on the mound for the Angels. After a scoreless first inning, he found himself in a bases-loaded jam in the bottom of the second with Rangers Jonah Heim at the plate.
Nathaniel Lowe opened the inning for Texas with a single to the left, followed by another single by Adolis Garcia. Willie Calhoun worked himself into a walk on a 3-2 pitch to advance the runners and load the bases for Heim.
Ohtani worked the count against Heim to his favor, 0-2, before the switch-hitting catcher belted the next pitch into the rightfield bleachers for a grand slam.
Sports Illustrated (SI) reports Heim’s grand slam was the first of his career. It was also the first surrendered grand slam and the first home run hit off the splitter thrown by Ohtani during his Major League career.
“It’s pretty special,” Heim said. “When you can hit a grand slam, a home run off a guy as talented as Ohtani, it’s special. [I’m] Excited; hopefully, we can get them tomorrow.”
The home run gave the Rangers a 4-2 lead.
That score would stay stagnant for both teams until the bottom of the fifth, when Heim, the second inning hero, sparked a four-run inning in the bottom of the fourth inning with a one-out single.
Heim advanced to second when Brad Miller hit into a fielder’s choice.
Ohtani was then taken out of the game and replaced by Brian Moran with two outs in the inning and Coyer Seager waiting to take the batter’s box for Texas.
Moran worked Seager to an 0-2 count before throwing a 69 mph curve that Seager punched into the rightfield stands for a homer. The two-run shot was the first time Seager has gone yard this season and gave the Rangers their second four-run inning of the contest and an 8-2 lead.
Dunning worked 3.2 innings for Texas and limited the Angels to only two runs in the first. He gave up six hits, walked two, and struck out seven before giving way to John King.
Despite only working for 1.1 innings, King would be the eventual game-winner, earning his first victory of the year.
Texas added two more runs in the fifth inning when Seager knocked in Heim in the frame. Marcus Semien also scored a run on an error later in the inning, giving Texas a 10-2 lead.
The Rangers used a total of five pitchers in the game. Following King on the bump were Brock Burke, Garrett Richards, and Brett Martin, who collectively stitched together four innings in relief, allowing three runs on four hits. The 10-5 win pushed the team’s record on the season to 2-4.
Heim shone on the 77-degree night at Globe Life Field in front of the 21,440 in attendance, going 3-for-4 with three hits and five RBIs. He pushed his batting average on the season to .545 and his OPS to 1.706.
