The Texas Rangers notched their first win of the season against the Blue Jays in Toronto. The Rangers defeated them by 12-6 on April 10, avoiding getting swept during a three-game series.
The Rangers offense stepped up after trailing 6-1 in the fourth inning. Following a walk by Mitch Garver and a fielder’s choice that put Adolis Garcia on first base, the Rangers tallied five consecutive hits, the last of which was a double by Brad Miller to tie the game at 6-6.
Corey Seager took the lead with a game-winning single to the opposite field. The Rangers added to their lead in the fifth inning with a one-out single by Nathaniel Lowe. Brad Miller drove in Nick Solak with a bases-loaded sacrifice fly for his third RBI of the game, giving the Rangers a 9-6 lead.
Jonah Heim added a two-run dinger in the seventh, and Miller, the next batter up, also slapped a two-run shot on the road to victory.
“It’s great to get our first win of the season,” Solak said. “To be down and come back is big, too.”
The Rangers’ pitching has been questionable thus far this year — in the young season, a total of five pitchers have an ERA of 9.00 or higher — and right-hander Spencer Howard was on the mound to start the day but only managed to last through the third inning after giving up six on runs on six hits while striking out five.
However, the Rangers bullpen on April 10 was able to deter the hot bats of the Blue Jays, and Brock Burke picked up the first win of the season after pitching two scoreless innings in which he allowed a walk and struck out five.
The set of games in Toronto for the Rangers was part of Major League baseball’s opening day. Now the Rangers will have a chance to return home for their opening day Monday, April 11, at 3:05 p.m. The game will be against the Colorado Rockies as the National League team comes to Arlington for two games before the Anaheim angels come to town for a three-day set starting on April 14.
Promotions at the ballpark in Arlington include the Charley Pride bobblehead giveaway on April 15 and the Seager 1972 replica jersey giveaway on April 17.
Colorado comes into the two-game homestand with a two-in-one record and one of three teams tied for first in the National League West. Anaheim thus far, both a record of one and two on the year. The AL West rival Angels are in a three-place tie for third place in the AL West thus far in 2022.
