Rangers Trounce Yankees in Series Finale

Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images

April 30, 2023

Rangers 15, Yankees 2

ARLINGTON, Tex. (Apr 30) – The Texas Rangers ended their series with the New York Yankees with a bang by defeating them 15–2 on Sunday at Globe Life Field. Home runs by Josh Jung, Nathaniel Lowe, Jonah Heim, and Adolis Garcia guided the Rangers to a well-deserved series win over the Bronx Bombers. After an off day on Monday, the Rangers will host the Arizona Diamondbacks for a short two-game series beginning on Tuesday. It will be a matchup of righties as Zac Gallen (4–1, 2.15 ERA) will get the start for the Diamondbacks, and Jon Gray (1–1, 3.91 ERA) will take the mound for the Rangers.

Rangers Pour it On

The Rangers got things started in the bottom of the first on this pleasant afternoon. After Marcus Semien flied out to left, Robbie Grossman and Nathaniel Lowe both drew walks. Adolis Garcia followed that up with a single, and that’s when the fireworks started. Rangers third baseman Josh Jung stepped up to the plate and belted a Grand Slam to right. It was the third serving of salami courtesy of the Rangers this year. It was also the first of Jung’s career.

The Yankees scored their first run of the afternoon in the top of the third on a groundout by Oswald Peraza that allowed Aaron Hicks to score. Their second, and final run came in the top of the ninth. A bases-loaded walk to Kyle Higashioka plated Gleyber Torres, and that is where the scoring would end for the Yankees. Meanwhile, the cavalcade of home runs continued for the Rangers in the bottom of the fifth. A two-run homer by Lowe and a solo shot by Garcia made it 7–1 Rangers. Then Jonah Heim joined in the fun by launching a solo homer of his own.

Six-Run Sixth

At this point, the Rangers’ offense was contagious, especially in the bottom of the sixth. Marcus Semien scored on a single to left by Robbie Grossman. Moments later, Grossman trotted home on a bases-loaded walk to Jung. Then they stretched their lead to 12–1, shortly after. Then a two-run double to center by Heim drove in Lowe and Garcia. Ezequiel Duran brought Jung and Heim home with a single to center to give the Rangers a commanding 14–1 lead. Many would consider that to be a pretty good day’s work, but the Rangers weren’t finished with the Yankees just yet.

They managed to squeeze in another run. A double by catcher Sandy Leon drove in Jung. Leon had come in as a defensive replacement earlier in the game. This was done in order to get Heim off his feet for the afternoon. Yankees starter Nestor Cortes gave up seven runs (all earned) on five hits. He walked four, struck out seven, and gave up three of the Rangers’ four home runs. Cortes got the loss in this one, running his record to 3–2, with an ERA of 4.91. Righty Albert Abreu came on in the fifth and surrendered all six (earned) runs in that sixth inning. Lefty Nick Ramirez gave up the Rangers’ final run in the ninth.

Perez Goes Six

Rangers lefty Martin Perez earned his team-leading fourth win of the season (now 4-1) after turning in a quality start (6 IP, 6 H, 1 R-ER, 1 BB, 2 SO, 70 pitches/46 strikes). His 70 pitches thrown this afternoon were T3rd-fewest by a Rangers starting pitcher in an outing of 6+ innings since pitches were first officially tracked in 1988.

The other Rangers on that list include 60-John Koronka on 6/29/06 against the San Francisco Giants (6 IP), 69-Ryan Drese on 7/2/04 against the Houston Astros (6 IP), 70-Pérez Sunday against the Yankees (6 IP)/Nick Tepesch on 7/26/14 against the Oakland Athletics (6 IP)/Mike Morgan on 7/29/99 against the Baltimore Orioles (6 IP). Pérez has logged 5-or-more IP and allowed 3-or-fewer runs in each of his six starts this season (2.41 ERA), becoming the first Ranger to open a season with 6-or-more starts of that ilk since Lance Lynn in 2020 (7 straight).

Additional Notes

The total paid attendance for this four-game series against the Yankees was 146,771. It marks the highest attendance for any series in Globe Life Field history. The Rangers’ three grand slams this season are tied for the most in the majors (along with the Boston Red Sox and Los Angeles Dodgers). Marcus Semien’s 25 runs scored this season are the most ever by a Ranger before the end of April (prev. 24 by Ian Kinsler in 2012/Carl Everett in 2003). Robbie Grossman’s 11-game hitting streak is tied for the longest by a Rangers batter this season (also 11-Nathaniel Lowe, 4/4-16) and is the longest active hit streak in the Major Leagues.

Postgame Comments

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Rangers manager Bruce Bochy was in good spirits after the game. The first question he was asked was in regard to how important a series like this was after being swept by the Cincinnati Reds earlier in the week. He said “I really thought it was important. We bounced back and showed that we have the capability to handle a really tough series like this one.” Bochy was also asked if he went back and forth when deciding to take Martin Perez out after 70 pitches. He replied with “He had a long inning in the sixth, but he did his job by giving us six really good innings. He did a nice job pitching in traffic, and he was definitely a big part of this win.

Perez also spoke to the media after the game as well. Like Bochy, Perez was asked how important this series was upon returning from Cincinnati. He said “It’s very important. When we were flying back from Cincinnati, our plan was to just play good baseball. It was important for us as a team because we have to move forward. It’s a long season, and you’re going to have bumps along the way. How we react to them is everything.”