Rangers Split Series with Diamondbacks

May 3, 2023

Diamondbacks 12, Rangers 7

ARLINGTON, Tex. (May 3) — A two-homer day for AL Rookie of the Month Josh Jung wasn’t enough as the Texas Rangers fell to the Arizona Diamondbacks by a score of 12–7 on Wednesday. With this loss, they’ll settle for a split in this two-game set with the Diamondbacks. The Rangers’ winning streak ends at four as well. The good news, however, is that they won four out of six on this homestand. From here, they embark on a ten-game road trip spanning three cities. The first leg of that trip will be against the Los Angeles Angels for three games. That series will start on Friday evening at 6:07 pm Pacific. The starting pitchers for that game are still to be determined for both teams.

Two-Homer Day for Jung

A solo home run to right center by catcher Jonah Heim gave the Rangers a 1–0 lead in the bottom of the second. The Diamondbacks answered back in the top of the third on a three-run blast to left by Christian Walker. The homer trend continued in the bottom of the fourth thanks to Rangers third baseman Josh Jung. He hit his seventh home run to bring the Rangers to within one run at 3–2.

The Diamondbacks stretched their lead to 5–2 in the top of the fifth on a two-run home run to right center. Furthermore, a second homer by Walker gave the Diamondbacks their sixth run of the afternoon. The Rangers, however, put their relentlessness on display once again in the bottom of the fifth. Leody Taveras hit one over the wall in right-center to cut the lead in half at 6–3. Moments later, Travis Jankowski drove in catcher Sandy Leon with a double down the third-base line. Next came a sacrifice fly by Adolis Garcia that brought home Jankowski. Finally, Josh Jung’s second homer of the afternoon, with Nathaniel Lowe on base, gave the Rangers a 7–6 lead.

Late-Inning Surge by Diamondbacks

The Diamondbacks managed to score five runs in the top of the seventh to take an 11–7 lead. They tied it 7–7 thanks to a single by Emmanuel Rivera that brought in Corbin Carroll. Then a bases-loaded walk to Walker allowed Marte to trot home. Next came a sacrifice fly by Josh Rojas that drove in Rivera to make it 9–7. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. was brought home with a single to left by Dominic Fletcher, and then Walker scored on a double to right by Geraldo Perdomo. The Diamondbacks scored their 12th, and final, run of the evening on a solo homer to right center by Gurriel Jr. This game really had a bit of everything packed into it.

Pitching Notes

Diamondbacks righty Brandon Pfaadt took a no-decision in his major league debut. He was unable to finish the fifth inning. It was the third time in the past two seasons that an opposing starter has made his debut against the Rangers (also Hunter Brown on 9/5/22 with the Houston Astros and Grayson Rodriguez on 4/5/23 with the Baltimore Orioles). Pfaadt’s seven runs allowed marked the most by the Rangers against an opposing starter making his debut since 8/12/08 against the Boston Red Sox. On that day, the club pinned eight runs, all earned, on Charlie Zink in the Rangers’ eventful 19–17 loss at Fenway Park. None of the four opposing starters to make their debut with a start at Globe Life Field has earned a win.

Rangers righty Andrew Heaney faced the Diamondbacks for the first time in his career on Monday. Heaney was credited with his second no-decision of the season. He allowed six runs on four hits, including a season-high three home runs (ND, 4 2/3 IP, 4 H, 6 R-ER, 4 BB, 5 SO, 3 HR, 92 pitches/49 strikes). Heaney snapped a four-game streak of lasting at least five innings. The six runs allowed are his second-most since allowing seven runs in his Rangers debut on April 4 against the Orioles. Josh Sborz took the loss for the Rangers after allowing three runs on two hits. He is now 0–1 with an ERA of 3.72. Jose Leclerc pitched a third of an inning, allowing two runs as well.

Postgame Comments

In his postgame press conference, Rangers manager Bruce Bochy reflected on Andrew Heaney’s outing. He said “I think it just came down to too many free passes. He gave up a few home runs, but that’s something he can learn from, and hopefully (he’ll) iron those things out the next time he goes out there.” Bochy was also asked if he was concerned about Jose Leclerc after his performance. He replied, “I think you have to be (concerned). He had trouble finding the strike zone. Things just got away from him today.”

Rangers starter Andrew Heaney also appeared before the media after the game. When asked what went wrong, he bluntly stated, “I wasn’t throwing strikes. It’s frustrating, because I feel like the way our guys are swinging the bats, I need to step up and get outs. I just wasn’t able to do that today.”