Rangers Walk it Off in Extras

Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images

May 18, 2024

Rangers 3, Angels 2 (13 innings)

ARLINGTON, Tex. (May 18) — The Texas Rangers triumphed over the Los Angeles Angels on Saturday, beating them 3–2 in extra innings. They were aided by a walk-off hit-by-pitch to Nathaniel Lowe in a game that lasted three hours and 44 minutes. They’ll aim for the series win on Sunday afternoon. It’s getaway day with first pitch scheduled for 1:35 pm Central at Globe Life Field. It will be a matchup of righties as Jose Soriano (1–4, 3.72 ERA) will take the hill for the Angels, and the Rangers will counter with Michael Lorenzen (2–2, 3.75 ERA).

Eleven For Garcia

The Rangers and Angels traded zeros for the first three frames. The Angels jumped out to a 1–0 lead on a solo home run to left by Taylor Ward off Rangers starter Jose Urena. It was the second time in as many days that Ward has gone deep. The Rangers tied it up in the bottom of the sixth off Angels starter Patrick Sandoval. After a strikeout to Lowe, Garcia loomed in the on deck circle. The crowd of 36,457 got to see Adolis Garcia do what he does best, as he took Sandoval deep to left for his 11th home run of the season. The Angels answered right back in the top of the seventh off Rangers reliever Jose Leclerc.

Friends in Lowe Places

They took a 2–1 lead thanks to a solo shot to right-center by Jo Adell. The Rangers knotted it up 2–2 in the bottom of the eighth off reliever Luis Garcia. After Leody Taveras grounded out to short, Marcus Semien drew a walk. He advanced to third on a single to center by Corey Seager. On deck was Lowe, who plated Semien with a sacrifice fly to center sending the crowd into a frenzy of frenzies.

The game remained in a 2–2 tie for five more innings. Fast forward to the bottom of the 13th inning with Carson Fulmer on the mound for the Angels. Rangers outfielder Travis Jankowski came into the game as the ghost runner on second. He grounded into a play to end the bottom of the 12th. Jankowski moved to third on an infield single by Ezequiel Duran. After a line-out to third by Marcus Semien, the Angels intentionally walked Corey Seager. That loaded the bases for Lowe, whom Fulmer hit with a pitch, and at first it looked like it barely missed him. The Angels used their challenge to try and overturn the call, but were unsuccessful and the game was over.

Quality Start for Urena

For the Rangers, Urena made his third start, and 13th appearance of the campaign overall. He did not factor into the decision despite posting his second quality start in as many outings. His line was 6 IP, 4 H, 1 R-ER, 1 HR, 1 BB, 3 SO, 101 pitches/61 strikes. The lone damage against him was the solo shot by Ward in the fourth. Urena recorded a pair of three-up, three-down innings in the first and fifth frames. He tossed 29 pitches in the third inning, but maneuvered around a one-out double in the frame to escape unscathed. Yerry Rodriguez tossed the last two innings for the Rangers in which he walked one and struck out one.

His record is now 1–0 with an ERA of 6.32. David Robertson pitched a pair of scoreless innings in relief, covering the 10th and 11th frames. He struck out three, retiring all six batters he faced. It marked his third time to pitch a season-high two innings, as he has yet to allow a hit in any of those outings. Sandoval took a no-decision for the Angels in this one. His line was 6 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 3 BB, and 5 SO. He collected his 500th career strikeout in the bottom of the fifth, fanning Josh Smith on a seven-pitch at-bat. Sandoval has now worked at least six innings in each of his last three starts. After hitting Lowe, Fulmer took the loss for the Halos. He is now 0–2 with an ERA of 2.21.

Postgame Comments

Although visibly and understandably tired, Rangers manager Bruce Bochy was in good spirits as he took his usual seat in the interview room after the game. “It was a hard-fought win,” Bochy said. “Entertaining, the things that were happening. I would probably use a different description had [we been] on the other end of it, but it was a fun win. It’s good to get a win, but you’d like to do it a little bit easier.” As an added bit of fun, Bochy was asked about Rangers third base coach Tony Beasley, who sang the National Anthem before the game. “I thought he did a fantastic job. I had a chance to listen to him practice over the last couple of days, and I see what the ladies see in him.”, Bochy said with a smirk.