Rangers Deliver Shutout Rout Over White Sox

Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images

Rangers 10, White Sox 0

ARLINGTON, Texas (July 21) — The Texas Rangers redeemed themselves after Monday’s 10–3 loss to the Chicago White Sox by beating them, 10–0, Tuesday. With this win, the Rangers climb back atop the AL West with a half-game lead over the Seattle Mariners, who fell, 4–2, to the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday.  Brandon Nimmo and Wyatt Langford each had a homer apiece to help the Rangers take the middle game in this series. They will go for the series victory Wednesday, with first pitch scheduled for 7:05 pm Central at Globe Life Field. Left-hander Anthony Kay 6–4, 4.24 ERA) will go up for the White Sox against Rangers righty Cal Quantrill (3–2, 3.93) in the finale.

Oppo Taco Tuesday

The Rangers got an early 2–0 lead in the top of the first with left-hander Noah Schultz pitching. Langford opened the inning with a single to left. After Justin Foscue and Josh Jung struck out swinging and grounded to second, respectively, Nimmo stepped to the plate. He hit a two-run shot over the wall in left on the first offering of the at-bat, his 10th of the season.

The lead stretched to 3–0 in the bottom of the third. With two outs in the inning, Jung and Nimmo hit back-to-back singles to center. Jake Burger followed with a double to left that plated Jung.

The Rangers pushed two more across in the bottom of the fourth. A one-out double to left by Elias Diaz set the table for Alejandro Osuna, who drove in Diaz with a single to left. After Langford flied to center, Foscue nudged Osuna to third with a single to left. Up next was Nicky Lopez, who brought Osuna home on a base hit up the middle.

Relentless Rangers

They added on in the bottom of the fifth against reliever Trevor Richards. Duran opened the stanza with a double to right and Cam Cauley reached on a free pass. Diaz moved both runners up with a sacrifice bunt up the first base line. This brought White Sox manager and former Rangers associate manager Will Venable to the mound to bring in reliever Tyler Schweitzer. Both runners crossed the plate thanks to a single to right by Osuna. On deck was Langford, who put the Rangers up 9–0 with a two-run blast to left on a 2–2 pitch, his 11th of the year.

The Rangers scored again in the bottom of the sixth. Nimmo led off with his fourth hit of the evening, a single to left. He advanced to second on a soft groundout to first by Burger. Nimmo scored moments later on another single to left by Duran.

What Went Right for the Rangers

If this writer may be permitted a cliche, the Rangers scored early and often on Tuesday. The dingers by Nimmo and Langford were key, but the offense also featured a lot of contact. Next to the homers, the RBI double by Burger was also big. Lopez did his part with the run-scoring single in the fourth and Osuna had his RBI base hit in the fifth. Duran had an RBI single as well.

Another positive is that left-handed hitters in their lineup went 9-for-11 on the night. As a team, the Rangers totaled 18 hits in Tuesday’s blowout.

What Went Wrong for the Rangers

One of the only things that went wrong for the Rangers is that this game eventually ended. The other thing was that they allowed seven baserunners on the night.

Rocker Tosses Six Scoreless Innings

Rangers starter Kumar Rocker had a final line of 6 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 6 K, 75 pitches/50 strikes. He cruised to his first win since May 19 against the Colorado Rockies. It was his first home victory since April 21 against the Pittsburgh Pirates. He improves to 3–8 on the year with an ERA of 4.13. His four outings of six or more scoreless frames this year are tied with Nathan Eovaldi for the team lead. Tuesday was Rocker’s second career start of six or more innings and one or zero hits.

He did not allow a hit through his first three innings, doing so for the first time in a start since May 25 against the Houston Astros. Rocker faced two over the minimum through five innings on 60 pitches, ties fewest through five frames in any outing of his career. He received a career-high 10 runs of support. Rocker had never previously been gifted more than five runs of support in his 35 career game and 33 career starts.

The ultra-rare three-inning save went to reliever and Rangers newcomer Marco Gonzales. He recorded his first career save in his 171st career appearance in the majors. It’s his first save with the Rangers after his contract was selected from Triple-A Round Rock before Tuesday’s game. Gonzales became the first Rangers hurler with a three or more inning save in his club debut since Jeff Bronkey on May 2, 1993 against the Milwaukee Brewers.

Schultz’ Outing

White Sox starter Noah Schultz made his 12th start of the season Tuesday and was saddled with his seventh defeat. His record is now 3–7. He gave up five runs, all earned, on a career-high 11 hits, the most knocks allowed by a White Sox pitcher in ‘26. Schultz gave way to Richards with two outs in the fourth and the White Sox down, 5–0. In his last eight starts since May 6, he has a 1–6 record and 8.15 ERA, raising his season ERA from 2.53 to 6.04.

Schumaker’s Postgame Comments

After the game, Rangers manager Skip Schumaker reflected on Rocker’s six innings. “He had some extra rest, and that obviously helped.” he remarked. “Rock was throwing 95 mph-plus. The command on his fastball was great and the slider whiff rate was probably one of his best of the year. He mixed in some changeups with his new splitter that he’s been working on. It was a left-handed lineup too, so he still dominated with a slider-fastball combo with some cutters on some lefties.”

 

 

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