It took the Rangers 13 two⁄3 tickets in the 2020 season to collect their first single of the year. The honor went to Ronald Guzmán, who was not even supposed to play today. That sums things up for the lineup so far in the young season. Two games, three races.
Texas also had opportunities. They were 2 of 10 with RISP and left 12 at the base. The assassins were the loaded bases, an opportunity for one out in the seventh followed by a golden opportunity for the runners in the second and third with no outs in the bottom of the eighth, but they did not score in any innings.
Honestly, although neither team has hit very well, if there has been a big difference between these two teams so far in this series, it has been the Rockies’ defense.
In a messy top of the quarter that ultimately doomed Texas, a double-play attempt muffled by Rougned Odor and a missed shot at Mike Minor’s home got errors that led to two Colorado runs. The Rangers never scored enough to get past that inning along with seventh-inning insurance managed by the Rockies.
Meanwhile, the Rockies made several good plays on the field in last night’s debut and followed up with some excellent efforts with the glove today, including the direct steal of Shin-Soo Choo in his bid to be the first home run on The Shed when Garrett Hampson retired one beyond the left field fence on the Rangers’ first shift per day.
So far, the Rangers are completely on the script with solid pitch, offensive offense, and suspicious defense, but if you had told me they were going to score three runs in total in their first two games, it would have taken a 1-1 record.
No one has hit the first home run on The Shed yet. I can’t imagine that there are many cases in The Ballpark where none of the teams have delved into consecutive contests, but these are different times and this is a new era.
Game player: Jeff Mathis tripled and took a walk and is probably the team’s best hitter.
Until next time: The Rangers will go for the rubber game victory tomorrow with Corey Kluber on the mound making his Texas debut against LHP Kyle Freeland for Colorado. The first release in the finale of The Shed is scheduled for 1:35 pm CT.
