The Texas Rangers hope a change to the lineup that paid huge dividends will continue to be successful when they clash with the Athletics on Wednesday night in the middle game of a three-game American League West series in West Sacramento, Calif.
Right-hander Kumar Rocker (1-2, 6.38 ERA) will start for Texas, while the Athletics will send left hander JP Sears (2-2, 3.13) to the mound.
The Rangers changed their normal batting order for Tuesday’s series opener, moving Josh Smith to the leadoff spot, Corey Seager from second to third, and Marcus Semien to fifth. The result was an 8-5 win in which Texas produced its most runs in a game this season.
Wyatt Langford had three hits to lead the Texas attack, with Adolis Garcia and Semien recording two each. Semien had four RBIs, including a three-run home run, while Langford, Smith and Jake Burger had solo homers for the Rangers.
The Rangers were the only team in MLB not to have scored seven runs in a game this year, but they put that to rest by the fifth inning, when they took a 7-2 lead.
Seager was pulled from the game in the sixth inning after what the team announced to be tightness in his right hamstring.
The Athletics scored the final three runs of the game and pounded out four solo homers — by Miguel Andujar, Lawrence Butler, Luis Urias and Brent Rooker.
Rocker was solid in his most recent appearance, allowing three runs on five hits with eight strikeouts and no walks in a seven-inning stint that ended in a 5-3 win over the Los Angeles Angels on Thursday. It was a nice bounce-back for Rocker after he gave up four runs on five hits in just 3 1/3 innings in a loss at Seattle on April 12.
It was Rocker’s first major league win and marked the first time he had competed seven innings in his professional career.
“Kumar has shown he can do it at this level,” Texas manager Bruce Bochy said. “He can do it again, too. That’s a great way to get your first win, to go seven innings. We were all happy for him with how he threw the ball.
“With Kumar, it’s just about being consistent. That’s what separates everybody between a good major league starter versus somebody in Triple-A.”
Rocker has one career appearance and a 5.79 ERA against the Athletics, allowing three runs on seven hits over 4 2/3 innings in a loss in Oakland last season.
Sears has alternated losses and wins in his four games this season. His last time out he pitched six scoreless innings in an 8-0 victory over the White Sox in Chicago on Thursday, allowing three hits, walking two and striking out a pair.
“It was one of those games where I didn’t feel quite right with my mechanics,” Sears explained. “Early on, I felt like I was pulling off the ball a little bit and my extension was down. But that’s part of figuring it out, you know, over the full season. It’s still about capitalizing on our offense, scoring runs and just making good pitches when you have to.”
Sears is 4-1 and has a 4.15 ERA in eight career games (all starts) versus the Rangers. He has given up 21 runs on 40 hits in 43 1/3 against them while striking out 40 and walking 14.
–Field Level Media