The Texas Rangers have finally broken out of a long-term scoring slump and will try to maintain their momentum when they face athletics in the third contest of the four-game series in Arlington, Texas on Wednesday.
It becomes a famous starter fight as track and field sends Luis Severino (1-3, 3.49 ERA) to the mound and Texas will face fellow right-handed Nathan Eovaldi (2-2, 2.21).
The Rangers seduced the non-scoring demon on Wednesday, defeating the Athletics in a 15-2 victory in the series, snapping a three-game winning streak. Adolis Garcia and Wyatt Langford each had a 3-RBI double in six innings, while Kyle Higashioka added a 3-run double in the eighth of the victory.
The Rangers’ season-high 18 hit attacks were led by three hits by Leodi Tavelas, Josh Smith and Marcus Semien.
It was the best scoring game of the Rangers season – much more.
“At some point we knew there was a big game,” Semien said after Tuesday’s victory. “It was about picking up guys when we came to us with pitchers and we put them on base.”
Eovaldi pitched well in his latest start, winning just 2–0 against Justin Verlander and San Francisco in his 300th major league match, with three hits, walking one hit and seven hits. Eovaldi hit seven of the last 13 batters he faced, including his final inning side.
“Your good things get better as they go, and that’s what Nate did,” said Bruce Bossy, a manager at Texas. “Nate did him there. A good mix. A good command. His commands got better and better on every pitch he’s.”
Of all Texas pitchers, Eobaldi was the most affected by the Rangers’ anemia attack, as he scored 11 runs in seven starts in 2024.
“Fortunately, there’s always one or two pitches that can go a little more command,” Eovaldi said. “Even when I’m late, there’s always another pitch I can throw into the zone to respect the batsman. That’s what I’m using all my pitches and showing it all.”
Eovaldi has won the mounds 13 times in his career against track and field, earning a 3-2 record and a 2.85 ERA in 75 2/3 innings, allowing 25 runs, 63 hits, 24 walks and a strikeout 67.
Severino is solid despite his record, creating victory and inseparable in his past two appearances. He allowed three runs on six hits and two walks, attacking the season-high seven batters in six innings in the recent stint.
“You go out there thinking it’s going to be a back and forth game and you just stay on the plan,” said Severino, who signed the biggest guaranteed free agent deal in team history in the offseason. “Our idea is, we just need to fight, and we have a lineup — we have a lot of people who can really hit, sound pitching and to stay in this race.”
In seven career appearances with the Rangers (6 starts), Severino holds a 2-2 record with a 3.93 ERA in 34 1/3 innings. He allowed 15 runs with 24 hits and 13 walks while hitting 29.
– Field-level media
