The Rangers beat the Giants, 6-5, on Tuesday in Scottsdale. With the win, Texas’ fourth straight, the club has secured its longest spring winning streak since a 4-0 span from March 23-25, 2016.
Isiah Kiner-Falefa opened the scoring with an opposite-field solo home run in the 2nd inning, his team-leading 3rd long ball of the spring. He also singled and walked to reach safely in all 3 of his plate appearances, and is now 7-for-his-last-11 at the plate. Jordan Lyles started and worked 3.0 innings in his Cactus League debut, allowing a 3-run home run to Wilmer Flores in the 2nd inning. He recorded 3 strikeouts – Brandon Crawford, Steven Duggar, and Billy Hamilton – and walked one batter. Ariel Jurado was effective in relief of Lyles, as he worked scoreless 4th and 5th innings with one strikeout. In the 6th inning, Anderson Tejeda hit a towering 3-run home run to center field to put the Rangers back in the lead at 4-3.
After the Giants tied the game in the bottom half of the 6th, Tyreque Reed sent a 3-1 pitch onto the grassy berm in right-center field to give Texas a 6-4 lead. Reed’s 2-run home run scored Scott Heineman, who tripled with one out in the frame. Matt Duffy (1-for-3, R) and Derek Law (1.0 IP, 2 SO) both saw action against their former club. Kyle Bird entered with 2 outs and the tying run at 2nd base in the 9th, whiffing Zach Green to end the game and earn the save.
The Rangers host the Rockies on Wednesday in Surprise at 2:05 p.m. CT. RHP Lance Lynn (0-0, 6.75) takes the ball for Texas against Colorado RHP Antonio Senzatela (0-0, 3.00). An audio webcast of the contest can be heard on texasrangers.com and the MLB At-Bat app, with Nashville broadcaster Jeff Hem in the booth.
From Rangers PR staff reports