Despite Late Rallies, Detroit Edges Texas

LSB’s Adam J. Morris said it best in a Tweet: “How in the world does a 9 inning, 2-1 game take 3 hours and 11 minutes? That’s bizarre.”

And yeah, it was a weird game. Detroit starter Rick Porcello out-dueled Nick Tepesch, who without his best command (3 walks) still slugged through 5.0 innings on the bump, allowing 2 runs. To no avail, the offense just never picked him up.

In both the 8th and 9th innings the Rangers managed to get a runner in scoring position, however, on the night, they finished 0-8 in those instances. The best opportunity to inflict damage occurred in the 8th with men on the corners and one out, when Joaquin Benoit induced a 5-6-3 double play ball off the bat of Nelson Cruz to end the threat. The only run the Rangers plated on the night was a solo Geovany Soto home run.

Around the league, Oakland defeated Kansas City 2-1, so the AL West lead shrinks a game to 6.0. Chris Sale shut down the Angels for the 2nd time in 5 days, so nothing was lost there.

Tonight the Rangers send the struggling Justin Grimm (2-3, 4.28 ERA) to the hill to face Anibal Sanchez (4-3, 2.05 ERA), who leads the Major Leagues in FIP-wins with +2.6.

Good luck with that.