Texas Rangers: Martin Perez Leads Team To Decisive Victory
![KANSAS CITY, MO - JULY 14: Starting pitcher Martin Perez (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_752,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/https-3A-2F-2Fnolanwritin-com-2Fwp-content-2Fuploads-2Fgetty-images-2F2017-2F07-2F814637802-texas-rangers-v-kansas-city-royals-jpg-850x560-dd9df495c7570a2aef1ceb9a5e8a239a.jpg)
The Texas Rangers start their second half of baseball with a decisive and respectable win against the Royals. As a result, they improve to 44-45 and remain in a tie for second place in the American League West. Furthermore, they’re 16.5 games behind the first-place Astros.
Texas wasn’t off to a good start, finding themselves down 2-0 in the bottom of the second. With the next two innings going silent, Kansas City made it 3-0 in the fifth. In the next inning, Texas scored three runs, tying the game. In the seventh inning, Texas added two more runs, taking a 5-3 lead, holding on to it and coming out on top. Furthermore, this win makes Texas 5-0 against the Royals this season. In any case, Texas really needs to continue to win games.
Martin Perez took the mound, making his 17th start this season. He pitched 7.0 innings, allowing eight hits, three runs, and striking one batter, improving to 5-6. This is his first three-game winning streak since June 2016. At some point last season, Perez was on a six-game winning streak. In any case, he must keep it up if he’s to try to break his own record.
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Matt Bush entered the game in the eight inning. He pitched 1.0 inning, allowing no hits, no runs, and striking out one batter, earning his third hold this season. Bush has only allowed one hit and has yet to allow a run since being reassigned to a reliever. He’s taking it step-by-step and is doing great each night. Bush is honestly better off remaining where he is this season.
Alex Claudio closed the game, allowing no hits, no runs, and striking out one batter, earning his second save this season. Claudio has struck out 13 batters in his last ten games, while earning three holds and one blown save.
Offense finished 7-for-35, striking out five batters. That’s their second game in a row with less than eight strikeouts. Carlos Gomez snaps his two-game hit-less streak, going 1-for-3. Shin-Soo Choo, Rougned Odor, Drew Robinson are on a two-game hit-less streak now. Nomar Mazara extends his hitting streak to four games and Mike Napoli extends his to three. In his last ten games, Joey Gallo only has two hits in 13 at-bats, going 0-for-2 tonight. Going 2-for-3, Adrian Beltre is now 20 hits away from reaching 3,000 career-hits. He blasted the game-tying home run, this being his 453rd career home run. Napoli’s two-run homer in the seventh was the decider.
Cole Hamels steps on the mound for game two. Hamels has been on a roll since returning from the disabled list, winning two straight games, and being 5-0 for the second consecutive year. In any case, he must be ready for anything.
Texas winning game two, earns them their second series win in a row.