Texas Rangers: Ronald Guzman continues to look unstoppable this spring

You can’t stop Ronald Guzman. You can only hope to contain him.

Guzman and the Texas Rangers brought the lumber on Saturday in Scottsdale against the Arizona Diamondbacks, defeating the team who calls Arizona its home all year 7-6 in the Rangers’ first nine-inning contest of Cactus League play.

The win was the Texas Rangers’ second consecutive one of the spring, which improved their record in Cactus League play to an even 2-2-2.

It was a game that started out without much fanfare, as starter Taylor Hearn delivered two quality innings to kick things off.

Hearn consistently touched 95+ mph on his fastball and introduced his new changeup to Arizona’s hitters with success.

Taylor Hearn strutted his stuff for the Texas Rangers on Saturday.

His roster spot was never really in doubt, but it was still encouraging to see the 26-year-old dealing with ease.

Perhaps even more encouraging in Saturday’s win was seeing first baseman Ronald Guzman’s power stroke once again on full display.

On a first pitch sinker to lead off the fifth inning, the Condor ripped that breaking ball over the center field wall in the deepest part of the ballpark to extend Texas’ lead to 3-0.

No one can stop the Texas Rangers’ Ronald Guzman this spring.

That was a Gallo-esque display of power from Guzman, whose ball traveled 113 mph off the bat and 437 feet into the Scottsdale sun.

For Guzman, that bomb of a home run was his second of what has been a red-hot spring training for the reigning Dominican Winter League MVP.

On the day, Guzman went 1-2, which actually lowered his spring OPS to 2.095. Mighty impressive.

The 26-year-old first baseman continues to make a very strong case to open the season on the 26-man roster.

Ranger Rumblings

• Rougned Odor hit a timely two-run double in the fourth inning in the at-bat directly preceding Guzman’s bomb, collecting his first two RBIs of the spring.
• David Dahl collected his first hit of the spring, but had to leave the game after getting hit with a pitch. The Rangers need Dahl to be healthy in 2021, so hopefully the injury sustained on the HBP wasn’t anything too significant.
• Adolis Garcia had a big two-run double as well in the top of the 8th inning with the bases loaded. Garcia has quietly had a nice spring.
• Gallo’s home run streak ended. Boo.
• The Rangers rolled two innings in this game. Ho hum.