Texas Rangers Spring Training: Middle of the lineup looking lethal

The middle of the Texas Rangers‘ lineup was out in full force on Tuesday night as the team defeated the SF Giants in Scottsdale 10-6 in their first evening contest of 2021.

Nick Solak may have had the hit of the night with a grand slam in the fourth inning to put the Rangers in front for good, a blast that the starting second baseman desperately needed after striking out in his previous at-bat with the bases loaded Tuesday night.

But it was the two-man show of corner outfielders Joey Gallo and David Dahl that powered the lineup from start to finish in the victory.

Joey Gallo and David Dahl are looking every bit like the lethal middle of the order lineup combo the Texas Rangers have been seeking.

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In David Dahl’s second start in left field this spring, the 26-year-old made sure to capitalize on his opportunity, notching three hits in four trips to plate, while also drawing a walk, scoring two runs and driving in one.

As for Gallo, his white-hot spring also continued against the Giants, as he racked up two walks, two singles, two runs scored and two RBIs in four plate appearances.

In total, the Gallo-Dahl front combined to score four of the Rangers’ 10 runs, as well as being responsible for driving in three of them.

If Tuesday night’s outburst was any indication of what to expect from the Rangers’ three and four hitters (and projected starting corner outfielders), the middle of this lineup is looking lethal.

Of course, much of this lethalness will depend on the status of Dahl’s health, which is a major concern every year, as well as Gallo’s ability to keep stringing together quality at-bats like the ones he’s had in spring so far.

When these two childhood friends are at their 2019 All-Star form bests, though, they’re incredibly difficult to stop, as the SF Giants evidently witnessed on Tuesday night.

Joey Gallo and David Dahl will benefit from protecting each other in the lineup, and assuming all goes smoothly in 2021, this Texas Rangers batting order could be scrappier and just plain better than many give it credit for.