The Texas Rangers have finally broken out of a prolonged scoring slump and will attempt to keep that momentum going when they square off against the Athletics on Wednesday in the third contest of a four-game series in Arlington, Texas.
It will be a battle of high-profile starters as the Athletics will send Luis Severino (1-3, 3.49 ERA) to the mound and Texas will counter with fellow right-hander Nathan Eovaldi (2-2, 2.21).
The Rangers exorcised their non-scoring demon on Wednesday, beating the Athletics 15-2 to even the series at one victory apiece and snap a three-game losing streak. Adolis Garcia and Wyatt Langford each had a three-RBI double in the sixth inning and Kyle Higashioka added a three-run double in the eighth in the win.
The Rangers’ season-high 18-hit attack was led by three hits each by Leody Taveras, Josh Smith and Marcus Semien.
It was the Rangers’ highest scoring game of the season – by far.
“At some point we knew we would have a big game,” Semien said after the win on Tuesday. “It was about us making the pitchers come to us and picking up the guys when we had them on base.”
Eovaldi pitched well in his latest start, hurling six scoreless innings while allowing just three hits and walking one and striking out seven in a 2-0 victory over Justin Verlander and San Francisco in his 300th major league game. Eovaldi struck out seven of the final 13 batters he faced, including the side in his final inning.
“Your good ones get better as they go, and that’s what Nate did,” Texas manager Bruce Bochy said. “Nate did his thing out there. Good mix. Good command. His command has just gotten better and better with all of his pitches.”
Of all the Texas pitchers, Eovaldi has been victimized the most by the Rangers’ anemic offense as the team has scored just 11 total runs over his seven starts in 2024.
“Fortunately, there’s always one or two pitches that I am able to go to with a little more command,” Eovaldi said. “Even when I’m behind, there’s always other pitches that I can throw in the zone to have the respect of the hitters. That’s a big part of it, using all of my pitches, showing everything.”
Eovaldi has taken the mound 13 times in his career against the Athletics, amassing a 3-2 record and a 2.85 ERA in 75 2/3 innings while allowing 25 runs, 63 hits, 24 walks and striking out 67.
Severino has been solid despite his record, producing a win and no-decision in his past two appearances. He allowed three runs on six hits and two walks while striking out a season-high seven batters over six innings in his most recent stint, a game the Athletics won 6-5 at home against the Chicago White Sox on April 25.
“You go out there thinking it’s gonna be a back-and-forth game and you just stay to the plan,” said Severino, who in the offseason signed the largest guaranteed free agent contract in team history. “Our mindset is that we just need to fight. And we’ve got the lineup — we’ve got sound pitching and a bunch of guys that can really hit, to stay in this race.”
In seven career appearances versus the Rangers (six starts), Severino has a 2-2 record with a 3.93 ERA in 34 1/3 innings. He has allowed 15 runs on 24 hits and 13 walks while striking out 29.
-Field Level Media
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