The Texas Rangers certainly have seen enough of Ketel Marte in recent weeks.
Marte has been a constant thorn in the Rangers’ side and he will look to cause more destruction when the Arizona Diamondbacks host Texas on Wednesday afternoon in the finale of a three-game series in Phoenix.
The three-time All-Star hit a tiebreaking three-run homer in the seventh inning to fuel Arizona’s 5-3 victory on Tuesday night.
Marte has homered in both games of this series. And his last four blasts have come against the Rangers as he also went deep in games in Texas on Aug. 12 and Aug. 13.
Diamondbacks rookie Jordan Lawlar was on first base when Marte slammed the 414-foot homer over the fence in left-center.
“Anytime he hits the ball, it’s loud,” Lawlar said. “And to see it from that angle, it’s even more fun.”
The homer was the 25th for Marte, marking the third straight season and fourth time overall that he’s reached that milestone.
The victory was the fifth in the past seven games for Arizona (69-71).
Texas (72-68) had a six-game winning streak halted. The Rangers averaged 9.5 runs during the stretch.
But Texas was hitless in nine at-bats with runners in scoring position and hit into three double plays. Arizona starter Nabil Crismatt allowed two runs over 6 1/3 innings.
“We were off-balance at times and (Crismatt) induced ground balls,” Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said. “We have been playing so well so we’re not going to dwell on this. We’re going to put this one behind us and get back on a roll.”
The Rangers stand 1 1/2 games behind the Seattle Mariners for the American League’s third wild-card berth.
Texas had won nine of its previous 10 games and Bochy said “bouncing back” is what the club is focused on.
Right fielder Adolis Garcia (quadriceps) sat out Tuesday and won’t be available Wednesday.
“We’re gonna wait a day or so and see how he recovers from this, but it looks like he’s going to be down at least a few days,” Bochy said.
Lawlar went 2-for-3 with a run scored for his first hits in 12 big-league games this season. The top prospect was 0-for-30 with 16 strikeouts entering the contest.
“I keep feeling like he is getting closer,” Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said of Lawlar. “He’s shrinking the zone, waiting for his pitch and having a real nice approach.”
Rangers right-hander Jack Leiter (9-7, 3.77 ERA) will be looking to win his third consecutive start.
Leiter struck out 17 in 13 innings over his last two. He beat the Cleveland Guardians with seven innings of two-hit shutout ball on Aug. 23 and followed up by limiting the Athletics to two runs and five hits over six innings last Friday.
Leiter, 25, received a no-decision against the Diamondbacks on Aug. 12 in his lone career start against them. He gave up one run and four hits over five innings.
Right-hander Zac Gallen (10-13, 4.94) starts for Arizona. He has pitched well over his last two starts by allowing one run and six hits over 12 innings. He is 1-0 during the stretch.
Gallen received a no-decision against the Cincinnati Reds on Aug. 24 when he gave up one run and four hits over six innings in a no-decision. He followed by throwing six innings of two-hit scoreless ball while beating the Los Angeles Dodgers last Friday.
Gallen wasn’t part of the decision while allowing three runs and five hits over five innings against Texas on Aug. 13. He is 2-1 with a 3.25 ERA in five career starts against the Rangers. Jake Burger is 3-for-5 with two homers off Gallen, while Joc Pederson (4-for-27) has taken him deep once and Jonah Heim is 0-for-16 with eight strikeouts.
–Field Level Media
–Field Level Media
