Credit Texas Rangers first-year manager Skip Schumaker for remaining optimistic despite seeing his team conclude a seven-day, six-game road trip with a lopsided loss.
The Rangers will look to stay positive heading into their home opener on Friday when they face the Cincinnati Reds in Arlington, Texas.
“We won two series on the road against two really good teams,” Schumaker said after Texas won two of three games versus the Philadelphia Phillies and Baltimore Orioles, respectively.
“I would have very much signed up for that at the start of spring training. What I’ve taken away from this road trip is that this is just a bunch of guys who are winning baseball players that will do whatever they can to help us win today. That’s all I asked for. That’s my main takeaway from this trip.”
Corey Seager homered for the second straight day and a team-best third time this season in the Rangers’ 8-3 setback to the Orioles on Wednesday afternoon.
Ezequiel Duran drove in a run for the third straight game after joining Josh Jung by delivering an RBI single in the fourth inning. Jung enjoyed a 2-for-4 effort at the plate on Wednesday after going 0-for-17 with seven strikeouts in his previous four games.
Jake Burger has a team-best six RBIs and shares top honors with Brandon Nimmo with nine hits for Texas.
The Rangers will turn to left-hander MacKenzie Gore (1-0, 3.38 ERA) to start Friday’s game against Reds right-hander Brady Singer (0-0, 6.75).
Gore made a strong impression in his debut after being acquired in a trade with the Washington Nationals in the offseason. The 27-year-old no-hit the Phillies through five innings before allowing two runs on two hits while striking out seven batters in Texas’ 8-3 victory on Sunday.
“His talent level, and with the stuff that he’s got, the sky is the limit,” Nimmo said of Gore, per the Dallas Morning News. “To be able to come out, five innings of no-hit ball with your new team, I don’t think you could draw up a better start.”
An All-Star last season, Gore is 2-0 with a 2.45 ERA in five career appearances (all starts) versus Cincinnati.
He’ll look to keep a keen eye on National League Player of the Week Sal Stewart, who has reached base in all six games this season.
Stewart, a rookie, made his intentions clear when asked by the Cincinnati Enquirer about his interest in signing a long-term contract with the Reds.
“I know I have a value, and I understand that, but I also understand the value of being comfortable and wanting to lead a franchise,” Stewart told the newspaper. “Cincinnati’s been great to me. I’m definitely open to it.”
Singer, 29, is open to having a better outing on Friday when he faces the Rangers. He permitted three runs on five hits in four innings in a no-decision on Saturday against the Boston Red Sox. He’s gone 1-3 with a 4.02 ERA in six career starts against Texas.
The Reds are looking to rebound from a pair of 8-3 setbacks to the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Eugenio Suarez belted a two-run homer in Wednesday’s loss for Cincinnati, which has mustered three runs or fewer in five of its first six games of the season.
–Field Level Media
