Starting Lineups:

Texas Rangers (7-7):

1) Brandon Nimmo (L) RF
2) Evan Carter (L) CF
3) Corey Seager (L) SS
4) Jake Burger (R) 1B
5) Joc Pederson (L) DH
6) Danny Jansen (R) C
7) Josh Smith (L) 2B
8) Josh Jung (R) 3B
9) Ezequiel Duran (R) LF

Starting Pitcher: Jacob DeGrom (0-0, 3.72 ERA)

Los Angeles Dodgers (11-3):

1) Shohei Ohtani (L) DH
2) Kyle Tucker (L) RF
3) Andy Pages (R) CF
4) Freddie Freeman (L) 1B
5) Max Muncy (L) 3B
6) Alex Freeland (S) 2B
7) Dalton Rushing (L) C
8) Alex Call (R) LF
9) Hyeseong Kim (L) SS

Starting Pitcher: Roki Sasaki (0-1, 7.00 ERA)

Los Angeles, CA — The Texas Rangers captured the final game of a three-game series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, 5-2 behind a great start from Jacob DeGrom and team-oriented offense.

Despite giving up a home run on the first pitch of the game, Jacob DeGrom cruised on his way to earning his first win of the season, striking out 9 batters over six strong innings.

DeGrom was replaced by LHP Jacob Latz in the seventh inning, who gave way to RHP Cole Winn. Winn pitched an inning and a third of scoreless ball before Jakob Junis earned the save in the 9th inning.

The Dodgers wasted no time getting on the scoreboard. On the first pitch the Dodgers saw in the bottom of the first, Shohei Ohtani crushed a homerun to deep center field, making it 1-0 Los Angeles.

The Rangers responded with a solo-shot of their own in the top of the third; Evan Carter hit a ball deep to right field for a home run, tying the game at 1 apiece.

Later in the top of the third — after a base hit from Joc Pederson and a walk from Danny Jansen, Josh Smith picked up his teammate with an RBI single to right field, putting the Rangers ahead 2-1.

The Rangers would score again in the top of the sixth: Jung drew a leadoff walk and Ezekeil Duran bunted him over to second and a wild throw, had Jung advance to third. Brandon Nimmo hit into an RBI groundout, making it 3-1, Texas.

The Dodger’s Dalton Rushing led off the bottom of the seventh inning with a double to the right field corner. One batter later, Miguel Rojas drew a walk and then was plated by an RBI single from Kyle Tucker, making it 3-2 Rangers.

In the top of the eighth, Jung led off with a single to right field. Following a walk from Ezekeil Duran, Brandon Nimmo dropped in an RBI single to bring Jung home, making it 4-2 Rangers.

Two batters later, a wild pitch let Duran score from third, putting the Rangers up 5-2.

Dodger’s starter Roki Sasaki’s day was over after pitching 4 innings and giving up two earned runs. He was replaced by RHP Edgardo Henriquez.

Jacob DeGrom — photo courtesy of Spectrum News

The Good: Jacob DeGrom — after giving up a homerun on the first pitch he threw, DeGrom settled in, pitching six strong innings, striking out 9 batters on his way to earning his first win of the season. The Rangers plate discipline was worth noting too — as they drew a total of 10 walks as a team, with Jansen leading the team with 3 walks himself.

Honorable Mention: Shohei Ohtani was Ohtani, homering on the first pitch of the game and drawing two walks, one being intentional. Ohtani is batting .291 with five home runs and 10 RBI.

The Bad/The Ugly: The Dodgers on ABS challenges — as a team, the Dodgers used both of their two challenges early, and both calls were confirmed, resulting in the Dodgers losing both of their challenges.

The Rangers travel to Sacramento to take on the A’s tomorrow night, first pitch is set for 8:40 PM.

-Matt Koper

Founder of Koper’s Korner