Starting Lineups:

Texas Rangers (16-17):

1) Brandon Nimmo (L) DH

2) Andrew McCutchen (R) RF

3) Corey Seager (L) SS

4) Josh Jung (R) 3B

5) Jake Burger (R) 1B

6) Evan Carter (L) CF

7) Ezequiel Duran (R) LF

8) Josh Smith (L) 2B

9) Kyle Higashioka (R) C

Starting Pitcher: RHP Jack Leiter (1-2, 5.17 ERA)

Detroit Tigers (17-17):

1) Kevin McGonigle (L) SS

2) Matt Vierling (R) CF

3) Colt Keith (L) 3B

4) Riley Greene (L) LF

5) Spencer Torkelson (R) 1B

6) Kerry Carpenter (L) DH

7) Wenceel Pérez (S) RF

8) Hao-Yu Lee (R) 2B

9) Jake Rogers (R) C

Starting Pitcher: LHP Tyler Holton (0-1, 5.54 ERA)

Comerica Park, Detroit, MI — In game three of the series between the Texas Rangers and Detroit Tigers, the Tigers took the series, crushing the Rangers 7-1, thanks to a four-run seventh inning.

The Tigers would capitalize in the bottom of the fifth inning after Ranger’s starter Jack Leiter blanked them for four innings.

After Riley Green drew a lead-off walk in the bottom of the fifth, Spencer Torkelson would club a two-run homer to deep left-center field to put the Tigers ahead, 2-0.

The Tigers would push across another run in the bottom of the sixth inning.

Jake Rogers hit a lead-off triple to start the frame, and Kevin McGonigle would plate Rogers with an RBI single to put the Tigers up 3-0.

The Rangers would scratch across a run in the top of the seventh.

Ezequial Duran hit a one-out double, and Josh Smith drew a walk to put two on, with one away. Both runners advanced on a wild pitch. One batter later, Kyle Higashioka would plate the Rangers’ first run with an RBI groundout, to make 3-1 Detroit.

Detroit would put four runs on the scoreboard in the bottom of the seventh.

Kerry Carpenter would drop in a single with one out, and Wencel Perez would ground into a fielder’s choice to put Carpenter in scoring position. Two batters later, Hao-Yu Lee would bring Carpenter home with an RBI single, to put the Tigers up 4-1.

Rogers would drop a single into right field to keep the inning going and put runners on the corners with two away.

McGonigle would plate another run with an RBI single, to put Detroit ahead 5-1. McGonigle would take second on his single, pushing Lee to third. Matt Veirling would plate two with an RBI double to put the Tigers up 7-1.

Jack Leiter – photo courtesy of MLB.com

The Good: Tiger’s rookie, Kevin McGonigle, flashed some leather, making the routine plays look easy. Additionally, he drove in two of the Tigers’ 7 runs with RBI singles.

The Bad/The Ugly: The Rangers were unable to totally capitalize with runners in scoring position, leaving 8 on base and going 0-5 with runners in scoring position.

-Matt Koper

Founder of Koper’s Korner