The Rangers cruised to a 13-2 win over the Brewers on Sunday afternoon in Maryvale. The victory improved Texas’ exhibition record to 9-5-2 and assured the club its 3rd straight winning spring record with 2 games to play. Today was the 4th time for the Rangers to score double-digit runs, as the team has averaged an impressive 7.4 runs per game this spring (118 runs in 16 games).
Jon Gray earned the win in his final spring tune-up outing, allowing just one run and striking out 6 over 4.0 innings. The right-hander struck out at least one batter in each frame and did not permit an extra-base hit. Gray, who will make his 3rd career Opening Day start on Friday against the Toronto Blue Jays, finished with a 2.00 ERA (2 ER/9.0 IP) and 14 strikeouts spanning 3 outings in both ‘A’ and ‘B’ games this spring.
Joe McCarthy put the Rangers on the board with a tape-measure home run to right field off Brandon Woodruff to lead off the 2nd inning. The majestic blast bounced off the pedestrian walkway beyond the grassy berm and caromed onto one of the Brewers’ adjoining back fields. McCarthy has reached safely in 13 of his 19 plate appearances this spring at .571/.684/1.357/2.041 (8-14) with a team-leading 3 HR (tied w/ Seager/Miller/Solak) and 8 RBI.
The Rangers sent 12 batters to the plate during an 8-run 6th inning that featured 5 hits, 3 walks, and 3 Milwaukee errors. Overall, the Rangers were the beneficiaries of 5 errors by the home team. The 6th inning was highlighted by a 2-run double from Dustin Harris, who also notched an RBI single in the 5th inning to finish with 3 RBI.
Ezequiel Duran parked a solo home run off Woodruff in the 3rd and added an RBI single in the 6th. Duran has batted .417 (5-12) with 2 HR and 7 RBI in 7 ‘A’ games this spring. Jonah Heim collected 2 more hits for his 3rd straight multi-hit game, improving his exhibition batting average to .368 (7-19).
The Rangers will play a pair of home games in Surprise to close out the exhibition schedule, with the first coming on Monday against the San Diego Padres at 3:05 p.m. CT. RHP Dane Dunning (1-1, 5.79) is slated to take the ball for Texas against former Ranger RHP Nick Martinez (1-0, 1.29). Bally Sports Southwest will air a live television broadcast featuring Dave Raymond, C.J. Nitkowski, and Emily Jones. Eric Nadel and Matt Hicks will have the call of an audio webcast on texasrangers.com and the MLB At-Bat App.
From Rangers PR staff reports
