Teams, Picks In Awe Of Sphere Draft 'spectacle'
BALTIMORE -- — Albert Suárez outpitched three-time Cy Young winner Max Scherzer, and the Baltimore Orioles beat Texas 2-1 on Friday night to extend the Rangers' latest lengthy losing streak.
Making his second start of the season following a long stay on the injured list, the 39-year-old Scherzer gave up two runs and four hits over 5 1/3 innings. Along the way, the right-hander reached another milestone and provided hope he might be able to help the defending World Series champions turn around a disappointing season.
For that to happen, the Rangers (37-45) need to get their hitters on track. Scherzer (1-1) kept the Orioles' potent offense in check, but Texas managed only four hits and got its only run in the seventh inning, when two Orioles relievers issued four walks, the last with the bases loaded.
“It's tough going through something like this,” manager Bruce Bochy said. “We're seeing good pitching, but we got the guys out there (on base) and the right guys up at times. We just couldn't get the hit.”
The Rangers stranded eight runners and went 1 for 7 with runners in scoring position.
But Texas won it all last year with a late-season surge, and can only hope for a repeat.
“Yeah, we're in a rut. I get it,” Scherzer said. “But this can flip in a heartbeat. This is baseball. Anything can happen.”
Suárez (4-2) allowed three hits and walked none in six innings. The 34-year-old snapped a two-game skid in which he allowed a combined eight runs and 16 hits over 8 2/3 innings.
Texas has lost five straight, its fourth skid of at least five games. In this one, the Rangers got the potential tying run in scoring position in the seventh and eighth innings but failed to cash in.
Craig Kimbrel worked the ninth for his 18th save in 22 tries.
Scherzer started the season on the injured list after undergoing back surgery in December. His recovery was slowed by right thumb soreness and nerve irritation in his throwing arm, but he returned last Sunday to pitch five innings of one-hit ball at Kansas City.
On this night, Scherzer blew a third strike past Ramón Urías in the second inning to break a tie with Greg Maddux for 11th place on the career strikeout list. Scherzer finished with four strikeouts to raise his career total to 3,375, 18 short of Justin Verlander for 10th place.
“It kind of stinks in a loss,” Scherzer said. “I came here to win today, not for milestones. I don't pitch for milestones. I pitch to win.”
He could, however, appreciate the accomplishment.
“To me, it a durability thing,” Scherzer said. “To get to the that point, you have to be, year in and year out, durable. I pride myself on that.”
Scherzer gave up a solo homer to Colton Cowser in the fourth inning, and Gunnar Henderson made it 2-0 with an RBI single in the fifth.
“He did great,” Bochy insisted. “Two runs in this ballpark is a pretty good job. He felt good, and that's what's really encouraging.”
That was Scherzer's takeaway, too.
“Finally, I'm starting to get over this thumb issue,” Scherzer said. “I've still got some nerve stuff up in the shoulder, but that kind of subsided. I'm kind of seeing the light at the end of the tunnel on this. Physically, I'm finally getting in a better spot.”
JETT STREAM
Hall of Fame rocker Joan Jett joined the character known as “Mr. Splash” to spray water on fans in the outfield after a positive play by the Orioles. A Maryland native and long-time Orioles fan, the 65-year-old Jett posed for pictures and chatted with some of the players before batting practice. She also threw out the ceremonial first pitch.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Rangers: 3B Josh Jung (wrist) hopes to take batting practice Saturday, but he still has to face live pitching and could go on a rehab assignment before resuming a season interrupted by right wrist surgery after he was hit by a pitch in April. “We don't want him here unless he's healthy enough to swing a bat like he can and be able to handle major league pitching,” Bochy said.
Orioles: C Adley Rutschman was held from the starting lineup after taking a foul ball off a finger on his right hand Thursday night. Manager Brandon Hyde said x-rays were negative. ... RHP Corbin Burnes was placed on paternity leave, one day after going seven innings in a win over Texas. He is expected to join the team in Seattle next week during a Tuesday-Thursday series.
UP NEXT
Baltimore rookie Cade Povich (0-2, 4.15 ERA) makes his fifth start Saturday, looking for the first victory of his career. Michael Lorenzen (4-3, 3.04) starts for the Rangers.
------
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
C2k 1ZZyO8KV3homsEjLiIvHwYYCIN 9pT3ecIx4fE B365f98f3e9f2e5b846bdaa8e4abec1d 1b791b89a312f6a513dc4d524ec97749 29d383700a1591ca55102e1b70ffd1ac 6702a9241bb02f9ecb75d1639ad99473 MV5BOGJkOTM4MzUtZGFlOC00ZWVlLTk1ZWItMjViOTdiM2Q3NWNiXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMjQ1NjM4OTE@. V1 New Handsome Boy Images 2023 7601880 960 720 D2260bb1e656800a30c27467bc9a6820 1cfaf4b03cbc974c0cfe41d9c0944fc1 Store Cover 43150.1681399117 ?c=2MV5BMDQ4YTc3YTAtNmJkZi00OWUzLWIyMTMtY2MwMjJkYTI3NWEzXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMjQ1NjM4OTE@. V1 86ce1c732b9cb6121e6a074ee261f00e Noah Model New Face Male Brown Curly Hair Black Jeans Tshirt Sitting Shooting Editorial Studio White Wall Be935294ef35877dee037e4befdda2b7 3ba8ce54f0adf053d8ba487b9105c836 Fee7663882fed32050f0f5f1249d19cd D0af69069414e1a7d858af1f59683f6b 9465c8c04c7437f265e00fac1029087b Db1e62cb8dcf0495489b6b199a3a4c51 217f6ddc527cf04e2c43fa93fa3980aa 8e4afabaf4232ced99578f82ce3e1595 Hq2 28736e15a68c2300eb106c9321f91357 99be9fd3586dc605a5bfc9c0ecc3cb35 8c119e1ce51b332c4a102bfb40e04941 9959fcc6c5cf850b8533af68cc01f107 A4ddbc03ddc63ee94b59dc7a2a924bee 7d2ecdc60c910a642a5c9b7eac689318 Cool Roblox Avatars Boy Warcomando 0b0dd9583d861b8110cb3af2a36b0922 07bec58fb7ba421ec2a31c2af1438680 1eaf0f63ac3ff22bc9247ddd6f1c3fc7
Teams, Picks In Awe Of Sphere Draft 'spectacle'
BALTIMORE -- — Albert Suárez outpitched three-time Cy Young winner Max Scherzer, and the Baltimore Orioles beat Texas 2-1 on Friday night to extend the Rangers' latest lengthy losing streak.
Making his second start of the season following a long stay on the injured list, the 39-year-old Scherzer gave up two runs and four hits over 5 1/3 innings. Along the way, the right-hander reached another milestone and provided hope he might be able to help the defending World Series champions turn around a disappointing season.
For that to happen, the Rangers (37-45) need to get their hitters on track. Scherzer (1-1) kept the Orioles' potent offense in check, but Texas managed only four hits and got its only run in the seventh inning, when two Orioles relievers issued four walks, the last with the bases loaded.
“It's tough going through something like this,” manager Bruce Bochy said. “We're seeing good pitching, but we got the guys out there (on base) and the right guys up at times. We just couldn't get the hit.”
The Rangers stranded eight runners and went 1 for 7 with runners in scoring position.
But Texas won it all last year with a late-season surge, and can only hope for a repeat.
“Yeah, we're in a rut. I get it,” Scherzer said. “But this can flip in a heartbeat. This is baseball. Anything can happen.”
Suárez (4-2) allowed three hits and walked none in six innings. The 34-year-old snapped a two-game skid in which he allowed a combined eight runs and 16 hits over 8 2/3 innings.
Texas has lost five straight, its fourth skid of at least five games. In this one, the Rangers got the potential tying run in scoring position in the seventh and eighth innings but failed to cash in.
Craig Kimbrel worked the ninth for his 18th save in 22 tries.
Scherzer started the season on the injured list after undergoing back surgery in December. His recovery was slowed by right thumb soreness and nerve irritation in his throwing arm, but he returned last Sunday to pitch five innings of one-hit ball at Kansas City.
On this night, Scherzer blew a third strike past Ramón Urías in the second inning to break a tie with Greg Maddux for 11th place on the career strikeout list. Scherzer finished with four strikeouts to raise his career total to 3,375, 18 short of Justin Verlander for 10th place.
“It kind of stinks in a loss,” Scherzer said. “I came here to win today, not for milestones. I don't pitch for milestones. I pitch to win.”
He could, however, appreciate the accomplishment.
“To me, it a durability thing,” Scherzer said. “To get to the that point, you have to be, year in and year out, durable. I pride myself on that.”
Scherzer gave up a solo homer to Colton Cowser in the fourth inning, and Gunnar Henderson made it 2-0 with an RBI single in the fifth.
“He did great,” Bochy insisted. “Two runs in this ballpark is a pretty good job. He felt good, and that's what's really encouraging.”
That was Scherzer's takeaway, too.
“Finally, I'm starting to get over this thumb issue,” Scherzer said. “I've still got some nerve stuff up in the shoulder, but that kind of subsided. I'm kind of seeing the light at the end of the tunnel on this. Physically, I'm finally getting in a better spot.”
JETT STREAM
Hall of Fame rocker Joan Jett joined the character known as “Mr. Splash” to spray water on fans in the outfield after a positive play by the Orioles. A Maryland native and long-time Orioles fan, the 65-year-old Jett posed for pictures and chatted with some of the players before batting practice. She also threw out the ceremonial first pitch.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Rangers: 3B Josh Jung (wrist) hopes to take batting practice Saturday, but he still has to face live pitching and could go on a rehab assignment before resuming a season interrupted by right wrist surgery after he was hit by a pitch in April. “We don't want him here unless he's healthy enough to swing a bat like he can and be able to handle major league pitching,” Bochy said.
Orioles: C Adley Rutschman was held from the starting lineup after taking a foul ball off a finger on his right hand Thursday night. Manager Brandon Hyde said x-rays were negative. ... RHP Corbin Burnes was placed on paternity leave, one day after going seven innings in a win over Texas. He is expected to join the team in Seattle next week during a Tuesday-Thursday series.
UP NEXT
Baltimore rookie Cade Povich (0-2, 4.15 ERA) makes his fifth start Saturday, looking for the first victory of his career. Michael Lorenzen (4-3, 3.04) starts for the Rangers.
------
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
