Lowe’s two-run single in ninth lifts Rangers over Mets
NEW YORK (AP) — Nathaniel Lowe hit a two-run single with two outs within the ninth inning and the Texas Rangers rallied previous the New York Mets 4-3 on Monday evening for simply their second victory in 11 video games.
It was the primary win for the Rangers this season when trailing after eight innings.
“Huge win,” supervisor Bruce Bochy mentioned. “Nate, that’s one of the biggest hits that we’ve had this year.”
Adolis García started the comeback from a 3-0 deficit by lacing a run-scoring double within the seventh for his ninety fifth RBI — second-most within the American League. Robbie Grossman’s groundout within the eighth scored Corey Seager, who had three hits.
Texas remained one recreation behind first-place Seattle within the AL West, solely the second day this season the Rangers weren’t atop the division.
“Tough time we’ve had. It’s hard to feel like yourself — you feel like you’ve got to step on the pedal everywhere you go,” mentioned Jon Gray, who allowed three runs in six innings. “I think a game like tonight could be a thing that gets us back into it and gets us back to feeling like ourselves.”
Brandon Nimmo ended an 0-for-21 droop with a two-run homer for the last-place Mets. DJ Stewart additionally went deep.
Jonah Heim opened the ninth with a single in opposition to Trevor Gott (0-4), and Ezequiel Duran adopted with a double. Gott struck out Leody Taveras and Marcus Semien and deliberately walked Seager earlier than Lowe hit a 2-1 pitch between first and second to attain pinch-runner Josh Smith and Duran.
“Made some great pitches to strike out a really good hitter in Semien and (Taveras) and he’s one pitch away,” Mets supervisor Buck Showalter mentioned. “It’s unfortunate.”
Going into Monday, the Rangers had been 0-47 when trailing after eight innings.
“You go through a rut like this, you need somebody to pick you up and what a great job (Lowe) did,” Bochy mentioned. “But it wasn’t just him. Pitching did a great job.”
José Leclerc labored round a two-out stroll to Francisco Álvarez within the ninth to earn his second save. Martín Pérez (9-4) tossed two hitless innings of aid.
“This was a team win — Martín getting two zeros there and Leclerc getting the save,” Lowe mentioned. “That’s not how we’ve set it up before. New guys stepping up and getting big outs keep us in that game. We took advantage of a couple hits there (with) runners in scoring position.”
Gray gave up Nimmo’s third-inning homer and Stewart’s fifth-inning solo shot however struck out 9 batters — his most since whiffing 12 in a complete-game loss to St. Louis on June 7.
Tylor Megill allowed one run and struck out eight in six stable innings for the Mets.
DÍAZ STILL AIMING TO RETURN IN ’23
Mets nearer Edwin Díaz, who tore his proper patellar tendon on March 15 whereas celebrating after getting the ultimate out of Puerto Rico’s win over the Dominican Republic on the World Baseball Classic, threw his first out of doors bullpen Sunday as he continues to attempt to return this season.
“My goal was to be ready in six months,” Díaz mentioned Monday. “And I’m working on that.”
Díaz mentioned he was clocked within the low-to-mid 90s on Sunday.
MAX RETURNS
A light-weight smattering of boos from a late-arriving crowd of 21,696 accompanied a video tribute to Max Scherzer, who returned to Citi Field 4 weeks after being traded to the Rangers through the Mets’ deadline selloff.
As the video ended, Scherzer smiled sheepishly and made a saluting movement.
Scherzer went 11-5 with a 2.29 ERA in 23 begins whereas serving to the Mets to a 101-61 file and a wild-card berth final season. He was 9-4 with a 4.01 ERA — nearly a full run increased than his profession mark — in 19 begins upon being traded July 30.
“I wish I would have pitched better,” Scherzer mentioned. “I don’t like to point fingers unless I’m pointing fingers at myself. And I can definitely point the finger at myself.”
Scherzer, who received’t pitch within the sequence in opposition to the Mets, is 3-1 in 5 begins for the Rangers.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Rangers: RHP Glenn Otto was recalled from Triple-A Round Rock to switch RHP Jonathan Hernández, who was optioned to the identical affiliate after strolling three batters within the thirteenth inning of Sunday’s loss.
Mets: RF Starling Marte (proper groin) started present process bodily remedy in Philadelphia. Showalter mentioned Marte will seemingly obtain remedy by way of Friday.
UP NEXT
LHP Andrew Heaney (9-6, 4.34 ERA) begins Tuesday evening for the Rangers within the center recreation of the sequence in opposition to LHP José Quintana (1-5, 3.73). Heaney has thrown simply 9 1/3 innings mixed in his final three begins. Quintana has pitched at the very least 5 innings in all seven begins this season.
