Dane Dunning Steps Up for Texas Rangers in Jacob deGrom's Spot, Bullpen Implodes

Dane Dunning makes a solid spot start in Jacob deGrom's turn in the rotation Friday at the Los Angeles Angels.

Dane Dunning did his best Jacob deGrom impression Friday against at the Los Angeles Angels to start a 10-day road road trip.

Unfortunately, the Rangers bullpen wasted that performance late in a 5-4, 10-inning loss.

With deGrom sidelined on the injured list with right elbow inflammation, a Dunning threw five shutout innings, giving up two hits and a walk while striking out three. He threw just 72 pitches, but that was his highest pitch total of the season.

Dunning left the game in line for the win with the Rangers leading 3-0.

He did everything he could for the Rangers short of completing the game himself. But, after five innings, Rangers manager Bruce Bochy felt he had gotten all he could out of Dunning.

“He did a terrific job, his first start (of the season) against a tough lineup and he just gave us five solid innings,” Bochy said. “We got him up where we though he should be and that’s the tough thing about this whole deal is how he really came out there and just pitched a beautiful game.”

Dunning admitted to feeling a little “weird” preparing to start instead of coming out of the bullpen. He altered his pregame routine slightly by coming out later and throwing less warmup pitches, but otherwise felt fine.

Watching closer Will Smith give up three runs in the ninth to send it to extras was tough. The Angels scored the winning run in the 10th on a wild pitch from Josh Sborz.

“It’s just frustrating to lose a game in general,” Dunning said. “Will’s been phenomenal for us and I know he’s kicking himself right now.”

For a while, it looked like Dunning might finally snap his own Rangers record. Instead, Dunning ended up with his 26th straight road start without a win. It took a little bloom of the rose of what was a splendid outing for the right-hander.

Dunning broke the previous Rangers record last season when he passed Pete Broberg, who had 15 straight winless starts on the road in 1972-73.

Dunning is now closing in on the MLB record, which is 29, held by Scott Elarton from 2001-05.

Dunning hasn’t won in 27 straight road starts, which dates back to his time with the Chicago White Sox. His last road win as a starter was with the White Sox on Sept. 9, 2020 against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Last season Dunning was 0-6 in 13 road starts with a 5.62 ERA away from Globe Life Field.

Friday was Dunning’s ninth appearance of the season. His first eight came out of the bullpen and he’s been the team’s most reliable long reliever. He entered the game with a 1.77 ERA in 20 1/3 relief innings.

Dunning was pitching on six days’ rest after relieving an injured deGrom on April 28. Dunning claimed his second win of the season, going 3 1/3 innings, giving up three hits and two runs while striking out one.

The Rangers (18-13) attempt to tie the series in Saturday’s 8:07 p.m. start. Nathan Eovaldi (3-2, 3.93) goes for Texas, while Reid Detmers (0-2, 4.85) is on the mound for the Angels (19-14).

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