Rangers Sail Past Reds For Second Straight Spring Victory

Five different Texas Rangers have two hits and Martin Perez threw three quality innings as they improved to 2-2 for the spring.

The Texas Rangers defeated the Cincinnati Reds, 13-2, on Monday in Goodyear, Ariz. Here’s a breakdown of the game.

How the Rangers won: The Texas Rangers leaned on its offense for the second straight game in Goodyear, as they built an 8-1 lead after four innings and hit two home runs.

Records: Cincinnati, 1-2; Texas, 2-2.

Winning pitcher: Martín Pérez (TEX, 1-0).

Losing pitcher: Hunter Greene (CIN, 0-1).

Rangers at the plate: Four different Rangers batters had two hits on Monday. Brad Miller, who started at first base, went 2-for-4 and drove in two runs. Ezequiel Duran, who started at third base, went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run. Jonathan Ornelas, one of the Rangers’ top prospects who started at shortstop, went 2-for-3 with a run and an RBI. Cody Freeman, who came in to the game as pinch-hitter, went 2-for-3 with an RBI.

Ornelas was the only one of the group to have an extra-base hit.

Mitch Garver — who made his first start of the spring at catcher — hit a home run, a solo shot in the fourth inning. Sam Huff — who relieved Garver behind the plate — hit his own solo home run in the sixth inning.

Dustin Harris drove in two runs in the top of the ninth, bringing home two highly-touted Rangers prospects in Evan Carter and Luisangel Acuña.

Cody Freeman drove in Harris on a line drive to right field and Justin Foscue scored Blaine Crim from third on a sacrifice fly.

Rangers on the mound: Martín Pérez became the first Rangers starter to pitch three innings this spring, as he ramped up for the World Baseball Classic, where he will pitch for Venezuela. He gave up three hits, one run and a strikeout before leaving the game.

José Leclerc, who will also leave the Rangers soon for the WBC and Team Dominican Republic, pitched for the third time so far this spring and threw a scoreless inning with a walk.

From there, left-hander Taylor Hearn was the only other Rangers pitcher to give up a run. He allowed that run and two hits in his one inning, while walking one and striking out one.

Josh Sborz, Brock Burke and John King each threw scoreless innings. Fernery Ozuna pitched a scoreless ninth inning.

From the Park

Some tweets from Monday’s game.

Here’s Sam Huff’s home run:

And here’s Mitch Garver’s home run:

A view of the obstructed view seating in the Goodyear press box:

And here’s Mark Mathias with his 2 RBI single:


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Matthew Postins
MATTHEW POSTINS

Matthew Postins is an award-winning sports journalist who covers the Texas Rangers for Fan Nation/SI and also writes about the Houston Astros, Chicago Cubs and Philadelphia Phillies. He also covers the Big 12 for HeartlandCollegeSports.com.