Manager Reveals Why Texas Rangers Starter Left Giants Game So Early

The Texas Rangers had to use their bullpen to retire 23 outs after Andrew Heaney left in the second inning.

Texas Rangers manager Bruce Bochy revealed why starting pitcher Andrew Heaney left Saturday’s game so early.

Heaney — who was riding a career-best 15 2/3 inning scoreless streak going into the game — left rather unexpectedly in the second inning.

He wasn’t injured. He was coming off an illness.

Bochy revealed after the game that Heaney picked up the “crud” while the team was in Oakland and didn’t pitch his normal between-start bullpen.

Going into the game, Bochy and Rangers pitching coach Mike Maddux talked about the situation and knew they might need to have their bullpen ready to go if Heaney had to leave early. Heaney was basically over the illness, but stamina was the issue, Bochy said.

Heaney threw 40 pitches and faced just nine batters, giving up three hits, one run and two walks in 1 1/3 innings of work.

Bochy made the move to the bullpen after Heaney struck out former Rangers utility player Mark Mathias for the first out of the second inning. The downside was that Heaney left reliever Grant Anderson a bases-loaded jam to deal with.

“I just didn’t pitch well,” Heaney said. “I had a short leash.”

Anderson said the entire bullpen was mentally ready to go if needed, depending on the situation.

The Rangers did have a plan and Anderson was able to induce a double play to get out of the second inning, which was key because the game was tied at 1-1.

Bochy and Maddux positioned the bullpen to succeed if it needed to eat innings.

Between Anderson — who got the win — Chris Stratton, Josh Sborz and Brock Burke they threw 7 2/3 innings. Combined, they allowed six hits, two runs and two walks while striking out three.

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