Wednesday Newsletter time: Joey Gallo carrying Rangers through four-game winning streak. Here are his numbers.
The right fielder has always drawn high marks from manager Chris Woodward for stretches like the one he's on now.
The sample size was pretty small and Chris Woodward was pretty excited after the ninth game of the 2020 season.
The Texas Rangers had just won at San Francisco thanks in large part to a late-game homer by Joey Gallo. And Woodward, at the start of his second season as Rangers manager, said Gallo was the “best player every time he steps out there.”
Gallo promptly went into a season-ending slump.
But Woodward is singing Gallo’s high praises again, though with a caveat. When Gallo is hot, Woodward maintains, he’s one of the best hitters in the game.
Gallo is in one of those hot stretches. He hit two solo home runs Tuesday night as the Rangers hung on to beat the Oakland A’s 5-4 at the decrepit Oakland Coliseum.
“He’s on another planet right now,” Woodward said.
Gallo is batting .462 with five homers and 12 RBIs in the past four games, all Rangers wins. Those five homers have come in the past three games. The last Rangers player to do that was Adrian Beltre in 2012.
Gallo is batting .320 in his past 15 games with a 1.277 OPS.
That’ll do. That’ll do.
Nick Solak hit a two-run homer in the ninth inning to make a one-run game a little cozier for closer Ian Kennedy. Good thing, too, as Kennedy issued a leadoff homer to Jed Lowrie in the ninth and a one-out solo shot to old friend Mitch Moreland.
Crazy stats
Here’s one of those odd-ball statistics that make people say, “Baseball, man.”
The Rangers had played 10 times this season after an off day, and were 0-10 in those games. (I’m surprised the Rangers have had 10 off days this season.) The A’s had played nine times this season after an off day, and were 9-0.
Make that 1-10 and 9-1.
One more: Mike Foltynewicz had logged six quality starts this season without registering a win. That also changed Tuesday, as he allowed two runs in seven innings for his seventh QS in 2021 and picked up the victory.
Class of 2018
I hope you saw the story posted Tuesday on Cole Winn, Owen White and Mason Englert. It’s for subscribers only, and if you’re not subscribing, you really should be and can do so (or upgrade your free account) by hitting the button below.
Winn, White and Englert were the Rangers’ first-, second- and fourth-round picks in 2018, and their development has veered onto three different paths.
First off, these are good people. They’re smart, level-headed and have learned from the obstacles they have encountered. They’re also young and prone to some gaffes, but seem intent on not repeating them.
And that goes for all the prospects interviewed the past month or so, from Evan Carter to Josh Jung. That’s a reflection of good scouting and good coaching, and the organization should get high marks for that.
Can they play? Yeah, when healthy.
The Rangers are dealing with some big injuries in the system, but it is a deep system. The depth is starting to rise to the advanced levels, including Jung and Winn at Double A Frisco.
As for the 2018 trio, they are trending the right way. Even White, who’s recovering from a broken hand, will pitch again this season.
It’s not a full campaign, but it beats the past two seasons when he and Englert were recovering from Tommy John surgery.
Slip-up
Just when you think you can’t relate to professional athletes, one of them goes and gets banged up doing something everyone does from time to time.
Left-hander Joely Rodriguez pulled a hamstring in the offseason when he slipped on a wet floor in the Dominican Republic as he helped take his pregnant wife to the doctor.
The latest everyday injury occurred Tuesday morning, when catcher Jose Trevino slipped in his hotel-room bathroom and bruised his right forearm.
Athletes are humans, too.
The slip caused the Rangers to scramble. They purchased the contract of Triple A catcher John Hicks, optioned outfielder Jason Martin to Round Rock, and designated right-handed reliever Shaun Anderson for assignment.
They have three catchers on the roster as they wait to see if Trevino is able to play by Friday, the last day they can back date a move to the injury list.
Doggy video!
This one is making the rounds. It’s pretty good. Enjoy. See you Thursday.
