Alejandro Osuna, Elias Díaz pull off eighth-inning magic as Texas Rangers edge past Miami Marlins 4-3.
While Kumar Rocker performed well for the Texas Rangers on Monday night, Alejandro Osuna and Elias Díaz were the prime-time stars as the Rangers defeated the Miami Marlins 4-3 at loanDepot Park.
Rangers manager Skip Schumaker had Tyler Alexander open the first inning since Rocker just has had first-inning troubles this season. Once Alexander left, Rocker came in and worked five innings, giving up five hits, two earned runs, didn't walk a batter, and struck out nine.
Rocker Rolling for Rangers
Rocker now has a 4.14 ERA. Meanwhile, Rangers reliever Robby Ahlstrom worked a clean seventh inning and picked up the win. Ahlstrom is now 2-0 for the season. Jacob Latz worked the final 1.1 innings and earned his 14th save.
Calvin Faucher, the fourth Marlins pitcher of the night, absorbed the loss and saw his record fall to 4-4. Faucher went one inning, giving up two hits, two earned runs, one walk, and didn't strike out a batter.
Tyler Phillips started for Miami and went six innings, giving up five hits, two earned runs, walked three, and struck out four.
After both teams played the first three innings scoreless, Texas broke the scoreless tie with two runs in the top of the fourth. Brandon Nimmo hit a one-out single. Then, with two outs, Ezequiel Duran hit his sixth homer this season. That was a two-run shot and Texas was up 2-0.
The Marlins scored single runs in the fifth and sixth inning, tying the game at 2-2.
The Rangers strode to the plate in the top of the eighth and took control of the game. Nimmo hit his 19th double this season to reach second base with nobody out. Jake Burger then walked, and Osuna connected for a run-scoring double. Nimmo scored and Texas went up 3-2.
Sacrifice Fly Added to Rangers' Lead
Diaz came up and hit a sacrifice fly, driving home Burger and the Rangers established a 4-2 advantage. The Marlins added another run on Kyle Stowers' RBI double, pushing Miami a run closer at 4-3.
The Marlins, though, could not mount a ninth-inning rally and Texas took the win in the opening game of this three-game series.
Texas was 1-for-5 with runners in scoring position and left eight total runners on base. As for the hometown Marlins, they were 2-for-7 with runners in scoring position and left five total runners on base.
The Rangers are now 38-40 this season and sit in third place in the American League West Division. The Marlins fall to 40-39 and remain in fourth place in the National League East Division.
Texas could use a good road series win and the Rangers just might be able to turn the deal in the "Sun and Fun Capital of the World." Or, well, at least within driving distance of Miami Beach.
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