The Texas Rangers scored four runs, but the New York Yankees scored eight runs.
Jack Leiter returned to the Major Leagues and what awaited him was not the Chicago White Sox, the worst team of all time, but the best team in the American League in terms of both record and offensive strength.
Leiter faced his toughest test yet and actually improved. Despite a small lapse in the third inning, allowing two runs, he worked through five innings with Texas trailing only 2-1 and facing reigning American League Cy Young Award winner Gerrit Cole.
There’s one problem, though (well, two of you say that his own lineup seems allergic to lots of runs). With the dubious task of working his way through the Yankees’ powerful lineup for a third time, Leiter allowed a third run when the first three batters reached in the fateful sixth inning, necessitating the substitution of the former No. 2 pick.
To clean up for Leiter, the Rangers brought in veteran Chase Anderson for his first appearance with Texas, and he promptly allowed both acquired runners to score to mess up Leiter’s last line and then scored three runs himself despite going four innings overall.
It’s clear that Leiter is still in the development phase, but games against good teams should at least provide valuable experience and it’s not like the Rangers have anything else going for them at the moment.
Player of the match: Wyatt Langford went 2 for 4 with a double and a two-run home run, so that’s actually better than a win!
Next: The Rangers and Yankees will be back in action tomorrow night. Left-hander Andrew Heaney will play for Texas against left-hander Carlos Rodon for New York.
The Shed’s first pitch on Tuesday is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. CT and will be broadcast on BS Southwest.
