The Texas Rangers rolled to a 7-6 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers at Surprise Stadium on Saturday in spring training action. Sam Haggerty paced the offense, going 1-for-2 with a home run and an RBI, giving the coaching staff plenty to be encouraged about as the exhibition schedule continues. Jack Leiter worked 1.1 innings on the mound, allowing 2 earned runs on 3 hits. The Dodgers out-hit the Rangers 11-10 on the day. It was an encouraging performance for the Rangers as they continue sharpening the roster for the regular season. Games like these serve as a valuable measuring stick for where the team stands heading into the campaign.
Key Performers
Sam Haggerty was the offensive highlight at the plate, going 1-for-2 with a home run and an RBI. The long ball provided a major boost to the offensive attack. It was the kind of day at the plate that suggests good things ahead for the Rangers offense.
Andrew Velazquez also contributed, going 1-for-2 with a double and two RBI, Nick Pratto chipped in, going 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI, and Aaron Zavala added to the attack, going 2-for-2 with an RBI. It was a balanced attack that kept the pressure on from the first pitch to the last.
On the other side of the diamond, Dalton Rushing led the Dodgers offense with a 2-for-3 with a home run and two RBI day. Nick Senzel also contributed, going 1-for-1 with a home run and two RBI. Jake Gelof added a 1-for-2 with a home run and an RBI effort as well. Despite those contributions, the Rangers pitching staff did enough to limit the damage and secure the victory.
On the Mound
Jack Leiter got the start, having a rough go of it, working 1.1 innings while allowing 2 earned runs on 3 hits with one strikeout. He threw 45 pitches in the outing. His outing provided the coaching staff with another data point as rotation and bullpen decisions loom.
The bullpen combined for 6.5 innings of work, allowing 4 earned runs while striking out nine. The relief corps did its job in protecting the lead after the starter departed. Managing the bullpen workload is a key priority during the spring, and every outing helps the coaching staff gauge who is ready for high-leverage situations. Dane Acker recorded the save to close out the game.
Among the relievers, Luis Curvelo stood out with 1.0 innings of scoreless work, striking out three. The outing gave the coaching staff confidence in his ability to contribute this season.
How It Happened
Dodgers got on the board first with two runs in the first inning. The Rangers struck back with a run in the fourth. Dodgers answered with two runs in the fifth. The Rangers responded with two runs in the fifth. The Rangers pushed across three runs in the sixth. The Rangers plated a run in the seventh. Dodgers answered with a run in the eighth. Dodgers tacked on a run in the ninth. The Rangers spread their scoring across four different innings, applying consistent pressure throughout the game. Dodgers out-hit the Rangers 11-10, with 1 error committed between the two clubs. A crowd of 8,448 was on hand to take in the action.
Looking Ahead
It was a productive day for the Rangers, who continue to put the pieces in place ahead of the regular season. The coaching staff will take the positives from this outing and use the remaining spring games to finalize the roster. Days like this one suggest the Rangers are heading in the right direction as Opening Day draws closer.