The Texas Rangers earned a 9-4 victory over the Seattle Mariners at Peoria Stadium on Sunday in spring training action. Michael Helman paced the offense, going 1-for-3 with a home run and two RBI, giving the coaching staff plenty to be encouraged about as the exhibition schedule continues. On the mound, Jacob Latz turned in a solid outing, working 3.0 innings of 2-run ball with one strikeout. The Rangers finished with 14 hits on the day while holding the Mariners to 6. The victory gives the Rangers positive momentum heading into the final stretch of spring training. The coaching staff will look to build on the strong showing in the games ahead.
Key Performers
Michael Helman was the top performer at the plate, going 1-for-3 with a home run and two RBI. His ability to drive the ball out of the park was the highlight of the afternoon. Performances like this give the Rangers confidence that the lineup is rounding into form.
Cameron Cauley provided support, going 2-for-3 with a home run and an RBI, Aaron Zavala also contributed, going 3-for-3 with a triple and an RBI, and Orlando Martinez chipped in, going 2-for-3 with an RBI. The depth of production throughout the lineup was encouraging to see.
On the other side of the diamond, Cole Young led the Mariners offense with a 1-for-2 with a home run and two RBI day. Spencer Packard also contributed, going 1-for-2 with two RBI. Victor Robles added a 1-for-3 effort as well. Despite those contributions, the Rangers pitching staff did enough to limit the damage and secure the victory.
On the Mound
Jacob Latz got the start, putting together a workmanlike effort, working 3.0 innings while allowing 2 earned runs on 3 hits with one strikeout. He threw 41 pitches in the outing. It was a useful learning experience as the Rangers evaluate their pitching depth heading into the regular season.
The bullpen combined for 5.3 innings of work, allowing 2 earned runs while striking out five. Spring training gives the coaching staff a chance to evaluate bullpen depth, and today was an encouraging showing from the relievers. Each reliever is auditioning for a roster spot, and innings like these factor into those decisions.
Among the relievers, Tyler Alexander stood out with 2.0 innings of scoreless work, striking out two. His performance was one of the day's bright spots from the bullpen.
How It Happened
Mariners got on the board first with two runs in the first inning. The Rangers countered with a run in the third. The Rangers plated seven runs in the sixth. The Rangers added a run in the seventh. Mariners responded with two runs in the eighth. The Rangers spread their scoring across three different innings, applying consistent pressure throughout the game. The Rangers out-hit Mariners 14-6 on the day, with 2 errors committed between the two clubs. A crowd of 6,730 was on hand to take in the action.
Looking Ahead
As the exhibition schedule nears its conclusion, the Rangers can point to this game as a step in the right direction. The combination of solid pitching and timely hitting is exactly what the coaching staff hopes to see at this stage of the spring. The focus now shifts to maintaining this level of play with the regular season just around the corner.