The Texas Rangers cruised to a 8-3 victory over the Chicago Cubs at Surprise Stadium on Tuesday in spring training action. Corey Seager paced the offense, going 1-for-3 with a home run and three RBI, giving the coaching staff plenty to be encouraged about as the exhibition schedule continues. On the mound, Jacob deGrom turned in a solid outing, working 3.0 innings of scoreless ball with five strikeouts. The Rangers finished with 9 hits on the day while holding the Cubs to 8. The Rangers will take confidence from a well-rounded effort on both sides of the ball. Spring training is about building toward the regular season, and this was a step in the right direction.
Key Performers
Corey Seager was the standout at the plate, going 1-for-3 with a home run and three RBI. His power was on full display throughout the game. The Rangers will be hoping for more of the same as the spring continues.
Ezequiel Duran added to the attack, going 1-for-3 with a home run and two RBI, Josh Smith provided support, going 2-for-3 with a home run and an RBI, and Chandler Pollard also contributed, going 1-for-1 with a home run and an RBI. Multiple contributors at the plate made life difficult for the opposing pitching staff.
On the other side of the diamond, Matt Shaw led the Cubs offense with a 1-for-3 with a home run and an RBI day. Kevin Alcántara also contributed, going 3-for-4. Kade Snell added a 1-for-1 with a double 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
Jacob deGrom earned the win after battling through his outing, working 3.0 innings while allowing 0 earned runs on 2 hits with five strikeouts. He threw 43 pitches in the outing. The coaching staff will review his performance as they continue mapping out the pitching plan for the regular season.
The bullpen combined for 6.0 innings of work, allowing 3 earned runs while striking out seven. The Rangers continue to sort through their relief options as they build their Opening Day bullpen. Every inning pitched in the spring is an opportunity for pitchers to make their case for a spot on the roster when the games start counting.
Among the relievers, Kumar Rocker stood out with 4.0 innings of 2-run work, striking out five. It was an impressive showing that could factor into roster decisions.
How It Happened
The Rangers struck first, plating three runs in the first inning. The Rangers tacked on a run in the second. The Rangers pushed across two runs in the fourth. The Rangers plated a run in the fifth. Cubs answered with two runs in the sixth. Cubs tacked on a run in the eighth. The Rangers countered with a run in the eighth. The Rangers spread their scoring across five different innings, applying consistent pressure throughout the game. The Rangers out-hit Cubs 9-8 on the day, with both teams playing clean defense. A crowd of 6,028 was on hand to take in the action.
Looking Ahead
The Rangers will look to build on this positive performance as spring training winds down. With the regular season rapidly approaching, outings like this one provide confidence and continuity for a roster that is rounding into form. Every remaining exhibition game is another chance to sharpen the details before the games start counting for real.