The Texas Rangers cruised to a 22-2 victory over the San Diego Padres at Surprise Stadium on Saturday in spring training action. Brandon Nimmo paced the offense, going 4-for-4 with two home runs, a double, and four RBI, giving the coaching staff plenty to be encouraged about as the exhibition schedule continues. On the mound, Nathan Eovaldi turned in a solid outing, working 5.2 innings of 2-run ball with five strikeouts. The Rangers finished with 22 hits on the day while holding the Padres to 7. 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
Brandon Nimmo was the offensive highlight at the plate, going 4-for-4 with two home runs, a double, and four RBI. His power was on full display throughout the game. The Rangers will be hoping for more of the same as the spring continues.
Josh Smith also contributed, going 1-for-1 with a home run and five RBI, Ezequiel Duran chipped in, going 3-for-4 with a home run, a double, and four RBI, and Wyatt Langford added to the attack, going 3-for-3 with a home run and two RBI. Multiple contributors at the plate made life difficult for the opposing pitching staff.
On the other side of the diamond, Jase Bowen led the Padres offense with a 1-for-4 with a home run and two RBI day. Bryce Johnson also contributed, going 2-for-3 with a double. Carlos Rodríguez added a 2-for-2 effort as well. Despite those contributions, the Rangers pitching staff did enough to limit the damage and secure the victory.
On the Mound
Nathan Eovaldi earned the win after turning in a quality outing, working 5.2 innings while allowing 2 earned runs on 6 hits with five strikeouts. He threw 81 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 was outstanding, combining for 3.1 scoreless innings while striking out three. 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, Josh Sborz stood out with 1.0 innings of scoreless work, striking out two. It was an impressive showing that could factor into roster decisions.
How It Happened
The Rangers struck first, pushing across four runs in the first inning. The Rangers plated a run in the second. Padres answered with two runs in the third. The Rangers responded with 13 runs in the third. The Rangers pushed across two runs in the fifth. The Rangers plated two runs in the sixth. The Rangers spread their scoring across five different innings, applying consistent pressure throughout the game. The Rangers out-hit Padres 22-7 on the day, with 1 error committed between the two clubs. A crowd of 6,301 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.