CHICAGO – After the final out was made, and the comeback was complete, Rangers designated hitter Kole Calhoun went up to starting pitcher Martín Pérez, put...
Texas Rangers' Adolis Garcia celebrates with teammates after hitting a three-run home run during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Chicago White Sox in Chicago, Saturday, June 11, 2022.CHICAGO – After the final out was made, and the comeback was complete, Rangers designated hitter Kole Calhoun went up toHey, even a team’s best player can use some relief from time to time.
“It’s kind of like, how much fight do you have?” said Rangers reliever Matt Moore, who had five strikeouts in two innings and improved to 3-0 on the season. “It’s easy to fold. That’s the easy thing to do: to just go home and take your beating, but these guys kept battling.” Pérez — the AL’s ERA leader heading into Saturday — surrendered 12 hits against the White Sox, tying a career high, and allowed a season-high six earned runs over five innings. He threw 101 pitches, meaning he threw as many pitches as the Rangers would’ve hoped, especially after a full-bullpen day the game before.
Quickly, the Rangers responded by loading the bases. Shortstop Corey Seager nearly hit a grand slam, but his ball was caught on the left-centerfield warning track. Then García sent a three-run home run 109 mph off his bat and over the left field fence. He looked at the dugout in celebration, almost egging the rest of his teammates to jump on the big-hit train.