Arlington, Texas — Before young, struggling left-hander Red Detmers took on the Los Angeles Angels, manager Phil Niven had already decided his rookie had to “do something crazy” if he was going to go through the Texas Rangers “for the third time.”
“We all know what that means,” Nevin said.
Like the 24-year-old former Louisville star who bid for his second career home run.
Detmers took a no in the eighth before Rangers hitter Marcus Simien, on his third bunt, lead off to put a one-out double into the left-center gap. The Angels went on to shut out the AL West leaders 2-0 on Wednesday night.
“Obviously, the past two weeks have been very difficult and stressful, but I put my head down and kept working,” Detmers said. “Going out there today and getting what I did done, I can breathe right now. … It almost all came together in the end. And so, yeah, it feels good.”
Detmers, who He threw a no-hitter as a starter last season against Tampa Bay, 0-4 in his previous six starts. He has allowed 14 runs over 6 1/3 innings pitched combined with his other starts this month. He gave up seven runs without getting out in the third inning in Houston last Friday.
But with the Angels passing two-way star Shohei Ohtani into the rotation this week, Detmers (3-9) delivered four days off for the first time this season. The lefty had led 1-0 on his first pitch since then Ohtani hit his MLB-leading 42nd home run At the top of the first half.
“It was kind of something we thought about, like bringing him back in there, so we wouldn’t delve into his latest outing for an entire week,” Nevin said. “He made some adjustments in between starts. … I’m really proud of him. He went through so much for a little boy who will be a huge part of our future.”
Then Reinaldo Lopez and Carlos Estevez finished the Angels’ eighth final of the season. Texas, who entered the game with a . 273 team batting average and 1,138 MLB strikeouts, was scoreless for the ninth time.
“We’re a good offense, we had a bad day,” said Semin.
Blockers finished with five hits and four passes. He threw 64 batters among his 108 pitches, the last of which came on a Siemian hit.
Nevin said he was willing to give Detmers every opportunity to get another hitter. The pitcher had only thrown 48 pitches against the Astros, and he was already going to get a longer rest period before his next start.
“His last start was like a long bull game,” said Nevin. “So I will not take this (opportunity) away.”
The manager still had painkillers warming up in the fifth, sixth, and seventh rounds.
“I kind of saw where the number of my performances were. I kept telling myself, I’ve actually done more than I’ve done in the last couple of weeks.” “Did I want to go back there regardless of the field value? Yes.”
Lopez issued an intentional walk to All-Star shortstop Corey Seager before another All-Star hitter Adolis Garcia hit Nathaniel Lowe and hit a fly ball on the end of it. Estevez gave up consecutive hit singles to open the ninth inning, but made his 26th save in 28 chances by striking out two of the final three batters.
Ohtani, the designated hitter, went the opposite way for a 437-foot homer to left center in the first inning off John Gray (8-6). and the hitter circled around the bases without the batting helmet that came off when he was swinging and calling. He later had two more singles.
Gray struck out four and walked two while allowing one run over seven innings.
“I’m a little disappointed that I never feel this great,” said Gray. “Just that one pitch for Otani, I mean, I thought I got where I wanted to, but he’s a different kind of player.”
Almost another
There have been four no-hitters in the majors this season, two this month. The most recent was Philadelphia’s Michael Lorenzen last Wednesday in his first home run with the Phillies after being traded from Detroit.
short collars
The Rangers still won their fifth straight series, taking two of three from Los Angeles. Their nine-game winning streak at home was snapped. … Houston won 12-5 in Miamimoving to within 2 1/2 games of Texas in the AL West standings.
the next
Angels: After an off day Thursday, Tyler Anderson (5-4, 5.28 ERA) starts at left as the Angels return home for a home opener against Tampa Bay.
Rangers: Andrew Heene (9-6, 4.17), who is 4-0 with a 2.54 ERA in his last six starts, will be on the mound Friday in the opener of a three-game series against Milwaukee.
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