ARLINGTON, Texas – The Rangers came back full throttle against the Toronto Blue Jays after a 12-inning loss on Friday night. The perfect set up for a Saturday night baseball game in Texas occurred as more than 31,787 fans came out with their four – legged friends. That’s right, fans got to bring their dogs to Globe Life Park in Arlington for Bark in the Park night for the Rangers face off against the Jays in their three-game series.
The tone was set immediately as right fielder Nomar Mazara knocked it out of the park completing their first run. Shortly after in the 2nd inning a double play like no other with two strikes left the Jays outfielder’s Socrates Brito grounded to a double play and Billy McKinney out at second.
Making his first of 4 appearances on the plate that night and coming from the injured list, Rougned Odor flied out to right in the bottom third and ended with two walks and 1 strikeout by the bottom 7th. Meanwhile emotions were high, Ranger’s new manager Chris Woodward felt the nostalgia. Woodward was the former shortstop for the Jays as a rookie from 1999-2004. “Just seeing the Blue Jays, seeing a lot of those guys that I knew on that side… Woodward said. “It’s were everything started for me, first uniform I ever put on…it’s pretty special.”
It was a special night for Isiah Kiner- Falefa as well, just coming out of his Rookie season the catcher led the Ranger’s out of their losing streak. With a career-high 4RBIs – Falefa hit a bases-loaded triple and concluded the 8 run total- all in the first three innings.
Securing the moment for the perfect ending, Shawn Kelley closed out the ninth inning. Kelley was on a roll, with two fly-outs from Brito and Galivs. With 2 outs already and barely into the 9th inning, Kelley seals it as the winning pitcher with the Rangers winning 5-8.
The Rangers play their finale against the Jays on Sunday, before heading to Pittsburgh to take on the Pirates Tuesday night.
