LOS ANGELES – – The Texas Rangers thought it appropriate to end their epic road losing streak with one of their most impressive wins of the season.
These rebuilding Rangers are all on new starts, and they had a big one at Dodger Stadium in their first road win since May 6.
“We have a new streak,” Texas manager Chris Woodward said. “We hope to build from that one.”
Jonah Heim and Nate Lowe had two homers in their three hits apiece, and the Rangers ended their 16-game road loss with a 12-1 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Saturday night.
Jason Martin hit his first major league homer and Willie Calhoun won a triple RBI for the Rangers, who were mired in a crisis outside of Arlington that spanned six stadiums and matched the longest streak. losing streak in franchise history, established by the expansion of the Washington Senators in 1961.
It was also the AL’s longest road loss streak since 2010, and the longest in a single season since 1970.
“It’s huge,” said Heim, who also doubled up and made a single to end his 0-to-13 slump. always a good day. We’re just thrilled to have played a full team game today.
Kolby Allard pitched five scoreless innings with five hits for the late Texas, who unlikely to dominate the defending World Series champions and only won the third time in 16 total games – one night after suffering a 12-1 loss to Ravin de Chavez.
Isiah Kiner-Falefa extended his hitting streak to 10 games with three hits and also stole three goals for the Rangers, who had scored just 18 points in their previous eight road games.
Texas beat NL Cy Young award winner Trevor Bauer (6-5) for nine hits and six runs – both highs of the season for new Dodgers starter.
“I was a little shaky at first, fighting my command a bit, and then I think I kicked the ball pretty well,” said Bauer. “As the season goes on, you’re going to be doing outings like this. Things won’t always turn out the way you want them to.
Bauer struck out eight and got his first hit for the Dodgers, but also suffered his first straight losses of the season. He gave up two unearned runs in the third in a rally that started with Mookie Betts dropping a flying ball in the middle. Heim then hit Bauer in the fourth quarter.
“I’m not worried about it,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said of Bauer’s recent sub-optimal performance. “I think it all comes down to making pitches.”
AJ Pollock scored for the Dodgers, whose five-game winning streak ended with just their second loss in 10 games. Los Angeles’s 12 points and 17 hits were his worst totals of the season.
Allard (2-2) was exceptional in the third start of the season for the Anaheim-born San Clemente high school graduate, striking out four strikes with a single walk. Allard, who got no support in his first two starts, escaped a loaded baseline jam in the fourth by putting rookie Zach McKinstry on weak first pitch.
“AW is a W, but it was obviously cool,” Allard said. “I had a lot of family and friends in the stands.
NOW IT’S A START
Andy Burns, a 30-year-old outfielder, got his first major league hit and then pitched in the ninth inning of his first game with the Dodgers.
After being called up from the Oklahoma City Triple-A before the game, Burns got a single in the infield in the second inning of his first major league start. He also drew a promenade.
And with the Dodgers down 10-1 in the ninth, Burns was even able to pitch. He had three strikeouts but also allowed three hits, including a two-run homerun from Martin, another Orange County native.
Roberts said he surprised Burns by putting him on the mound in the ninth. Burns does not appear to have significant pitching experience at any level in his well-traveled career.
“I just felt like I didn’t want to have the anxiety or the nerves with the anticipation of this ninth inning,” said Roberts. “I just asked him if he was ready to make history, and he said, ‘Let’s do it.'”
Burns has only had six previous games of major league experience as a reserve with Toronto in 2016. He has played in all minor categories and in South Korea and Australia for the past 11 years.
THEY WERE DUS
The Rangers improved to 2-10 against teams from the NL and won at an NL park for the first time in 12 games while beating the Dodgers for only the second time in 10 games since June 2015.
TRAINERS ‘ROOM
Dodgers: 1B Max Muncy entered the injured list with right oblique muscle tension after making a home run in the first inning of Friday’s game and then being shot in the second. … OF Cody Bellinger did not play after leaving Friday’s game with left hamstring strain. Manager Dave Roberts doesn’t think the injury is serious.
FOLLOWING
Walker Buehler (5-0, 2.56) takes the mound for Los Angeles after pitching seven scoreless two-stroke innings in Pittsburgh on Tuesday. Dane Dunning (2-4, 4.26) vs. Rangers.
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