PHILADELPHIA (AP) — John King got the Texas Rangers into a jam in the seventh inning when he put Philadelphia Phillies on second and third with no outs and the meat of the order coming up. The lefty reliever simply buckled down: Pop up, punch out, punch out.
Threat over.
“It was cool to watch,” Rangers manager Chris Woodward said.
Mitch Garver and Jonah Heim homered, Zach Reks snapped a tie game with a two-RBI double and King got two big strikeouts, leading the the Rangers past the Phillies 6-4 on Tuesday night.
Garver and Heim went deep off Phillies starter Ranger Suarez (2-1) and the game was tied at 3 into the sixth inning. Heim singled and Nathaniel Lowe reached on third basemen Alec Bohm’s error. Reks broke the tie with a pinch-hit, two-RBI double off reliever Seranthony Dominguez, and Marcus Semien’s RBI single made it 6-3.
Bohm bobbled the ball before the throw and was slow to get the ball out of his glove on Semien’s infield hit. Bohm had entered 40 for 40 in total chances in the field since a three-error game April 11.
Bohm batted with two runners on base in the seventh and struck out against King. The lefty reliever then struck out Bryce Harper looking to end the threat and help the Rangers win their third straight game.
“I just think internally that the guys have kind of come together and really embrace the challenge,” Woodward said. “Everybody in that room has belief. Guys are starting to find their roles and you can see the bullpen really starting to throw the ball well. Guys are starting to get comfortable out there and embracing the expectations.”
Brock Burke (3-0) tossed 2 1/3 scoreless innings of relief for the win. Joe Barlow worked a scoreless ninth for his second save.
J.T. Realmuto hit a solo homer in the eighth that made it 6-4 as the Phillies,…
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