Griffin strong for 8 innings, Rangers beat Yankees 10-1
ARLINGTON, Texas -- Through four starts this season, A.J. Griffin has pitched just as well as Rangers ace Cole Hamels.
In his latest start, Griffin pitched eight strong innings -- the longest outing by a Texas starter this season -- to lead the Rangers to a 10-1 victory over the New York Yankees on Tuesday night.
All this after missing two major league seasons following Tommy John surgery. Yet his start's greatest significance to Griffin had nothing to do with his comeback.
"We were just trying to get the game in before the rain came," Griffin said following a 2:19 game that is the Rangers' shortest this season.
A deluge hit Globe Life Park about 45 minutes after game, well after Griffin's strong game and Mitch Moreland's bases-loaded two-run single that keyed a five-run third inning. The Rangers ended a four-game skid, during which they totaled five runs. They were no-hit for six innings by Yankees right-hander Nathan Eovaldi on Monday night.
Griffin (3-0) allowed four singles and a walk and struck out five. He lowered his ERA to 2.52 -- matching that of Hamels -- and has limited opponents to a .189 batting average. He's filling a spot in the rotation that Yu Darvish, also returning from Tommy John surgery, is expected to reclaim next month.
"I feel like I'm back, pretty much," said Griffin, who was 14-10 in 2013 for the Oakland A's before needing surgery. "My mechanics are sound. It's pretty encouraging stuff."
"I'm proud of where he's at right now based on the history," Texas manager Jeff Banister said. "He's been pretty impressive."
"We should have put better swings on the mistakes, but he didn't have many," Yankees DH Mark Teixeira said. "He hit the corners a lot, and give him credit."
Nine Texas runs scored with two out. In the third, the Rangers got all five with two outs after Prince Fielder was intentionally walked by Luis Severino (0-3) to load the bases. Ian Desmond walked, then Moreland hit his single. Desmond scored on a wild pitch, and Elvis Andrus had an RBI single.
Desmond and Rougned Odor homered for Texas.
Severino lasted only three innings, giving up seven hits, two walks and a wild pitch. He went into the game with the worst run support among AL starters, averaging 1.33 runs.
Nomar Mazara, who turned 21 on Tuesday, had two singles and scored twice. Mazara, the majors' youngest player, has hit safely in 11 of 14 games with six multihit games since being promoted from Triple-A Round Rock on April 10.
Desmond had two hits and scored three runs -- twice on wild pitches. He is hitting .448 with three home runs in his last eight games after hitting .091 with no homers in his first 12.
SEVENTH HEAVEN
Andrus matched a season high with three hits. He's batting .343 primarily hitting seventh. "It's been a good position for me so far," said Andrus, a .270 career hitter. "As long as I'm still doing my job, I kind of like it."
BEASLEY'S BACK
Texas third base coach Tony Beasley returned to the team this week before starting 5 1/2 weeks of radiation treatments after being diagnosed with rectal cancer at the start of spring training. Spike Owen remains the team's third base coach. "That box will still be there," Beasley said. "Got to make sure I'm there."
BETTER SAFE
With heavy rain and wind headed toward the ballpark, the Rangers announced in the eighth inning that fans should evacuate the upper deck.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Yankees: Manager Joe Girardi said he hopes DH Alex Rodriguez (left oblique) can start in Wednesday's series finale. Rodriguez hasn't played since leaving the lineup during Sunday's game.
Rangers: LHP Hamels (groin strain) said he hopes to start Saturday at home against the Angels after being skipped Monday. Hamels threw a 25-pitch bullpen session on Monday and said Tuesday that he felt good.
UP NEXT
Yankees LHP CC Sabathia (1-1) has allowed 20 hits and eight walks in 15 1/3 innings. Sabathia is 6-2 career vs. Texas despite a 5.04 ERA. The Rangers are 0-4 in starts made this season by LHP Martin Perez (0-2). In his only previous career start against New York, Perez allowed eight earned runs in one inning last July 28 in a 21-5 loss.
Regular Season Series
2022 American League East Standings
TEAM | W | L | PCT | GB | STRK |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
New York | 32 | 13 | .711 | 0 | W3 |
Tampa Bay | 26 | 18 | .591 | 5.5 | L1 |
Toronto | 24 | 20 | .545 | 7.5 | W2 |
Boston | 21 | 23 | .477 | 10.5 | W1 |
Baltimore | 18 | 27 | .400 | 14 | L2 |
2022 American League West Standings
TEAM | W | L | PCT | GB | STRK |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Houston | 29 | 16 | .644 | 0 | W2 |
Los Angeles | 27 | 19 | .587 | 2.5 | L2 |
Texas | 20 | 23 | .465 | 8 | W2 |
Oakland | 19 | 28 | .404 | 11 | L1 |
Seattle | 18 | 27 | .400 | 11 | L2 |
MLB News
Goldschmidt homers, Woodruff hurt, Cards beat Brewers 4-2
— Paul Goldschmidt homered to extend his hitting streak to 18 games and lead the St. Louis Cardinals over the Milwaukee Brewers 4-2 Friday night.
O's erase 6-run deficit vs Red Sox bullpen, win 12-8
— Anthony Santander hit a tiebreaking single in the ninth inning and also had a two-run homer, helping the Baltimore Orioles overcome a pair of six-run deficits to beat the Boston Red Sox 12-8 Friday night.
Goldschmidt stays hot with 3rd HR in 4 games
Paul Goldschmidt extends his hitting streak to 18 games with a long ball off of Brandon Woodruff.
Alonso homers, drives in 4 as Mets hold off Phillies 8-6
— Pete Alonso homered, doubled and drove in four runs, taking over the major league RBI lead and powering the New York Mets past the Philadelphia Phillies 8-6 Friday night.
Anthony Santander drives in go-ahead run for Orioles
The Orioles take their first lead of the game against the Red Sox with an RBI single by Anthony Santander.
Xander Bogaerts crushes a 3-run HR over the Green Monster
The Red Sox jump out to an early 4-0 lead after Xander Bogaerts sends a homer over the Green Monster.