Rockies Fall to Rangers 6-5: A Party of K’s, Game Notes and Scouting Takeaways

Strikeouts, hits at a premium on Monday as the Rangers took down the Rockies 6-5.

This is the fourth of a six-part scouting series. After this Rangers/Rockies game, I will be wrapping up this series with coverage of the Dodgers/Mariners game on 3/29. You can find my recap and scouting report of Thursday’s Dodgers/Rangers game here, Friday’s Athletics/White Sox game here, Saturday’s White Sox/Indians game here, and Sunday’s Mariners/Reds game here. Follow me on Twitter @JoePiazza_ for game updates and all baseball news!  

When most people hear there were 20 strikeouts in a game, they probably picture a low scoring affair. A final score of 2-1, or 1-0 maybe. What they’re probably not expecting is a combined 24 hits between the two teams. There were only a total of 11 runs scored, but the Rangers and the Rockies still accumulated 20 Ks and 24 hits between the two of them. Neither team’s pitching staff was able to put an end to the scoring, as runs crossed the plate from the 2nd to the 9th innings. They hit one home run each, and knocked both starting pitchers out of the game before the 6th inning.

There was action from the very start, with Jared Hoying snagging a liner in right to retire Gerardo Parra for the first out of the game.

The Rangers decided to give their major league rotation a break on Monday, instead tasking depth piece Allen Webster with the start. Webster ate 4.1 innings, giving up two earned runs. A homer by Mike Napoli and a go ahead single by Delino DeShields Jr. propelled Texas in this one. For the Rockies, it was Alexi Amarista and Jordan Patterson that did the heavy lifting.

The abnormally high number of combined walks and strikeouts (44) gave this game a slow, yet busy pace. When factoring in walks (nine total), every single inning featured a baserunner and a strikeout. Down three runs in the ninth, the Rockies nearly mounted a comeback. An RBI double by Jordan Patterson brought home Luke Tendler to make the score 6-4. Then, Vince Fernandez singled him in with two outs to cut the lead down to one. The next man up was Michael Benjamin, but he struck out. Ballgame over. Rangers 6, Rockies 5.

Rangers Batting

The Rangers lineup was missing Adrian Beltre, Nomar Mazara, Carlos Gomez, and Ryan Rua, but that didn’t stop them from getting six runs across the plate. Leadoff man Delino DeShields Jr. had himself a day at the plate, going 2-2 with a pair of singles and a pair of walks. He also scored a run and stole a base.

DeShields wasn’t the only guy to show up for Texas. Mike Napoli was also 2-2 on the day, scoring two runs and driving one in on a homer and a double. The Rangers also got three hits out of Robinson Chirinos, two of which were doubles. Chirinos went 3-4 on Monday, driving in a run and scoring one himself. Five different Rangers drove in a run. In addition to DeShields, Napoli and Chirinos, Drew Robinson and Luke Tendler recorded an RBI each.

As I mentioned earlier, there were an abundance of strikeouts in this game. The Rangers certainly contributed to this outcome, striking out 11 times. Shin-Soo Choo, Michael De Leon, Drew Robinson, and Jared Hoying each whiffed twice Monday. They accounted for nearly three quarters of the 11 strikeouts, despite appearing in less than a third of the team’s at bats. These weren’t just eight unlucky swings and misses though, considering Choo, De Leon, and Hoying all went hitless as well. Luckily for the Rangers, Choo is the only player from this grouping that is expected to see regular major league at bats in 2017.

Rangers Pitching

With Allen Webster on the mound, there was little expectation to witness a lights-out pitching performance. Webster did OK for Texas, giving up two runs, two walks, and striking out three in 4.1 innings of work. In a regular season game, this would be cause for concern. During Spring Training though, it’s just another day of warm-ups. At best, Webster was going to be a long man out of the bullpen and a spot starter for Texas. There’s still a possibility of that happening later in the season, but it was announced the next day that he would not be making the Opening Day roster.

Relievers

As a whole the team gave up 5 runs, but there were still three relievers to have a scoreless appearance. The trio of Sam Dyson, Keone Kela and Wes Benjamin combined for 3 IP and 4 Ks, allowing no runs. That’s not bad at all, but they did surrender two walk across those three innings. Kela’s appearance may have been the most exciting, as he and catcher Robinson Chirinos teamed up for a strike him out/throw him out double play to end the seventh inning.

Benjamin was the freshest of the group, as Monday’s was his first Spring Training appearance. He definitely opened eyes though, striking out the side. He did give up a walk to Chris Denorfia, but it was on a full count in an eight-pitch at bat. In other words, Denorfia had to work for it.

With Webster only on the hook for two runs, there were three more to be accounted for. Preston Claiborne and Brady Feigl were the other two Rangers pitchers to give up runs on Monday, though one of Feigl’s was unearned. Claiborne allowed the solo home run to Amarista in the fifth on a slider left over the plate. Feigl gave up two runs in the ninth off the back to back doubles by Valiaka and Patterson, then an error by Michael De Leon brought Patterson in. Of the six pitchers to make an appearance on Monday for Texas, only Dyson and Kela will be on the Opening Day roster.

Rockies Pitching

In one of, if not his last opportunity to make the starting rotation, lefty Kyle Freeland had mixed results. His five strikeouts in 4.2 innings pitched were impressive, but the 4 runs surrendered were not. The three walks allowed are also a cause for concern, but Freeland still has a chance to break the Opening Day rotation. He served up a walk to Delino DeShields Jr. to begin the bottom of the first, but quickly erased him on a smooth pickoff throw.

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Freeland allowed a leadoff home run to Mike Napoli in the fourth, albeit on a well-placed fastball hugging the outside border of the zone. That’s where Napoli likes the ball, though, and he crushed it to right to give Texas a 3-2 lead.

Based on his pitch locations throughout the start, it appeared that Freeland was going for a strikeout every at bat. That’s an acceptable approach for flamethrowers like Chris Sale, Chris Archer, and Aroldis Chapman. But when your fastball clocks in at 93 mph, pitching to contact in certain situations may be a good idea.

Relievers

There were two relievers to appear in Monday’s game for the Rockies: Harrison Musgrave and Greg Holland. Musgrave, who spent last season split between AA and AAA, was very impressive in 2.1 IP. He gave up no runs, allowed four hits and a walk in that span, but also struck out four Rangers. The first of his four Ks was the most vital. He entered the fifth inning with runners on first and second with two outs, and struck out Rougned Odor to escape the threat.

Following a pair of scoreless innings by Musgrave, it was Greg Holland’s turn to take the mound. In case you forgot, Holland was one of the best relievers/closers in the game from 2011-2014 with the Royals. He’s a year removed from action, as he lost the 2016 season to Tommy John surgery.

Next: Mariners 7, Reds 6 - Scouting Report

In the one inning he pitched, Holland did not look good. Three hits and two runs, including a triple and a double, gave the Rangers a three-run cushion headed into the ninth. He struck out Franklin Rollin and Michael De Leon to end the eighth, but the damage had already been done. Considering he’s only pitched 5.1 innings (all in Spring Training) since the end of 2015, the Rockies would be playing it safe to give Holland a week or two in the minors to get back into form. Their front office doesn’t seem worried, as he’s projected to make the Opening Day roster.