The Texas Rangers (23-24) defeated the Tampa Bay Rays (28-20) 9-5 on Monday night in Arlington, Texas.
The Rangers started this game with a spectacular defensive play in the top of the first inning when center fielder Eli White jumped over the wall to bring back a baseball that Ji-Man Choi had appeared to hit out of the park. Then in the bottom of the first, Kole Calhoun hit a two-run single to give Texas an early lead.
When the Rays answered with a run in the top of the second, Texas responded with a two-run homer from Eli White in the bottom of the frame to build a 4-1 lead. Jonah Helm homered in the third inning to make it 5-1 Texas before this game was even a third of the way through.
The Rays added got a RBI single from Wander Franco in the fifth, but Texas responded with a four-run sixth inning which gave Texas a 9-2 lead. The Rays got three runs in the seventh inning but 9-5 would be as close as they would get, and would prove to be the final score.
Shortstop Wander Franco had a good game for the Rays, going 3-for-4 with 2 RBI. After hitting a single in the ninth inning for his third hit, he was removed with what Kevin Cash called a quad injury. He will be re-evaluated on Tuesday to see if he can play on Tuesday night.
On the mound, Drew Rasmussen (5-2, 3.47) worked only three innings while giving up five earned runs on five hits while striking out three and walking three.
The Rays now look to bounce back when they meet the Rangers in the second game of the four game series on Tuesday night. First pitch from Arlington, Texas on Tuesday is scheduled for 8:05 PM - Neil Solondz begins pregame coverage for the Rays on 95.3 WDAE & AM 620.
PHOTO COURTESY GETTY IMAGES