Rangers hit the ground hitting.


Nate Lowe clears the bases with a three-RBI double in the first inning.

The team with the worst batting average in major league baseball and the fewest runs scored per game in 2020 came out swinging on opening day 2021.

Five runs in the first inning. Ten runs over all. Fifteen hits. Nine walks. Baserunner early and often.

But the bad habits of Rangers past haven’t completely disappeared. The Rangers struck out sixteen times yesterday, that’s over five innings worth of unproductive at-bats.

Still, after a season where the offense was non-existent, it was satisfying seeing this new lineup’s offensive barrage.

David Dahl went 3-for-5, with a double, scoring two runs.

Nate Lowe drove in four runs on a 2-for-6 day, also with a double. That came in his first Ranger at-bat, with bases loaded, clearing the bases.

Brock Holt went 1-for-2 with three walks.

Eli White went 2-for-4 with one walk.

The new blood infused into the lineup had a positive impact. A team that collectively hit .217 last season hit .375 yesterday. A team that went the entire season without scoring double digits did it in their first game.

It’s so much more fun to watch a team that can make contact, that can move runner over, that can score without having to hit a home run.

The new Texas Rangers are here. This will be fun.

Oh, now if they can only refrain from giving up fourteen runs. 

*****
NO GAME TODAY.