One swing, four runs. Shin-Soo Choo connects for the Rangers first grand slam of the season.
Texas has been struggling with bases loaded this year.
They seemed to take care of that last night.
First, in the first when Jurickson Profar singled in two. That was only the third time all season the Rangers had gotten a hit with bases loaded. And all were singles.
The Rangers got another opportunity in the third. Shin-Soo Choo made the most of it. When his hit landed in the right field bleachers for a grand slam, it was his first home run in twenty-four games, and the Rangers first extra-base hit with the bases full.
The Rangers scored early, late and often in beating the White Sox 12-5. And the key the victory was to get Matt Moore out of the game as quickly as possible.
He is allowing a run an inning in his starts now. So the only way to overcome Matt Moore is to score more than he gives up. Which isn’t easy to do.
Luckily the White Sox are a worse team than the Rangers, and their starter has an ERA even higher than Matt Moore’s. Carson Fulmer gave up eight runs in two innings that spilled over into the third, and from there the Rangers coasted.
Matt Moore isn’t really so much a starting pitcher as he is the first long reliever out of the bullpen now.
But the Rangers offense has bailed him out in two of this last three starts. So maybe he is the good luck charm in that regard.
It worked last night.
Gallo got three hits. Choo, Mazara and Profar got two each.
But it was Choo’s grand slam that punctuated a great night of offense.
The Rangers offense went from mirage to barrage. It’s rare. But it’s a lot of fun when it happens.
Ariel Jurado (0-0, -.–) vs. Lucas Giolito (2-4, 6.91)
Game time: 6:10
The Rangers have never faced Giolito.
The White Sox have never faced Jurado.