First it was Leonys Martin. Now Justin Smoak.
This is shaping up to be the season when horrible ex-Rangers come back to haunt the team. Thank goodness Scheppers is still a Ranger (never thought those words would ever be uttered in human history).
Smoak was homerless until last night’s game. Homeless, in fact, until the ninth inning of last night’s game. He had just one extra-base hit this season, with a slugging percentage (.250) lower than most National League pitchers.
Then he homered to tie it in the ninth. And homered to win it in the tenth. And just like that, he went from zero to Prince Fielder in two innings.
And the bad base running that the Rangers manager says isn’t a thing came back to be a thing, contributing to a disappointing 3-1 loss to Toronto.
When asked after the game how he felt about the Rangers giving this one away, Jeff Banister said, “I don’t think you can say we gave this one away.”
Maybe he can’t. But I can.
*****
TONIGHT’S GAME.
Colby Lewis (2-0, 3.19) vs. Aaron Sanchez, (2-1, 259)
Game time: 6:07 pm.
How the Rangers hit against Sanchez.
How the Blue Jays hit against Lewis.