SURPRISE, Ariz. — Ever since the wind died down in Arizona, things have been a breeze for MacKenzie Gore.
On Monday night, he pitched into the fifth against the Chicago White Sox, allowing just a pair of singles in 4⅓ scoreless innings of the Rangers’ 3-2 win. Gore had last appeared in a minor league game on Tuesday, pitching four scoreless innings with six strikeouts.
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It seems he’s rebounded just fine after being blown around in 19 mph winds on March 5. Against Kansas City, he didn’t make it out of the second inning, allowing six hits and three walks.
With one more spring start before he likely pitches the third game of the season, Gore said he’s in a “good spot,” but still has some work to do on his delivery, particularly from the stretch.
“The ball’s coming out good, but I want to get to the right spot, a little bit better slot,” he said without adding any specifics.
Other observations as a week full of night games commences:
Calling the bullpen: In his first outing back from the World Baseball Classic, Robert Garcia looked sharp, retiring the side on 13 pitches. He retired a pair of left-handed hitters, Jared Kelenic (on a ground ball) and LaMonte Wade Jr. (on a strikeout). He also struck out Lenyn Sosa.
Josh Sborz followed with another perfect inning, striking out the side on 13 pitches. Sborz has retired five of the last seven batters he’s faced by strikeout. His velocity, however, remains at least one mile below his preference. He averaged 93.4 mph on the four fastballs he threw in the inning.
Of note as the Rangers’ bullpen decisions play out is this: Sborz’s minor league deal has him committed to Triple-A Round Rock to at least start the season. He could request his release in mid-April, but keeping him in the minors for the first two weeks could give the Rangers more flexibility to keep another reliever for a bit longer look while he gets a bit more time to add velocity.
Jung man: Josh Jung returned to the lineup for the first time since Feb. 24. The Rangers chose to ease him back in, having him take just two at-bats and playing four innings in the field. He tripled on a sinking line drive in his first at-bat, though right fielder Derek Hill lost it in the sun and it rolled to the wall. He flied out to right field in the second. With the Rangers off on Tuesday, he’s likely going to be back in the lineup Wednesday, which may be the first day the club trots out its expected opening day lineup.
Evan Carter, who was away from camp for personal reasons for a day, was missing Monday.
Pickle ball: In the fundamentals department, Gore made a heads-up play to grab Curtis Mead’s chopper back to the mound and run straight towards the runner on third base, LaMonte Wade Jr. On the other end, though, Jung, who received Gore’s throw, may have given the ball up too early. While the Rangers eventually made the tag on Wade in the rundown, Mead advanced to second on the play.
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