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ARLINGTON – The crisis is avoided in the Rangers office.
Jose Leclerc, the closer, took over after two irregular performances a few days earlier to complete an unlikely 8-7 win over Oakland Sunday at Globe Life Park. This was the most significant development for the Rangers after a win in which they were led five points earlier than expected.
"Leclerc was Leclerc again," said manager Chris Woodward. "It was good to see."
The Rangers had no idea who was on the mound at the Leclerc appearances in Arizona on Tuesday and Wednesday. He withdrew just two of the nine batters, had a chance to save and had to be saved by rookie Kyle Bird in the ninth inning of the other game.
Woodward nevertheless never flinched.
When playmaker Danny Santana, in his first game against the Rangers, created the tie with a triple in two runs in the eighth inning, Leclerc was warned to be ready for the ninth. When the Rangers embarked on the daring breakout of Delino DeShields in Santana, it was still Leclerc's match.
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"It does not matter if we lose or win, I do my best," said Leclerc, who confessed to being happy to be offered this chance.
This was not a clean backup.
Robbie Grossman reaches with a single on. With two outs, Leclerc relied on Matt Chapman. Khris Davis, the masher of the Rangers, would still have a bad start.
Davis did not have a chance. Leclerc ended the attack by eight lengths by hitting Chapman on his diabolical change.
"It makes me more confident and more comfortable," Leclerc said. "I needed it … It means a lot, I know I've had two bad games, I tried to do my best today, and everything was there."
Spear coach Julio Rangel could tell with a smile on Leclerc's face when he was coming off the pitch that this moment was important to him.
"It's one of those things that happen," Rangel said of Leclerc's performance in Arizona. "He was probably trying to do a little too much. Today, you saw him back where he was. I had no worries at all. "
This was the first test for Leclerc, the tightest since replacing Keone Kela, negotiated last August. Woodward managed for the long term as well as for the short term in his management of his loved one.
Leclerc is an important part of the foundation being prepared, as evidenced by the long-term contract that the club awarded him during his spring training. Coming back from Leclerc after a few difficult outings would be counterproductive.
"We have to trust all our guys, especially our loved ones," said Woodward. "He's one of the best players in the rankings. This is our best pitcher. "
Leclerc was the last of four rescuers who joined forces to clean up the damage left by starter Adrian Sampson.
In his first appearance of the season, Sampson left with a 7-2 deficit after four innings. The pen followed with five scoreless innings, giving the offensive time to recover.
The Rangers scooped a hit with Hunter Pence, a striker scoring the score, and a two-point homer, scored by Elvis Andrus, in sixth place. Andrus also stole the house in the first.
The Rangers broke out against Joakim Soria in the eighth.
Santana has changed the gap to the center-right for the tripled two-out. With Chapman playing deeper than usual for a 1-1 pitch, DeShields exercised his option to neutralize. The athletes did not play anywhere.
"I'm confident in such a situation that I can do the job," said DeShields.
The Rangers are also of this opinion.
Save the leaders
A look at the American League saves the leaders since August 1, 2018, when Jose Leclerc took office at the Rangers:
|
Closer |
Team |
Checked in |
The chances |
|
Roberto Osuna |
Houston |
20 |
20 |
|
Ken Giles |
Toronto |
18 |
19 |
|
Shane Greene |
Detroit |
18 |
21 |
|
Jose Leclerc |
combat boots |
16 |
17 |
|
Blake Treinen |
Oakland |
16 |
18 |
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