Rangers seek series sweep of reeling Rockies

The Texas Rangers will look for their third series sweep of the season when they take on the reeling Colorado Rockies on Wednesday in the finale of a three-game interleague series in Arlington, Texas.

The Rangers took the first two contests of the series by relying on their pitching, which allowed just two runs.

Texas will turn to left-hander Patrick Corbin (2-2, 3.13 ERA) to continue that trend of excellent starts while the Rockies will counter with right-hander Antonio Senzatela (1-6, 5.77).

Texas has won four straight games, its longest run since winning five in a row from April 1-6.

Meanwhile, the Rockies have dropped two in a row and 10 of their past 11. Interim manager Warren Schaeffer remained without a victory since taking over for the fired Bud Black on Sunday, but Colorado has been keeping things close over the past two games, threatening in the ninth in both before falling short.

“I look at it like this — and I want the boys to look at it like this, too — every day is a day where you show up to work and we can move the ball forward,” Schaeffer said Tuesday. “When things are going bad, which they have been, there is a tendency for a lot to go bad.

“That being said, we have every intention of moving forward.”

Josh Jung was the difference for the Rangers on Tuesday with his first career two-homer game at home. His home runs accounted for all four of Texas’ runs.

Texas may be without reliever Chris Martin for an extended period of time after he was forced from Tuesday’s game with right elbow pain after throwing one pitch. Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said after Tuesday’s game that he was worried about his right-hander.

“You’re always concerned, yeah, when he feels an elbow tightness,” Bochy said. “We’re trying to stay positive on this … hope we get the best news tomorrow. We got to make some adjustments (in the bullpen) and put guys in different spots. We got some experience down there. You know, and that’s a good thing.”

Corbin has been a solid addition to the Rangers’ stout starting rotation. He took the loss in his most recent outing on the road against Detroit, a 2-1 setback in which he allowed just two runs on three hits in seven innings while striking out three and walking four.

Corbin hasn’t earned a win since an 8-5 victory April 22 at the Athletics, with two losses and a no decision over his three starts.

Corbin has 29 career appearances (28 of them starts) against the Rockies, forging a 12-8 mark with a 4.60 ERA. He has pitched 164 1/3 innings against Colorado and allowed 89 runs (84 of them earned) on 189 hits with 45 walks and 153 strikeouts.

Senzatela has lost his past three straight starts, most recently allowing eight runs (four of them earned) on nine hits in San Diego in a game the Rockies lost 13-9 on May 9. He struck out two and walked two in his 4 2/3 innings.

Senzatela won his only lifetime appearance against the Rangers and carries a 1.17 ERA after allowing a run on seven hits with a walk and three strikeouts in a 6-3 victory on June 2, 2021.

-Field Level Media