The Texas Rangers took the opening game of the series against the Colorado Rockies, despite hometown boy Trevor Story’s best efforts. The Rangers jumped on mistakes from Germán Márquez, and the Rockies were unable to close the gap late in the game against the Rangers bullpen.
Márquez burned by the long ball
Germán Márquez gave up four runs on the day, each by way of a home run. DJ Peters and Leody Taveras hit solo shots in the fourth and fifth innings, respectively. This was Taveras’s second extra base hit on the year - his first being a double in the third. Peters later singled in the sixth with Nathaniel Lowe on second, but Lowe was tossed out at the plate on a nice throw from Sam Hilliard and tag from Elias Díaz. However, the good feeling wouldn’t last as Nick Solak brought Peters home with a two-run homer. Márquez’s day ended after six innings, allowing the four runs on seven hits total.
Home cooking for Story
Having grown up within 20 miles of Globe Life Park in Arlington, Trevor Story is no stranger to playing ball in Texas. He looked as comfortable as we’ve seen him all season today, hitting home runs in back to back innings - a solo shot in the seventh and a two run blast in the eighth. Story entered the game with just one homer in the preceding two weeks, so hopefully the rest of the series will help him find his groove. He now has four home runs and six RBIs in just four games at the recently opened Globe Life Park.
Trevor Story's two-homer game#StoryTime pic.twitter.com/hwf3olTc0W
— RoxGifsVids (@RoxGifsVids) August 31, 2021
Big league debut? No problem for Alexy
Rangers rookie A.J. Alexy made his major league debut on the mound, but looked every part of a veteran tonight, allowing just one hit and no runs over five innings of work. His command wasn’t perfect - he walked three batters - but the Rockies were unable to capitalize, never getting more than one baserunner in an inning. The Rangers haven’t had a lot of success this year, but between Alexy’s debut and Glenn Otto’s debut last Friday (5.0 IP, two hits, seven strikeouts, no earned runs), things could potentially be looking up.
Up Next
The Rockies will be back in Arlington for Game 2 tomorrow night. Austin Gomber (9-8, 4.38 ERA) will face off with former-Rockie Jordan Lyles (6-11, 5.70 ERA). Gomber has one start in his career against the Rangers, a scoreless, six inning gem, that he’ll look to build on this time out. First pitch is again scheduled for 6:05 MT.