‘Really unbelievable’ Seager homers in 1st at-bat off IL

ARLINGTON — Rangers supervisor Bruce Bochy described this level of the season as a dash. With the Trade Deadline within the rearview mirror, groups know what items are in place for the stretch run.

“You have your club now. This is who you are,” Bochy mentioned earlier than Wednesday’s sport. “Can’t thank ownership, front office enough for the work they did bringing in these really nice players to help us out. Now, it’s time for us to go to work.”

A number of hours later, there was no query that the message had been acquired. Plenty of Rangers put in work throughout an 11-1 rout of the White Sox at Globe Life Field, however All-Star shortstop Corey Seager and right-hander Dane Dunning have been the most important stars of the night time.

Seager was activated off the injured checklist a few hours earlier than first pitch, clearing the ultimate hurdle when he hit towards stay pitching earlier than the sport. He continued to hit stay pitching effectively as soon as the competition kicked off, driving within the Rangers’ first three runs. Seager belted a two-run dwelling run within the first inning, sending a 1-0 knuckle curve from White Sox starter Dylan Cease into the right-center-field seats. Then he sparked what turned a five-run second inning with an RBI single.

He completed 2-for-4 with three RBIs.

“I felt good during my [live hitting sessions],” Seager mentioned. “At this point, it’s kind of a pain tolerance thing, right? I felt like I could go. They were OK with me going, so we went.”

Seager had missed 9 video games with a sprained proper thumb. He sustained the harm whereas making a headfirst slide into second base in a July 21 sport vs. the Dodgers. But the thumb didn’t seem to hassle him all through the sport.

Chicago’s first three batters hit balls to Seager to begin the sport and he had no points fielding them, though Luis Robert Jr. reached on a comfortable single. Offensively, Seager shined for 5 innings earlier than exiting with the Rangers main 9-0.

“I don’t know what else to say about Corey. He’s amazing,” Bochy mentioned. “He’s just that talented. He takes one day of live BP, says he’s good to go and the first at-bat [he hits a home run]. Really, really incredible what he did today.”

Dunning, in the meantime, dazzled on the mound with a career-high 11 strikeouts. He threw 7 2/3 scoreless innings earlier than giving up a solo dwelling run to Seby Zavala. That ended Dunning’s night time, however he earned his first win since July 4.

“Competition is a good thing,” Bochy mentioned. “[Dunning] goes out there and is right on. I’m sure that might have been motivation, but throughout the season it’s been a good rotation. This is more who we are, and hopefully it gets contagious.”

Along with Seager and Dunning, Josh Jung had a formidable night time. He entered the sport 0-for-12 with six strikeouts over his previous three video games, however broke out of that mini-slump with a two-run dwelling run and a double. Marcus Semien additionally went deep.

All of it resulted in a dominant victory for a corporation that pushed its chips all-in on the Deadline. As Bochy mentioned, the Rangers’ possession and entrance workplace confirmed confidence by being aggressive and making big-time trades, highlighted by buying Scherzer and Montgomery.

By successful Wednesday, the Rangers remained atop the AL West standings. A loss would have dropped them a half-game behind the Astros. But the dash is simply getting began.

“It’s definitely coming down to the wire, but I don’t think anything changes for us,” Seager mentioned. “We’ve been trying to win series all year. It’s just going out there and playing good baseball and trying to win the series.”