Jordan Montgomery was outstanding against the Tampa Bay Rays, and he was even better when he lumbered off the mound to make a diving grab that helped the Texas Rangers win 4-0 in their AL Wild Card Series opener.
“It’s good to do your job and help the team win,” Montgomery said after scattering six hits over seven innings to take the Rangers within one win of an AL Division Series clash with the Baltimore Orioles on Tuesday.
The Rangers bounced back from a weekend meltdown that lost them the AL West championship and a first-round playoff bye. The Rays lost their sixth consecutive playoff game, going back to Game 2 of the AL Division Series against Boston in 2021.
Montgomery’s pitching set the tone for the first game of the best-of-three series. The Rangers were also inspired by the 6-foot-6 left-hander’s defensive standout on a bunt that Jose Siri popped into the air down the first-base line with runners on the corners.
Montgomery dove for the grab but fell awkwardly.
“I saw it high enough in the air, kind of made two quick steps at it, and then just blacked out and went for it,” recalled Montgomery.
“That was incredible. “I was pumped,” said Evan Carter, a rookie left fielder who doubled twice and took two walks in his playoff debut.
“Wasn’t it a hard landing?” “He’s a big guy,” remarked Rangers manager Bruce Bochy. “He made a fantastic catch. We were in a difficult position there. It only goes to show how competitive he is to dive for that ball.”
Montgomery was not harmed, so Bochy and Rangers athletic staff rushed to the mound to check on him.
“I think I was as surprised as everyone else in the stands.” I had no choice but to backhand it. “It was just something I’d never done before,” the pitcher said. “I’m not sure I’ve done that since I was 12.” It was just a spur-of-the-moment competitive thing.”
The Rangers took advantage of four mistakes by the Rays, who also struggled offensively in front of a crowd of 19,704 — approximately 5,300 below the advertised capacity — at Tropicana Field.
“We didn’t hit, pitch, or defend,” said Rays manager Kevin Cash. “When you’re up against a good team, they’re going to capitalise, and they eventually really did.”
Tampa Bay, wearing throwback Devil Rays uniforms from 1998-2000, has reached the playoffs for the seventh consecutive season but has only scored one run in its past three playoff losses, hitting.133.
Montgomery, a 30-year-old left-hander acquired from St. Louis at the deadline, has struck out 14 of his previous 16 hitters. He struck out pinch-hitter Junior Caminero, Tampa Bay’s best minor league prospect, to finish with five strikeouts and no walks.
Aroldis Chapman threw a perfect eighth, and José Leclerc worked around a walk in the ninth to complete the Rangers’ first playoff shutout since the World Series in 2011.
“We’re not going to change our strategy.” This club has put up a lot of runs this season. “It’s a strong hitting lineup,” Cash said. “Today we were shut down. I’m optimistic that we’ll bounce back and have some excellent at-bats.”
Tyler Glasnow (0-1) gave up a sacrifice fly to Jung in the second inning, and his wild pitch enabled Texas to score its second run in the fifth after the Rangers loaded the bases with no outs.
Texas, which had been 0 for 6 with runners in scoring position and had stranded nine baserunners after five innings, took a 4-0 lead in the sixth inning with aid from the generally sure-handed Rays, who made four mistakes, the most in a playoff game since 2008.
In the sixth, Glasnow walked the first two hitters and Seager followed with a run-scoring single off Chris Devenski. When centerfielder Jose Siri threw recklessly beyond third base, a second run scored.
Montgomery, who a free agent after the World Series, was 2-0 with a 0.67 ERA in his last four outings.
Glasnow struck out eight batters and walked five in five-plus innings, allowing four runs and six hits.
AFFAIR IN THE FAMILY
Randy Arozarena’s mother joined her son on the pitch before the game to toss the ceremonial first pitch.
Sandra Gonzalez travelled from Mexico to Tropicana Field to see Arozarena play in person for the first time as a big leaguer. She just got her visa and came in Florida on Monday.
Gonzalez played catch with the All-Star outfielder near the home dugout before mounting the mound and pitching a strike to Arozarena, who was kneeling behind the plate in a catcher’s stance.
In more ways than one, the Rays-Rangers series is a family affair, with brothers Josh Lowe of Tampa Bay and Nathaniel Lowe of Texas meeting off for the first time in October. Wendy, their mother, was unable to attend due to her battle with illness and treatment.
“It bothers her that she won’t be here today.” “She’s in her third week of chemo and radiation, and she has brain cancer, so it’s a lot to go through,” Nathaniel said before the game.
“It’s a pretty heavy toll,” Texas’ first baseman said. “I know Josh has done an excellent job of putting it aside, compartmentalising it, and performing.” But it’s something we’re all learning to cope with and move on from.”
WHAT COMES NEXT
Texas right-hander Nathan Eovaldi (12-5, 3.63 ERA) takes the mound on Wednesday, while the Rays reply with AL wins leader Zach Eflin (16-8).
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