Rangers cough up 8 runs in 5th, lose to Twins

ARLINGTON -- Right-hander Drew Hutchison is trying to leave the Rangers with a favorable impression for next season and was doing just that for four scoreless innings on Friday night.

His offensive teammates rewarded him with two runs in the third and four in the fourth. But Hutchison couldn't hold that 6-0 lead as the Twins scored eight runs in the fifth off Hutchison and reliever Matt Moore on their way to a 10-7 victory on Friday night at Globe Life Park.
"Not very good," Hutchison said. "Obviously had a six-run lead, needed to go out and have another shutdown inning like I had the inning before. Wasn't able to do that and put us in a bad spot."
The eight runs were the most allowed by the Rangers in one inning this season. They have now lost five straight and eight of their last 11 games.
Hutchison had retired nine straight batters going into the fifth. But he had a long wait in the bottom of the fourth when the Rangers scored four runs off Twins starter Stephen Gonsalves. Nomar Mazara finished off Texas' rally with a three-run home run, his first in two weeks and his third in the last 43 games going back to June 3.
Hutchison lost his effectiveness going into the fifth as Tyler Austin ignited the rally with a leadoff home run. Hutchison, giving up four straight hits, allowed four runs that inning with Moore being tagged with the other four.
"Looked like early, a little cut on the fastball that was allowing him to get through some of the innings," Rangers manager Jeff Banister said. "Breaking ball had swing-and-miss, it was down and in good spots. Was able to make some pitches in the fifth. Everything just flattened out and all the misses were out over the plate."
Hutchison has now made five starts for the Rangers since being signed as a free agent at the beginning of August. In 21 1/3 innings, he has allowed 21 runs on 29 hits and 13 walks with 12 strikeouts. The Rangers were encouraged by two outings against the Yankees and Angels when he allowed a combined five runs in 10 1/3 innings. But he allowed six runs over four innings in his last start against the Giants before letting this one get away.

"Tale of two different situations," Banister said. "There are outings where we see the curveball in play, the changeup in play. You get swing-and-miss, he can miss the barrel. Fastball, he's got to be able to make solid pitches where he wants to. Fastball's not overpowering, but the stuff plays well together when he's got all three pitches in play."
There may not be many more chances for Hutchison to impress the Rangers with the arrival of September and rosters being expanded. The Rangers have three potential starter candidates to look at from Triple-A Round Rock in right-handers Chris Rowley and Adrian Sampson, and left-hander Yohander Méndez. Double-A right-hander Jonathan Hernández is another September candidate.
There is a long line of pitchers waiting to get a chance to show the Rangers what they can do.
"Obviously, the first one wasn't good, then I had two pretty good ones and the last two haven't been good," Hutchison said. "Tonight was especially frustrating because I was throwing the ball good going into that inning and had a good rhythm. I thought things were going well. Then to do that in that inning was frustrating."
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Martín Pérez, just sent to the bullpen this week, made his first relief appearance since 2012 and threw two scoreless innings.
"I thought he was a little amped up in the first [inning], first time out as a reliever," Banister said. "Threw some pitches early in the set of hitters that I thought were really explosive. Fastball was good. Then he fell behind. Challenge to find the strike zone. Was able to work out of it, however, I thought the second inning was a solid second inning. But I thought the second inning was more of what we're looking for from him out of the bullpen."
YOU GOTTA SEE THIS
Carlos Tocci was awarded a ground-rule double in the fourth inning after the ball bounced down the left-field line and got stuck on the body of an on-field security guard. Rougned Odor scored Tocci on a single later in the inning.

HE SAID IT
"They had a long inning after scoring eight runs off us and were able to execute the next inning so you need to be able to do those things. If you have a long inning, that's usually a good thing for you. You've got to be able to stay sharp." Hutchison, on the Rangers long bottom of the fourth inning.
MITEL REPLAY OF THE DAY
In the eighth inning, Robinson Chirinos was awarded first base after being hit on the cheek by a 2-1 fastball from reliever Trevor May. The call was not initially made, but the Rangers challenged the play and the call was overturned. It was the 14th time Chirinos has been hit by a pitch this season, which is tied for the fifth most in a single season in Rangers history.

UP NEXT
Veteran right-hander Yovani Gallardo (7-3, 6.01 ERA) will make his 13th start of the season on Saturday at 7:05 p.m. CT at Globe Life Park. Gallardo allowed three runs on four hits in Sunday's loss to the Giants. The righty is 5-2 with a 3.72 ERA in 12 career starts against the Twins. Minnesota will counter with right-hander José Berríos (11-9, 3.74).