Sluggers reward Texas for keeping both
Kennedi Landry
@kennlandryARLINGTON -- The Rangers had two first base options going into Spring Training, resulting in a camp-long competition between Nate Lowe and Ronald Guzmán.
Lowe secured the starting job, but Guzm¨¢n still made the Opening Day roster as a depth option at multiple positions. That choice paid off for the Rangers, as both he and Lowe homered in the 7-4 win over the Blue Jays at Globe Life Field on Tuesday night.
¡°He's been as great of a teammate as I've been around,¡± Lowe said of Guzm¨¢n. ¡°I mean, to have the character that he has in the limited chances that he gets, he's been so good as a teammate and obviously a really solid player. We're looking for more success out of him, too. To be able to see him go deep tonight was huge.¡±
Lowe was the recipient of the Rangers' postgame cowboy hat, which is given to the most valuable player in each of the team¡¯s wins. Manager Chris Woodward started the tradition after Sunday¡¯s win over Kansas City, when he gave it to pitcher Jordan Lyles. The recipient of the hat gets to choose who gets it next and passes it to that person.
Woodward believes that it's a big part of celebrating wins in a Major League environment and making every day fun, while still giving 100 percent effort.
Lowe¡¯s two homers made him the third Ranger to have a multi-home run game at Globe Life Field since its opening in July 2020, along with Sam Huff and Rougned Odor. It was also his third career multihomer game.
Woodward pointed out that a lot of players have learned things from Lowe since he has been with the team. Lowe and Guzm¨¢n are perfect examples of what Woodward wanted when he took over as manager three years ago, even as they continue to compete with each other and support the entire team.?
¡°They thrive off of one another, they push each other,¡± Woodward said. ¡°[Lowe's] calming demeanor in the batter's box, and obviously with [Guzman¡¯s] energy and passion, we need a mix of that in every way and every guy. They both bring a lot to the table, but they're good friends.¡±
The Rangers¡¯ offense was hitting on all cylinders all game, with Isiah Kiner-Falefa¡¯s leadoff single and subsequent stolen base setting the tone before Lowe¡¯s first-inning home run. Texas was 3-for-3 on stolen bases against Toronto, including two by Nick Solak in the third inning. Texas¡¯ No. 27 prospect Jonah Heim added a fourth home run for the Rangers, the most they¡¯ve hit in one game since the opening of Globe Life Field in 2020.
Woodward pointed to a pregame hitters' meeting speech from Lowe that reenergized the Rangers going into Game 2 of the Blue Jays series.?
¡°Every time we step on the field, we have a chance to compete and the chance to win,¡± Lowe said about what he told the team. ¡°If we're going to be here, we might as well win. There's no reason to see it as a rebuild. Some guys are figuring some things out, and we're gonna fight with the group that we have. We never need to lose confidence in the group that we have here.¡±