SURPRISE, Ariz. — A spring-high 8,448 fans attended Saturday’s Cactus League game between the Texas Rangers and Los Angeles Dodgers at Surprise Stadium. The bulk of them were not there to root on the home team.
The Rangers won 7-6 in front of a largely pro-Dodgers crowd which, by the top of the ninth inning, had broken into a “let’s go Dodgers” chant while the visitors attempted to mount a rally.
It helps to win back-to-back World Series titles.
(And, in fairness, to be a state away from California).
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Here are three observations from the game.
Best (close to) last impression: Rangers outfielder Alejandro Osuna will leave the team Sunday to join Team Mexico for its World Baseball Classic preparation. He had his best swing of the spring before he did.
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Osuna hit a 111-mph single off of Dodgers right-hander Carlos Duran with a runner on second to give the Rangers a 6-4 lead in the bottom of the sixth inning. It had been a relatively quiet spring for Osuna, who went 1 for 10 in his first five games after using this time last season to turn heads. The 23-year-old is still in contention for a roster spot but will now spend an extended period of time removed from camp.
“He’ll be gone for maybe a week, week and a half, maybe two weeks,” Rangers bench coach Luis Urueta said. Urueta managed the Rangers Saturday while Skip Schumaker attended to a personal matter. “We’re trying to get him there, get him going.”
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Haggerty Hacks: There’s a case to be made that outfielder Sam Haggerty has had the best spring of any Rangers hitter. He’s slashed .636/.692/1.000 in Cactus League play and hit a 101.3 mph solo home run off of Dodgers left-hander Cole Irvin in Saturday’s win.
Haggerty missed the tail end of last season with an ankle injury but has been healthy this spring. His ability to hit left-handed pitchers was on display last season when he recorded an .811 OPS against southpaws. He has an 1.811 OPS against them this spring.
“That’s what we need,” Urueta said. “Somebody to step up like him and do what he’s doing.”
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High heat: The fastest pitch of Saturday’s game belonged to … Rangers right-handed relief pitcher Michel Otanez. The 28-year-old, whose fastball touched 98.8 mph vs. the Dodgers, was claimed off waivers from the Athletics last fall. He had a 3.44 ERA in 34 games for the Athletics two seasons ago but only pitched in six games for them last fall.
He allowed a two-run home run to Dodgers second baseman Nick Senzel, but sat 96-97 mph with his fastball and sinker. The Rangers don’t currently have that kind of velocity in their bullpen.
Twitter/X: @McFarland_Shawn
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