Rangers Belt 4 Homers in 7-3 Win, Stretch AL West Lead to 2 1/2 Games

Q: How did the Rangers shatter George Kirby's historic dominance to seize control of the AL West just before the deadline?

Texas seized control by attacking George Kirby early and with unusual power, turning one of Seattle’s most reliable matchup advantages into a rout. Kirby came in with historic dominance over Texas: a 9-1 record and roughly a 1.33 ERA in his previous starts against the Rangers, with only four total homers allowed to them across more than 74 innings. Texas erased that profile in three innings. Joc Pederson led off with a homer in the first, added a three-run shot in the second, then Ezequiel Duran and Jake Burger went deep in the third. Those four home runs in the first three innings doubled the total Kirby had allowed to the Rangers in his entire prior career against them. The Rangers’ hitters capitalized on mistakes that Kirby rarely makes, especially with two strikes. Several of the damaging swings came after Kirby got ahead but left pitches in hittable spots, including balls over the middle and an elevated fastball that Pederson turned around. Kirby finished with seven runs allowed on seven hits in four innings, matching a career high by surrendering four homers and taking his worst beating of the season. Texas also backed the outburst with strong pitching from Kumar Rocker, who struck out seven over 6 2/3 innings and held Seattle to two runs until late. That combination gave the Rangers a 7-3 win, a 3-1 series victory, a 7-3 season edge over the Mariners, and a 2 1/2-game lead in the AL West just before the Aug. 3 trade deadline.

3 articles · Updated · MLB.com · Jul 28

Four home runs powered Texas past Seattle 7-3 on Monday, giving the Rangers three wins in the four-game series and a 2 1/2-game lead over the Mariners in the AL West.
George Kirby, who had surrendered only four career homers to Texas in 12 previous starts, was taken deep four times in three innings by Joc Pederson twice, Ezequiel Duran and Jake Burger.
That outburst came from three Rangers seeking bounce-back seasons, with manager Skip Schumaker saying Pederson has thrived in the leadoff spot while Duran has become an everyday player and Burger delivers in big moments.
Texas also improved to 7-3 against Seattle this season and 6-1 at Globe Life Field, clinching a season-series win over the Mariners for only the second time this decade.
The Rangers now head into a pivotal six-game road trip against the AL East-leading Rays and division rival Houston before the Aug. 3 trade deadline.