When the Rangers failed to score in the ninth, Bochy was left with these choices:to try to keep the game tied, knowing that the best-case scenario was he would have to turn a tie game with a runner on second over to a rookie for extra innings.
There was no in-between. Having burned José Leclerc, Aroldis Chapman and Brock Burke, earlier after Jon Gray struggled with his command, Bochy had either Smith or a quartet of rookies to choose from. That list: Speas, Yerry Rodriguez, Owen White or Cody Bradford. And the Rangers were trying to hold Bradford and White to pitch Tuesday in Nathan Eovaldi’s spot. The Rangers left Minute Maid Park Monday still uncertain of who would start Tuesday.
The statement speaks to the Rangers’ problem on Monday and their precarious bullpen situation at the moment. At the moment? Really, more like all season. The bullpen has been an issue since the start of camp. The Rangers could use a starting pitcher and they could use another bat and, funny thing,The bullpen had been boosted by the addition of Chapman, who had not allowed a walk or run in a month as a Ranger until handed a three-run lead in the seventh Monday.