LIVE: Rangers defeat Padres 5-3

The Texas Rangers get their first look at the locked-and-loaded San Diego Padres this spring.

Author:
Chris Halicke
Mar 4, 2021 5:12 PM EST

In this story:

The Texas Rangers take on the loaded San Diego Padres on Thursday afternoon, but won't get a chance to see budding superstar Fernando Tatís Jr. in Surprise.

San Diego Padres (1-3) at Texas Rangers (0-2-2)

Thursday, March 4, 2021
1:05 PM MT (2:05 PM CT)
Surprise Stadium | Surprise, AZ

Probables:
SD: LHP MacKenzie Gore (0-0, -.-- ERA)
vs
TEX: LHP Joe Palumbo (0-0, -.-- ERA)

Broadcast

Audio: texasrangers.com with Matt Hicks and Jared Sandler on the call.

Unique Rules in Spring Training

Thursday's game between the Rangers and Padres will be seven official innings. According to Major League Baseball's 2021 Operations Manual, games up to March 13 can be shortened if both managers agree.

There is also a temporary rule that allows for managers of a defensive team to end (or roll) an inning prior to three outs following any completed plate appearance, provided the pitcher has thrown more than 20 pitches. The Rangers utilized this rule in three of their four Cactus League games.

Texas Rangers Starting Lineup

SS Isiah Kiner-Falefa
2B Nick Solak
RF Joey Gallo
DH Khris Davis
LF Willie Calhoun
1B Nate Lowe
C Jose Trevino
3B Brock Holt
CF Eli White

San Diego Padres Starting Lineup

LF Patrick Kivlehan
2B Ha-seong Kim
DH Wil Myers
C Victor Caratini
3B Nick Tanielu
CF Jorge Mateo
RF Jorge Oña
1B Gosuke Katoh
SS Tucupita Marcano

Texas Rangers Scheduled Pitchers

LHP Joe Palumbo
RHP Josh Sborz
LHP Wes Benjamin (scheduled for two innings)
RHP Sam Gaviglio
LHP Jake Latz
RHP Spencer Patton

Other Rangers Pitching Schedules

Jonathan Hernández, A.J. Alexy and Alex Speas will throw live batting practice on Thursday.
Other projected starters Mike Foltynewicz and Dane Dunning are scheduled to pitch on Sunday against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Jharel Cotton, who is back to 100 percent health, is scheduled to pitch one inning on Saturday against the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Matt Bush has thrown two live BP's so far and should be getting into a game the next time he is scheduled to pitch.

Injury Report

David Dahl (right shoulder surgery): No restrictions at the plate. Dahl hit as the DH in Wednesday's game and had no issues. Progressing well in throwing program.
Demarcus Evans (right lat strain): Has yet to throw off a mound. Will not be ready for the start of the season. The Rangers expect him to be able to throw off a mound in mid-March.
Joely Rodríguez (sprained ankle): Rodríguez's ankle is no longer bothering him, but he is having to build up arm strength since the injury set him back. His chances of being available on Opening Day are in doubt.
Brock Burke (left shoulder surgery): The Rangers are taking it slow with him coming off surgery in 2020. They like his progress so far, but have no urgency to rush him.
Sam Huff (grade two hamstring strain): Still rehabbing. Will get MRI sometime next week.
Luis Ortiz (inflamed peroneal tendon - ankle): Was originally scheduled to throw an inning in Sunday's game against the Royals. The Rangers hope he can resume baseball activity in the next few days.
Anderson Tejeda (right elbow infection): GM Chris Young announced the infection Tuesday morning. Tejeda is currently being evaluated by the Rangers medical staff.

LIVE In-Game Updates

2:06 CT: Rangers starter Joe Palumbo throws the first pitch of the game for ball one.

2:16 CT: HOME RUN. Nick Tanielu unloads on a hanging curveball from Palumbo for a three-run home run in the top of the first inning. Padres lead 3-0.

2:18 CT: After Palumbo walks Jorge Mateo, Rangers manager Chris Woodward rolls the inning over. Padres lead 3-0.

2:33 CT: MacKenzie Gore loads the bases with two outs and Padres manager Jayce Tingler rolls over the bottom of the first inning. Padres 3-0.

2:43 CT: Rangers reliever Josh Sborz pitches the first complete inning of the ballgame, allowing a lead-off single to Jorge Oña, but retires the next three Padres in order. Padres lead 3-0.

2:48 CT: The Rangers are retired in order in the bottom of the second inning. Padres lead 3-0.

2:51 CT: Rangers left-hander Wes Benjamin is now on the mound. He is scheduled to throw two innings.

2:56 CT: Benjamin gives up a one-out single, but pitches a scoreless inning in the top of the third. Padres lead 3-0.

2:58 CT: Taylor Williams steps on the mound for the Padres.

3:06 CT: RUN. Joey Gallo bloops one into left field that falls for an RBI double, scoring Eli White. Padres lead 3-1.

3:09 CT: Khris Davis strikes out to end the bottom of the third inning. Padres lead 3-1.

3:14 CT: Wes Benjamin pitches a perfect top of the fourth inning. Two scoreless innings for Benjamin today. Padres lead 3-1.

3:15 CT: Robert Hassell replaces Jorge Mateo in center field.

3:22 CT: Taylor Williams tosses a scoreless bottom of the fourth inning for the Padres. Padres lead 3-1.

3:22 CT: Sam Gaviglio comes into the game to pitch for the Rangers.

3:30 CT: Jose Trevino guns down Brian O'Grady trying to steal second after he pinch hit for Patrick Kivlehan. Gaviglio pitches a scoreless top of the fifth. Padres lead 3-1.

3:31 CT: Pedro Florimon replaces Kim at second base for the Padres. Brady Feigl comes in to pitch the bottom of the fifth.

3:42 CT: RUN. With runners on the corners, Nick Solak drives an RBI single to right field. Runners remain on the corners with one out in the inning. Padres lead 3-2.

3:46 CT: HOME RUN. Joey Gallo demolishes a three-run home run over the berm in right-center field. Padres manager Jayce Tingler rolls the inning. To the sixth inning. Rangers lead 5-3.

3:48 CT: Rangers defensive substitutions in the sixth inning:

3:54 CT: Rangers reliever Jake Latz pitches a 1-2-3 top of the sixth. Rangers lead 5-3.

3:55 CT: Juan Fernandez replaces Victor Caratini at catcher for San Diego. Parker Markel comes in to pitch the bottom of the sixth.

3:56 CT: Curtis Terry pinch hits for DH Khris Davis for the Rangers.

4:02 CT: Sherten Apostel hits a two-out single, but Markel gets out of the inning unscathed. Rangers lead 5-3.

4:03 CT: Spencer Patton will come on to pitch for the Rangers in the top of the seventh inning. Jason Martin replaces Willie Calhoun in left field.

4:10 CT: Patton pitches a scoreless seventh inning with two strikeouts. The Ranger and Padres will not play the bottom of the seventh, so the ball game is over. Rangers win 5-3.

Promo photo: Kelly Gavin / Courtesy of the Texas Rangers

Chris Halicke covers the Texas Rangers for InsideTheRangers.com. Follow him on Twitter @ChrisHalicke.
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