In Thursday's Game 2, Jaime Garcia worked through the first three innings with very little trouble. He nearly allowed a solo home run to Nelson Cruz, but he did not allow a solo home run to Nelson Cruz, and not a single ball was hit to a single outfielder. The Rangers went nine up, and nine down.
World Series Game 2: Jaime Garcia Works Through Jam In Fourth
But Garcia being strong at the start is nothing new. Historically, he's been excellent the first time through the order, and less excellent subsequent times. And starting off Garcia's second trip through the Rangers' order in the top of the fourth was Ian Kinsler, who drew a leadoff walk. Kinsler was therefore the first Ranger to reach base.
He stayed put at first base for some time. Elvis Andrus lifted a fly out to shallow right, and then Josh Hamilton lifted a fly out to left-center. At that point it was up to Michael Young to keep the inning alive.
And he did, lining a single to center off the end of his bat. The ball dropped just in front of a charging Jon Jay, and the hit - the Rangers' first - put runners on the corners for Adrian Beltre.
But in the second inning, Beltre struck out swinging, and in the fourth inning, Beltre struck out swinging. Garcia got him to fish at a 3-2 pitch just down and in, and the jam was escaped, the scoreless tie preserved.
Garcia’s up to 56 pitches, with 32 strikes. He looked worse in the fourth than he did earlier on, but I guess that’s just what we should expect, and Tony La Russa won’t hesitate to take him out if he ends up in trouble.
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