*Photo from Call to the Pen*
Ever since landing in Texas, Lance Lynn has experienced a career revival. Nick Solak homered, Lynn allowed just two hits while earning a complete game, and the Texas Rangers beat the Colorado Rockies 3-2 Friday night. The two hits Lynn allowed came on the first two batters of the game. He didn't allow another hit after that.
In the first inning, Garrett Hampson scored on a Nolan Arenado ground out to make it 1-0 Rockies. It stayed that way until the 5th inning, when Solak hit a solo homer to right field to tie the game up at one. In the 6th, Colorado retook the lead when Tony Wolters scored on a throwing error, making it 2-1. In the 7th inning, Roughned Odor hit an RBI single to right field to tie the game at two. In the 8th, new Ranger Derek Dietrich scored on a double play by Ian Kiner-Falefa to make it 3-2 Rangers, which held.
Lynn allowed just two hits on 9 innings pitched for the Rangers, improving his record to 3-0 on the season. Lynn also didn't walk anyone and struck out 6 hitters. Colorado's Coors Field is an intimidating environment for most pitchers, due to how easily the ball gets out of the park, but Lynn didn't mind. He said postgame that ''I actually enjoy pitching here, it's weird. It's cool, it's dry, you don't sweat. You've just got to outlast the other pitcher. That's the way I think about it when I come here. If I outlast the other starter, you get a win. I was told that a long time ago in my earlier years."
Manager Chris Woodward said of Lynn's performance that ''It was kind of stunning, he didn't feel that great, which is amazing. He didn't throw his best. After the fourth or fifth inning, he obviously knew he had to pick us up. We weren't hitting much. He picked our defense up by getting out of that sixth inning, only gave up one that inning. After the eighth inning, he came by me and I knew I wasn't going to take him out, I said, 'How are you feeling? He said, `I'm going to finish this thing.' I said, `Well, then go do it.' That was it.''
Daniel Bard took the loss for the Rockies, pitching the 8th inning, when the go ahead run was scored. Manager Bud Black said of Lynn's performance postgame that ''He was on again tonight, we just couldn't solve him. He kept us off-balance. He had enough velocity and he kept his velocity the whole game.''
Starter Ryan Castellani threw 4 2/3 innings, allowing one run on two hits and two walks, striking out 7 hitters. Castellani really only made one mistake, the homer by Solak. He talked about that at bat postgame, saying that ''It was a little too much middle but it was down, it was a good pitch down. He did exactly what he needed to do to start off that inning.''
The series continues on Saturday, where the Rangers will look to get another win by sending Kyle Gibson to the mound. The Rockies look to rebound, sending ace German Marquez to the mound.
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