*Photo from the Dallas Morning News*
Sometimes it's the unlikely contributors that make the day. Marcus Semien had a 3 RBI game, Bubba Thompson drove in two runs, and the Texas Rangers defeated the Chicago Cubs 8-2 on Sunday afternoon in Chicago.
The Rangers salvaged the final game of the series to avoid a sweep at the hands of the Cubs, now standing at 5-4 on the season. Semien drove in 3 runs at the top of the order and Thompson, who played sparingly to start the year, drove in two to set the tone at the bottom of the lineup.
Asked about his mentality, Thompson said that "I believe I can play up here. And then, when I get a shot, I want to do the little things to help my team win. That's it. I could be sitting somewhere else, so it's a blessing to be up here with these guys and playing behind some of the best in the world. It feels good. Like I said, these are the best guys in the world, so it feels good. Every time I step on that field, I try to do something any way I can."
Travis Jankowski gave the Rangers a 1-0 lead in the second inning with an RBI double. Thompson then reached on a fielders choice to score Jonah Heim and make it 2-0. Marcus Semien hit a two run double to give the Rangers a 4-0 lead before Edwin Rios got the Cubs on the board in the bottom of the second with a two run home run, making the score 4-2.
In the 4th inning, Thompson scored Jankowski with an RBI double to make it a 5-2 lead for the Rangers. Heim then scored on a triple from Thompson in the 6th inning to push the lead to 6-2. Thompson then scored when Semien singled to make it 7-2. Corey Seager then hit an RBI double to make the final score 8-2 for the Rangers.
Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said after the game that "You know, coming off probably our worst game of the year, well no question about that, but to bounce back is really what the game is about. You gotta be resilient because you're going to have your rough days."
Jon Gray got the start for the Rangers, getting the win with two runs on 6 hits in 5 2/3 innings pitched, adding 4 strikeouts. Will Smith pitched 1 1/3 scoreless innings with two strikeouts. Cole Ragans and Jose Leclerc then provided scoreless innings to seal up the win.
It was Jameson Taillon who started for the Cubs, getting the loss by allowing 5 runs on 6 hits and a walk in 5 innings, striking out 7 hitters. Javier Assad pitched the next 3 innings, getting tagged for 3 runs. Julian Merryweather then pitched a scoreless 9th inning out of the bullpen.
Taillon said of his start after the game that "When you're being a little timid, I feel like the results, for whatever reason in this game, just don't always add up. It's like the hitters can feel when you're being a little timid or something. I was trying to feel my way into the game. And that's never a good place to be."
Both teams play their next series of the season at home. The Rangers will start Andrew Heaney as the Kansas City Royals come to town, while Drew Smyly starts for the Cubs against the Seattle Mariners.
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