Dustin Nippert claimed his rationale for keeping the No. five place in the Rangers’ starting rotation of pitchers in the Rangers’ five-two win over Toronto in the 1st game of Tuesday’s double header. Next up, Brandon McCarthy, returning for his first because departing the active roster in the start of June for the DL.
Nippert had much better finesse than in his latest appearance last week in New York. In the Bronx, he surrendered 11 base runners (four hits, seven walks) and was only responsible for 11 outs. On Tuesday afternoon, he inched out of trouble to get his 5th win of the season and 3rd as a member of the starting rotation. Nippert allowed 5 hits, and walked merely one. He lessened his earned run average as a starting pitcher to 4.43 and overall to 3.91. It was his third successful game in his prior five appearances.
Nippert claimed there seriously wasn’t a lot disparity concerning how he threw last week and on Tuesday: “Simply able to pitch strikes. In NY, I think I pitched one slider in the strike zone. The bigger mess I put myself in, I tried more to get out of it. I was truly going the wrong way. I kept walking guys, trying to throw that ideal pitch.
“Earlier, I was able to pitch it early in the count, behind in the count. Keep ’em off my fastball.”
Claimed manager Ron Washington: “I do not think he was throwing too hard. He was balancing with his change-up and his curving stuff. Elevated his fastball.”
Washington and Nippert mutually confirmed Nippert wasn’t throwing to guard his place in the pitching rotation. And Nippert insisted he’ll gladly start or come out of the bullpen. Since the Rangers are in wild card pursuit, each Ranger’s function augments in importance.
“I truly wish to assist this team,” he claimed. “It’s great for us that we possess further arms presently. Whomever’s playing good baseball you may choose to start.
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