ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Texas Rangers right-hander Jack Leiter has not allowed a hit through six innings Sunday against the Houston Astros.
The 25-year-old rookie walked two, the first after a borderline 2-2 fastball to Christian Walker at the bottom of the strike zone in the first inning was called a ball by plate umpire Nick Mahrley.
Leiter’s second walk was to Zach Dezenzo leading off the fifth, but Dezenzo was immediately erased on Jake Meyers’ double-play grounder. Leiter threw 60 pitches through six innings.
Most of the outs were routine for the No. 2 overall pick in the 2021 amateur draft out of Vanderbilt. Isaac Paredes ended the third with a soft liner to first baseman Jake Burger.
Mahrley’s calls angered both benches. Texas manager Bruce Bochy yelled from the dugout about a called strike against Marcus Semien in the second, and Houston manager Joe Espada was ejected in the top of the third for arguing balls and strikes.
Leiter was making his 13th career start in his second big league season. The son of retired major league pitcher Al Leiter entered with a 6.82 career ERA but was coming off his longest big league outing. Leiter gave up one run and two hits over six innings in a 4-1 victory over major league-worst Colorado.
Neither team had a hit through three innings, but the Rangers opened the fourth with three consecutive singles against left-hander Framber Valdez and scored three runs.
___
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
The Associated Press
