ARLINGTON -- Sam Dyson is the Rangers' closer. Manager Jeff Banister made that clear after his team's 9-6 loss to the Indians on Wednesday night.
"The guy has been really good for us," Banister said. "I am not going to jump off him after two games."
But those have been two tough games. Dyson entered the ninth inning on Wednesday with the Rangers holding a two-run lead, but the Indians came back on a bases-loaded walk and a grand slam by Francisco Lindor.
Dyson has pitched in two games for the Rangers and allowed eight runs while getting only three outs. This after he was unhittable for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic, pitching six scoreless innings without allowing a baserunner.
"Lack of execution," Dyson said. "I have a lot of downward action on my fastball, and [in the World Baseball Classic], the guys were swinging at it and they were making weak contact. [Tonight] I made some pitches down in the zone, and some of the guys were laying off, or others were fouling them off or putting them in play and getting singles."
The rally started immediately, as Yandy Diaz led off the ninth with a single up the middle. Tyler Naquin followed with a high chopper over Joey Gallo's head for another single, putting runners on first and second.
"I think the last couple of times I went out there, I've given up a hit to the leadoff guy and subsequently walked the next guy or given up another hit, so I've had my back up against the wall in the past few outings," Dyson said. "I have the ability to get out of that by using the sinker and getting a ground ball. I haven't been able to do that in those situations. That's probably causing my failure."
Dyson retired Yan Gomes on a fly to right, but he walked both Abraham Almonte and Carlos Santana to force in a run and make it 6-5.
"I thought I made some high-quality pitches today that were below the zone that typically would get swings, but I couldn't get them to chase at it," he said.
Lindor was up next, and he hit a 1-1 fastball down the right-field line to put the Indians ahead. That was it for Dyson.
"It's frustrating," Dyson said. "I'm going to work my tail off. I'm not going to give up, and [I'll] continue to show these guys I can pitch."
Dyson has allowed more than two runs in each of his last two outings. He did that just once in his first 104 games with the Rangers.
"He's very out of character with his stuff right now, but he'll get going," catcher Jonathan Lucroy said. "He's just a little out of whack, but sometimes that can have a big effect. It's frustrating, but he's a big part of our bullpen. We'll get him rolling."