DETROIT – Jacob Latz jogged in from the bullpen, knowing he had a door to close in the ninth inning. And the lanky left-hander slammed it shut in 1-2-3 fashion, making the Rangers 5-4 winners Friday night at Comerica Park.
It was his third save in seven days, and he lowered his ERA to 1.02.
“He’s kind of that silent assassin,” Texas manager Skip Schumaker said of Latz, 30, who has thrown 158 innings over 97 Major League games. “He’s just super calm. He’s never too high or too low. So, I think he’s perfect for the high leverage.
“He’s able to wash away a tough one, and after a good one, you wouldn’t even realize it. He’s just kind of high-fivin’ like it’s another day. So, you saw what he’s all about. It’s 95-96 [mph] with a good changeup when he needs it, a good curveball when he needs it, and a slider. So, he’s got all the weapons, depending on what you can’t hit.”
Latz also feeds off the vibe of entering with the game on the line, this time with 28,622 mostly cheering on the Tigers.
“They’re trying to will their team back into it,” said Latz. “We’re trying to take the noise into the hitters and use that to our advantage.”
The Rangers won it with a timely hit and a formidable bullpen once starter MacKenzie Gore exited with a 4-3 lead after 3 2/3 innings.
Texas left fielder Alejandro Osuna doubled his RBI total for the season with a go-ahead double he slapped down the third-base line in the eighth inning.
“Just a gamer,” Schumaker said of Osuna. “He’s a winning player, and that’s the best compliment a manager can give somebody.”
Nobody had a better home winning percentage than Detroit (10-2, .833) brought into this game, but Texas continued to do well on the road, where it now is 9-8.
“Well, he’s got an elite fastball for righties and lefties," Schumaker said of Latz’s ability to be so strong against right-handers (0-for-28) and left-handers (5-for-31). "It’s 97 miles an hour with good carry. He’s got a really effective changeup that he’s actually using to both. But a really good, fading changeup. He’s got starter stuff using in high leverage. So, you can’t just sit on one pitch and ambush. You have to worry about three or four pitches, and that’s what makes him so effective.”
Latz said of his starter-type pitching arsenal: “It never backs me into a corner and leaves me unpredictable. I’ve always felt comfortable against righties.”
Jalen Beeks, winning pitcher Tyler Alexander (1-0), Jakob Junis and Latz combined to blank the Tigers on two hits (both singles) over the final 4 2/3 innings.
“Giant,” said Schumaker. “They picked us up big-time. I mean, they covered some big innings with a really good lineup that switches lefties and righties out, and makes it tough on our guys to match up.
“It was impressive to watch.”
How is Schumaker approaching the closer role in a day when many managers prefer using high-leverage relievers they mix and match?
“Ideally, you want that guy just in the ninth,” said Schumaker. “Certain guys surprise you during the season, and you don’t know what role these guys are going to have until the season kind of gets going.
“Latz kind of was going into that multiple-inning type of bridge guy. So was Junis, and now you’re looking up after one month, and they’re our eighth- and ninth-inning guys. So, that’s kind of how I see both of them right now. And both of them are doing a fantastic job.”
Latz said he’d closed some in the Minors and has a feel for it.
What’s his mindset when about to make his first pitch in the ninth?
“Get ahead and let it all out, you know,” said Latz. “Go as hard as I can to get three outs and hold the lead where it is.”
Asked about the ninth inning being different, he said, “Yeah, it’s tough to describe. But it’s just a different level you kind of get yourself into when you’re out there in the ninth and you’ve got three outs.
“It’s a feeling I had when I did it in Triple-A that I really liked, and I think it forces me to take my stuff to an even higher level – which gives me the confidence to throw any of the pitches I have. It forces you to get into a different mindset.”
His catcher, Danny Jansen, called a great game and crushed a solo homer.
Josh Jung, the Rangers’ Player of the Month for March/April, ran his hitting streak to 10 games with two singles and two RBI.
“J.J., I mean we’re not even talking about him,” said Schumaker. “We’re shouldn’t forget he still got two more hits and another [two] RBIs. It’s so impressive.”
Many contributed to pulling this one out.
Latz said of this truly team victory: “Those are the type of wins that carry momentum usually.”