Rangers top Mets 5-1 for a two-game split
Martin Perez pitches a gem, Gallo homers in Texas win
New York — Martin Perez headed straight to the video room after being hit hard in his previous start. What he saw may have led to his longest outing in over two years.
Perez allowed three hits over eight innings, Joey Gallo hit his 32nd home run and the Texas Rangers beat the New York Mets 5-1 on Wednesday for a two-game split.
"Last time I felt that they knew what pitch was coming," Perez said.
After noticing his glove was positioned close to his waist prior to each pitch, Perez decided to bring the leather closer to his mouth. He also made an effort to take less time between pitches.
"I've got a better tempo," Perez said. "I take the ball and I just go back to the mound and throw the pitch."
He completed eight innings for the first time since getting 25 outs on Aug. 2, 2015.
"Probably the best outing he's had all year long," manager Jeff Banister said. "Great rhythm and tempo."
Texas went ahead 3-0 in the first against Rafael Montero (1-8) when the pitcher balked with Shin-Soo Choo taking a sizable and distracting lead off of third, and Gallo hit a tworun drive into the upper deck in right, his AL-leading 11th home run since the All-Star break.
"You look at my at-bats from earlier in the year and I was pulling everything," Gallo said. "It doesn't just happen overnight, but I'm starting to feel a lot better with it and those pitches on the outer half that I was missing early in the year now I'm getting at least the barrel to it."
Elvis Andrus grounded into a forceout in the second, and advanced on three straight pitches when he stole second and third, and then slid home headfirst ahead of shortstop Amed Rosario's throw on Nomar Mazara's grounder.
Perez (6-10) did not allow a hit until Wilmer Flores homered leading off the fifth, a drive off an orange M&M sign that initially was ruled a double but was changed after a video review. Perez struck out five and walked none. He had a 9.41 ERA in losing his previous four starts.