Texas Rangers three stars from game four vs. Oakland 4/6/17

The Texas Rangers entered play Friday night with an 0-3 record and needing a win in the worst way. These guys stepped up to make it happen.

It hadn’t taken long for panic to set in for some Texas Rangers fans. Although there has only been one full series to date, the cries for something big were growing louder. Not only were they heard Friday night, but they were answered and done so with authority. That’s why these three guys get recognition for their efforts against the Athletics.

Nomar Mazara

Any and all player of the game talk begins and ends with right fielder Nomar Mazara . . . literally. He put on a show Friday night, highlighting exactly why he’s the most exciting young player in the Texas Rangers organization.

He started his evening by driving in the first run for Texas on a fielders’ choice. While most of the credit for that play goes to Carlos Gomez (more on that later), Mazara still gets props for putting it in play and allowing the run to happen.

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But just one inning later, Mazara broke the game wide open. With Jurickson Profar on third, Gomez on second and Shin-Soo Choo on first, Mazara jumped all over a 93 MPH fastball from Oakland starter Raul Alcantara. It rocketed onto Greene’s Hill, and suddenly a 4-0 Texas lead became 8-0.

It was Mazara’s first career grand slam and most likely won’t be his last. He went on later in the sixth to drive Gomez in a second time to extend the Rangers lead to 10-4. The 21 year-old drove in the first and final runs of the game for Texas, and that’s why he earns the number one star.

Carlos Gomez

Now back to Gomez. He put on a clinic to start this game. As if he was putting on a clinic on how to play great baseball, he made play after play. Seriously, the first inning belonged to him.

Rajai Davis led off the game by skying a routine fly to center field. Gomez camped out under that one and made the play on the game’s second pitch. Jon Joyce then came to the plate and tried to give the A’s an immediate lead with a deep fly to right-center.

But Gomez wanted no part of that and jumped on his proverbial horsey, tracking that thing down and leaping with a beautifully-timed grab at the wall. His fist pumps and head nods following the catch made me, myself want to run onto the field and suit up. In the following at-bat, Ryon Healy sent a sharp liner to Gomez, and the score sheet read 8-8-8 to end the first half inning.

Gomez then led off the top of the first by skying a blooper to center field. (Of course he would.) But without missing a beat, the veteran kept wheeling around first to take advantage of a lackadaisical effort from the Oakland defense. He slid in under the tag to turn a bloop single into a bloop double.

He made a veteran move with Choo at the plate when he advanced to third on a ground out. Then, when Mazara made contact he shot off toward home plate. Without slowing a bit, he slid in under the tag to score the first run of the game, and really set the tone for what Friday night would look like. Gomez lit a spark that stayed ignited throughout the game. That’s why he gets star number two.

Alex Claudio

If Rangers fans aren’t familiar with Alex Claudio yet, then they haven’t been paying attention. The guy had a 2.97 FIP last season and was the best left arm the Rangers had in the bullpen last season. He showed that same brilliance tonight against the Athletics.

After Rangers starter A.J. Griffin went down with an injury in the fourth inning, Claudio took the ball much earlier than he normally should. With just one out and the bases loaded, he climbed onto the hill took Marcus Semien to a 3-1 count. Yet without panicking or going crazy, he induced a beautiful ground ball to Rougned Odor to get the 4-3 double play and kill the rally.

Claudio was masterful from there on out. He induced a second double play to end the sixth and keep Oakland at arm’s length. Then, he finished his outing with a ten pitch seventh inning that included three ground outs. For his 3 2/3 scoreless relief innings and the first Rangers win of the season, Claudio earns that third star.

Next: Rangers-A's series preview

The Rangers will host the Athletics again Saturday night at 7:05 for game two of the series. Kendall Graven (1-0, 3.00) will take on Yu Darvish (0-0, 5.68). The telecast is available on Fox Sports Southwest, Fox Sports Go, and MLB.TV. The radio broadcast can be heard on 105.3 FM in English, 1270 AM in Spanish and on the MLB At Bat App.

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