We’re used to seeing East Carolina alum and relief pitcher Shawn Armstrong come out of the bullpen during a game. On Friday, we got to see him start.
Shawn Armstrong is DEALING
He’s up to five Ks thru three innings of work. pic.twitter.com/3577gJjlJV
— Rangers Nation ⚾️ (@rangers__nation) June 14, 2025
Armstrong started for Texas and struck out five while retiring all nine batters in the first three innings of a 3-1 win over the Chicago White Sox. His season highs before Friday were seven batters faced and three strikeouts.
It was the second time this week that Rangers Manager Bruce Bochy went with a relief lineup. Armstrong didn’t pitch in the last one but started on Friday. Rangers reporter Kennedi Landry reports Armstrong was up for the start and made the most of it, even if he didn’t get the win.
“I’m very routine-oriented,” Armstrong said of starting the bullpen game. “I try not to change much and stick to the same routine as it is. It’s the same game. For us right now, every inning matters, whatever the circumstances.
“I’ve said since I’ve been here, and I think every reliever in here, we don’t care when we throw, we just want to win. Just an outstanding job by the bullpen today. It was a lot of fun.”
It was his 17th career start and first of the season. Maybe he should consider starting more often as he sports at 1.04 ERA in 17 starts (four earned runs over 34.2 innings).
“I hated taking him out because he was throwing so well,” Bochy said. “He was comfortable starting that game. He was locked in, he was focused and he was exactly what we wanted.”
The Rangers’ bullpen has given up three earned runs over the past six games, spanning 25 innings, for a 1.08 ERA. The bullpen has allowed two or fewer runs in 22 of the past 23 games dating back to May 17, Landry reports.
See below to find out what the rest of the Pirates in baseball did on Wednesday.
Major League Baseball
- Connor Norby, Miami Marlins: 0-for-4 with a run, RBI and walk in 11-9 win over Nationals. He walked and scored in the third and grounded into a forceout that drove in a run in the eighth.
This illustrates the bad luck that #STLCards RF Alec Burleson often hits into. He drilled this Freddy Peralta for a single that left his bat at 107.9 mph.
It is Burleson’s sixth hardest-hit ball of the season. However, the five harder hit balls in 2025 all resulted in outs. pic.twitter.com/1N2pYGG8ee
— John Denton (@JohnDenton555) June 14, 2025
#STLCards star 3B Nolan Arenado showed off his quick hands by turning around a 98 mph four-seam fastball from #Brewers ace Freddy Peralta for a double into left field. Arenado drove in Alec Burleson, who doubled ahead of him.
Arenado also used a nifty slide to get into second. pic.twitter.com/N4E4u7fFaG
— John Denton (@JohnDenton555) June 14, 2025
- Alec Burleson, St. Louis Cardinals: 2-for-4 with a run in 3-2 loss to Brewers. He doubled and scored in the fifth to tie the game at 1-1. He also singled in the eighth.
- Shawn Armstrong, Texas Rangers: See above
Air Schneemann, apparently… Guards’ second baseman gets up to snag a 103.2 mph liner from J.P. Crawford to end the second inning.
Gavin Williams has walked three and needed 53 pitches to get through two frames, but has worked out of trouble both so far pic.twitter.com/FD6HYN84sr
— Josh Kirshenbaum (@J_Kirshenbaum) June 14, 2025
- Gavin Williams, Cleveland Guardians: Allowed two runs on six hits and three walks while striking out one over four innings in a 7-2 no-decision versus the Mariners.
The 2024 All-Star makes his return to Philly!
Welcome back, Jeff Hoffman 👏 pic.twitter.com/HApJmRJULe
— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) June 14, 2025
- Jeff Hoffman, Toronto Blue Jays: Did not pitch in 8-0 loss to Phillies. It was his first game back in Philly since he signed as a free agent with the Blue Jays in the offseason.
- Zach Agnos, Colorado Rockies: Did not pitch in 12-4 loss to Braves
- Clayton McCullough, Miami Marlins (manager): Tema won 11-9 to improve to 26-41
Triple-A
- Carson Whisenhunt, Sacramento RiverCats (Giants): Did not pitch in 3-2 win over Tacoma
Double-A
- Trey Yesavage, New Hampshire Fisher Cats (Blue Jays): Did not pitch in 11-1 loss to Reading
- Carter Spivey, Akron Rubber Ducks (Guardians): Did not pitch in 5-0 win over Hartford
- Trey Benton, Akron Rubber Ducks (Guardians): On season-ending disabled list
Single-A
- Carter Cunningham, Vancouver Canadians (Blue Jays): Did not play in 15-0 win over Spokane
Josh Moylan breaks up the no hitter🫡 pic.twitter.com/BBNV7WT3Ve
— Hudson Valley Renegades (@HVRenegades) June 14, 2025
- Josh Moylan, Hudson Valley Renegades (Yankees): Was 1-for-3 with a run scored in 1-0 win over Greenville. He broke up a no-hitter with a double in the fifth and scored the only run on a sacrifice fly by Tomas Frick.
- Josh Grosz, Hudson Valley Renegades (Yankees): Did not pitch in 1-0 win over Greenville
- Tyler Bradt, Peoria Chiefs (Cardinals): Pitched 1.2 innings in 6-2 loss to Cedar Rapids. Pitched the fourth and fifth innings, giving up a run on four walks and a strikeout.
- Jacob-Jenkins-Cowart, Beloit Sky Carp (Marlins): Did not play in 5-2 loss to Quad Cities
- Ryan McCrystal, Daytona Tortugas (Reds): 2-for-2 with RBI in 6-5 loss to St. Lucie. He singled in the seventh and drove in a run to cut the deficit to 6-4. He singled in the ninth and was the tying run at third base when Kyle Henley struck out to end the game.
- Wyatt Lunsford-Shenkman, Modesto Nuts (Mariners): Placed on full-season disabled list on April 15.
- Erik Ritchie, Clearwater Threshers (Phillies): Returned to Threshers from Florida Coast League Phillies on June 5. Did not pitch in 4-2 win over Tampa.
- Landon Ginn, Myrtle Beach Pelicans (Cubs): Did not pitch in 3-2 win over Hickory
Frontier League
- Danny Beal, Down East Bird Dawgs (Independent): Did not get decision in 6-5 win over New Jersey. Started and went six innings with four earned runs on six hits, three walks and five strikeouts. Bird Dawgs scored four in the top of the ninth to win it.
Photo credit: Shawn Armstrong (AP photo)
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