One of the questions the Texas Rangers had coming into Spring Training and Opening Day was who would be the team’s closer.
Thursday, the Rangers and Boston Red Sox were tied 2-2 when reliever Luke Jackson came on in the ninth inning. He gave up three runs on two hits with a walk and strikeout. Jackson gave up a three-run homer to Wilyer Abreu to give Boston the 5-2 lead.
Jackson was replaced by ECU alum Shawn Armstrong after that. Armstrong got the final two outs, one by strikeout to end it.
Now the question is whether Armstrong jumps to the lead in the race to be the closer? Will Jackson get another chance? Will it be closer by committee?
Check out one of the many stories about the Rangers bullpen from YahooSports.com.
Burleson picks up first hit in win
ECU alum Alec Burleson went 1-for-4 with his first hit for the St. Louis Cardinals in their 5-3 Opening Day victory over the Minnesota Twins on Thursday.
He singled with two outs in his first at-bat in the first inning. However, he grounded into a double play in the third inning, grounded out in the sixth and flew out in the eighth.
Other Pirates in the pros
Jeff Hoffman, Blue Jays: DNP
Connor Norby, Marlins: On 10-day IR
Gavin Williams, Guardians: DNP
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