Minor's CG gem fuels his All-Star Game push

DETROIT -- With Monday’s off-day, Rangers manager Chris Woodward could’ve reconfigured his starting rotation to allow Mike Minor to start Tuesday instead of Wednesday night at Comerica Park.

Such a move would’ve allowed Minor to make a start against the Rays in St. Petersburg this weekend, which has the makings of a big series for both teams. Instead, Woodward elected to give Minor an extra day of rest.

The decision paid off.

Minor continued to build his case for a spot on the American League pitching staff for the All-Star Game, tossing a complete-game gem -- his second of the season -- as the Rangers topped the Tigers, 4-1.

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It was a near-perfect start for Minor, who struck out seven and improved to 3-0 with a 1.70 ERA in June. More impressive? He's now allowed three or fewer runs while pitching at least five innings in each of his last 12 starts. And Wednesday night marked the eighth time this season that he’s worked seven or more innings and allowed two or fewer runs. Minor now has pitched at least eight innings in three of his last four starts.

In what has become one of the biggest free-agent steals in recent years, Minor has taken the role as team ace and run with it this season.

Recording 108 pitches, Minor sliced and diced through an overly aggressive Detroit lineup.

“He was in control from the first pitch,” Woodward said. “When you have control of those weapons, it’s kind of unfair at times. You watch these poor guys trying to hit him, and I don’t know what else to say.”

The win was the fourth straight for the Rangers, who have won 11 of their last 17 away from home after winning just five of their first 20 road games.

Woodward made it abundantly clear following Wednesday’s game that he feels Minor not only deserves a spot on the AL All-Star Game roster, but that the 31-year-old left-hander is worthy of starting the Midsummer Classic in Cleveland.

“I haven’t seen the other guys pitch in baseball, but it’s hard to believe that they’re better than Mike right now,” Woodward said. “He’s got to be the best in baseball right now.”

Minor will find out Sunday, when the All-Star pitchers are announced at 4:30 p.m. CT on ESPN. Meantime, after winning his first start at Comerica Park since 2013, Minor was reluctant to toot his own horn, but he acknowledged that he thinks he’s put together a resume that is worthy of an All-Star selection.

“I feel like I have the numbers to be an All-Star,” Minor said. “It just depends on what you’re looking at, I guess.”

Wednesday’s victory also featured a barrage of home runs -- three, to be exact -- in the fifth inning off Detroit ace Matthew Boyd.

One of those home runs came off the bat of Danny Santana, who continues to make a case for more playing time. Santana’s name was a topic of conversation before the game between reporters and Woodward.

“As long as he continues to be productive, he’s earned it,” Woodward said. “Some guys deserve to play more.”

Santana’s breakout campaign has seemingly forced Woodward to find more playing time for the 23-year-old utility man. And, as of now, it could come at the expense of Rougned Odor, who ranks last in the Majors among 161 qualifiers in batting average and on-base percentage.

“He just won’t play every single day,” Woodward said of Odor. “I just think that’s fair to Danny. This game is about production, and he’s being very, very productive, and I want to reward that.”

The first player Santana greeted after crossing home plate was none other than Odor, who slapped hands and hugged his teammate.

“I just owe it to Danny Santana, because he’s done so much for us,” Woodward said. “We’re in a good spot because we have so many good players. For me, the hardest part is managing egos.”

The three home runs snapped a skid of 34 consecutive games in which the Rangers hit two or fewer home runs in a game. It was the longest stretch in a single season for Texas since 2014.

Willie Calhoun kicked off the homer fest with a solo shot off Boyd (5-6, 3.72 ERA), who has allowed 10 home runs in his last five starts. Jeff Mathis followed suit two batters later with his second home run of the season before Santana, who was making his first start at second base this month, sent Boyd’s hanging slider into the seats in left-center.

It marked the first time since Sept. 2, 2018, that the Rangers (44-36) hit three or more home runs in a single inning, and the first time since Sept. 19, 2013, that they did it on the road.

The Rangers opened the scoring in the third when Calhoun tagged from second and scored on a Ronald Guzmán sacrifice fly to dead center. It was a heads-up play by Calhoun, who rounded third after he saw center fielder JaCoby Jones stumble to regain his footing. He added a double in the ninth and finished 3-for-4, with a pair of runs scored.

“Willie did a really good job of actually setting his angle to go home -- not just running straight to home,” Woodward said, “which allowed that play to happen.”

Despite Boyd’s turbulent fifth inning, he struck out eight through his first four innings pitched, and finished with 11 K's over seven innings. Brandon Dixon accounted for Detroit’s lone run with a 418-foot home run off Minor, who fired an 87-mph slider over the middle of the plate -- perhaps the only mistake he made all night.