Joc Pederson blasts 25th homer in loss to Rays

It’s the fifth straight game that Pederson has missed due to a small fracture in his left hand. The Rangers remain hopeful that he’ll be able to avoid a trip to the injured list, but time is running out. Josh Jung will function as the team’s designated hitter in his absence on Friday.

Pederson has yet to resume swinging a bat, though the swelling in his hand has finally subsided. He has been gripping a bat lightly to get some strength and movement back and the Rangers remain hopeful that he’ll be able to avoid a trip to the injured list.

Pederson receives some extra time off with lefty Jake Bennett taking the ball for Boston in this one. The 34-year-old slugger is attempting to play through a small fracture in his left hand for the rest of the season. He figures to be back in the lineup to face veteran Sonny Gray during Thursday’s series finale.

Pederson, who is absent from the lineup for Tuesday’s series opener against the Red Sox, told reporters he’s going to attempt to play through the injury with less than two weeks remaining in the regular season. The 34-year-old, who has occupied Texas’ leadoff spot against most right-handed starters, suffered the injury when he was hit by a pitch over the weekend. The Rangers find themselves in a heated race with the Astros for the AL West division title and sit just one game back entering Tuesday’s action.

Pederson had his hand in a plastic brace after the game Saturday. He was hit in the same area in which he suffered a fractured wrist last season. It may sound like bad luck, but it’s really Pederson’s own doing from crowding the plate. Last year’s HBP came on a pitch that was a little high but was over the strike zone. The HBP tonight came on a pitch that was maybe three inches inside. If Pederson did escape another significant injury, it’s at least good timing on his part. The Rangers are set to face left-handers in each of their next three games, meaning Pederson was likely to be out of the starting lineup anyway.

Pederson stayed in to run the bases, but the Rangers had Justin Foscue hit for him his next time up, even though there was still a righty in the game for Arizona. Pederson suffered a broken wrist when he was hit in the same area last year.

The 34-year-old slugger opened the scoring in the ballgame as he ambushed a first-pitch slider from Logan Gilbert for a 385-foot (102.3-mph EV) two-run shot in the third inning. That would be his only hit on the afternoon. Pederson has had a resurgent season at the dish for the Rangers, slashing .234/.329/.488 with the aforementioned 26 long balls and 52 RBI.

Pederson walked and struck out in a pair of plate appearances before being tossed by home plate umpire Chris Guccione in the second inning. He appeared to be voicing his displeasure from the dugout after not being allowed to challenge a called third strike earlier in the frame when he was given the boot.

Pederson put the Rangers on the board right away, taking Ryan Johnson deep for a solo homer to lead off the top of the first inning. He went on to reach three more times, all via the walk. The 34-year-old slugger is hitting .251/.343/.511 with 22 homers, 49 runs scored, and 45 RBI across 360 plate appearances.

Pederson was the hero for the Rangers here. Needing to win when Shane Baz was working on a gem, the Rangers could barely get anyone on base. Then, after Elias Díaz legged out an infield single to start the sixth, Pederson punished a cutter that caught too much of the plate and turned a one run deficit into a one run lead with a two-run homer. That score would hold as Pederson put Texas’ lineup on his back. It was his 21st home run to go along with an .846 OPS in what’s been an outstanding bounce back season.