Jacob

Latz

Latz struck out two while also getting a weak groundout and a foul popup. In five appearances in June, he’s pitched 7 1/3 scoreless innings with two hits allowed and 11 strikeouts, picking up four saves and a win in the process.

Latz actually came on with a 4-2 lead to protect in the eighth inning and looked poised to earn a six-out save. He was absolutely dominant, retiring all six hitters that he faced in order — three of them on strikeouts — while throwing 14 of his 15 pitches for strikes. It was so good, in fact, that the official scorer awarded him with the victory in the game instead of the save. Latz now holds a brilliant 1.69 ERA and 0.63 WHIP over 32 innings on the season while converting 10 of his first 12 save chances.

Even with a two-run lead, it’s always scary to go for a save with the ghost runner looming on second base. After a lead-off single by Jac Caglianone, Latz tightened up and saved the game for his squad. He now has a sparkling 1.80 ERA as one of the more underrated closers over the first half.

After working a perfect eighth inning, Latz made it interesting in the ninth by issuing a one-out walk to Stuart Fairchild and allowing a two-out single to Austin Hedges, but he rallied to retire Brayan Rocchio on strikes to end it. The 30-year-old hurler needed 35 pitches to get the job done in this one, so he may not be available if a save situation arises on Saturday. He holds a terrific 1.86 ERA on the season while converting nine saves.

Latz, now sporting a 2.00 ERA in 27 innings, has needed only 21 pitches to get two saves the last two days. Still, he’ll probably be down on Tuesday after this. Jakob Junis might close then.

Credit for the save chance goes to Gavin Collyer, who allowed two runs in the eighth to narrow the Texas lead from five runs to three. Latz gave up a double to Bobby Witt Jr., but he still needed only nine pitches to retire three batters.

Jeremy Peña homered in the ninth, but Latz, who qualified for the save because he entered with a 9-6 lead in the eighth, had a four-run cushion at that point. The homer was just the second Latz has allowed in 25 innings this season. He has a 2.16 ERA, and he’s set to remain the Rangers’ primary closer going forward.

Latz allowed just one hit in the outing, dropping his ERA to 1.90 for the year. Texas has been rotating through closers this season, but Latz has each of the team’s past five saves dating back to late April.

Latz was called upon to protect a one-run lead in the ninth inning and would up surrendering the lead almost immediately. He gave up a leadoff double to Corbin Carroll, uncorked a wild pitch and issued a walk to Geraldo Perdomo before Nolan Arenado followed with a game-tying double. He was pulled after coughing up a two-run single to Ildemaro Vargas. Fortunately, the Rangers managed to rally in the bottom of the ninth to take him off the hook for the loss.

The Rangers went into the top of the ninth inning with a six-run lead. Gavin Collyer had started the frame to close it out, but issued three walks and a base hit to allow a run in with no outs. Latz took over and recorded the final three outs to end the game with his fifth save of the season. The 30-year-old left-hander has settled into the Rangers’ closing role, posting a 0.83 ERA, 0.42 WHIP, and a 17/4 K/BB ratio across 21 2/3 innings.