In what looks to be a pretty forgettable season for the Texas Rangers, backup catcher Chris Gimenez will have something to remember after he pitched a scoreless ninth inning in the Rangers' blowout loss at the hands of the Los Angeles Angels.
Gimenez, who pitched once in an Alaskan summer collegiate league when he was teammates with Angels pitcher Jered Weaver, fared much better on Thursday night against the Angels than he did back on that day, despite Weaver's heckling from the Angels dugout.
“He was reminding me that my earned run average back then was 36,’’ Gimenez told reporters after his 12-pitch scoreless ninth that included a strikeout of C.J. Cron. “I was hoping not to have a 36 after this one.’’
Gimenez sat in the low- to mid-80s with his fastball, which was often down the middle of the plate, but his pitches did the job against the Angels. He joined Mitch Moreland as Rangers position players to pitch this year, as Moreland looked like a star in a 12-1 loss to the Colorado Rockies earlier this year.
Gimenez clearly wasn't as good on the mound as Moreland was, but he said he enjoyed the experience, as much as possible given the circumstances, obviously.
“Really it is not something you want to do, but at the same time you kind of do,’’ Gimenez said. “You might as well have fun with it.’’
