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Rangers LHP Andrew Heaney’s struggles to find strike zone continue in final spring start

Plus, Texas made a few more roster cuts as the Opening Day roster continues to narrow down.

MESA, Ariz. —The best thing that could be said about Andrew Heaney’s final outing of the spring is the most clichéd: At least he got his work in.

Heaney, the lone starter to not miss time this spring due to injury or the World Baseball Classic, allowed 11 baserunners and five runs in 4.2 innings in a 5-3 loss to the Chicago Cubs in Mesa. He did, however, throw more than 80 pitches in the outing, the most by a Rangers starter this spring. Heaney had a ridiculous strikeout-to-walk rate last year (110 to 19), but has had a harder time finding the zone in Arizona. He allowed six walks and hit three batters while striking out 14.

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“I was just trying to do the most basic thing, throw strike one to get get the ball over the plate,” Heaney said of Friday’s outing. “It was just not a good day. You have those ‘I suck’ outings sometimes. It was not my best stuff or my best results, but unfortunately that happens sometimes.”

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Heaney’s velocity was not down significantly, but he wasn’t able to land his breaking pitches. Scheduled to pitch in the fifth spot, Heaney is not scheduled to face the Cubs again when the Rangers visit Wrigley Field April 7-9.

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Briefly: The Rangers informed OF Clint Frazier and 1B-OF Yoshi Tsutsugo they would not break with the major league team. Both players are on minor league contracts and do not have the ability to opt out before May 15. They will go to Triple-A Round Rock to begin the season. … The Rangers released RHP Reyes Moronta and OF Joe McCarthy. Moronta, 30, had been effective for Bochy’s Giants in 2018-19, but he has struggled with command. He allowed 10 runs in 5.2 innings and blew a pair of ninth-inning leads agains Oakland. McCarthy spent last year in Japan and could look to return to Asia.

Twitter: @Evan_P_Grant

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