ARLINGTON – If you had a nickel for every time a Texas Rangers rookie recorded his first hit in a tight, pinch-play situation in the late innings this season, you’d have two nickels.

It’s not much, but it’s interesting that it happened twice.

Infielder Davis Wendzel, a first-round pick out of Baylor in the 2019 MLB Draft, recorded his first major league hit in the eighth inning of Thursday’s 4-3 loss to the Seattle Mariners. . The Rangers, down a run against Seattle, pinch-hit right-hander Wendzel for fellow rookie Evan Carter with two outs in the inning against Mariners left-hander Gabe Speier.

Wendzel saw five pitches from Speier before hitting a low slider down the left field line for a single. Josh Smith flew to shortstop to end the inning and crush the Rangers’ last best scoring opportunity. Infielder Justin Foscue, a first-round pick in the 2020 MLB Draft, recorded his first MLB hit as a pinch-hitter against Houston Astros closer Josh Hader on April 7.

“It was late in the game, the legs were definitely shaking a little bit, but it worked,” Wendzel said. “I think (coach Bruce Bochy) puts us in a good situation, he puts us in a matchup that he likes so we can be successful. I think we were both in matchups that they like.”

The Rangers promoted Wendzel, a 26-year-old third baseman, on April 8. He had played six games before Thursday and was 0 for 11 with one strikeout to start his career.

“I knew eventually something was going to fall,” Wendzel said. “I was glad it happened today.”

Find more Rangers coverage from The Dallas Morning News here.