According to Bruce Bochy, Andrew Heaney’s resurgence began in Atlanta, where the southpaw surrendered three runs over five innings in the Rangers’ loss to the Braves to kick off that series.

While that particular outing wasn’t flawless, and neither was his subsequent start against the Mariners at home, resulting in another loss, Heaney continued to display consistent signs of improvement. Fast forward to Wednesday night against the Nationals, and Heaney appeared to be the pitcher he had demonstrated glimpses of in the past month.

The 32-year-old delivered seven innings of one-run ball at Globe Life Field, requiring just 74 pitches to achieve this feat. He showcased mastery on the mound, producing his first quality start of the season. However, the Rangers’ offense faltered, resulting in a frustrating day at the plate as they succumbed to a 1-0 defeat against the Nationals.

Although Texas outperformed Washington in terms of hits, securing six compared to the Nationals’ five, they struggled significantly when it mattered most. The Rangers only managed to go 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position and left a staggering 11 men on base throughout the game. Despite having the bases loaded with no outs on two separate occasions, they failed to capitalize and score in both instances.

“What a great job he did,” Bochy said. “It’s a tough loss for him. It’s hard to pitch better than what he did tonight. He did his job. We just couldn’t get there and we couldn’t get the hit. Couldn’t get productive outs there. You’re not gonna see that very often, when you create that many opportunities. It was just missing tonight. It’s just one of those nights.”

Heaney’s record for the season stands at 0-4, and he now shares a unique statistic with Jon Gray as the only Texas pitchers in the past two seasons to endure a loss in a start where they pitched seven or more innings and allowed just one run.

Looking back to when pitch counts began to be meticulously tracked in 1988, Heaney’s outing stands out for another reason. His 74 pitches mark the fewest thrown by a Rangers pitcher in a start lasting seven or more innings, surpassing the previous record of 75 pitches set by Mike Jeffcoat on August 30, 1989, against Minnesota.

In essence, Heaney had a better performance than Nationals starter Trevor Williams, who conceded five hits and four walks. However, Williams adeptly maneuvered through challenging situations all evening, including twice escaping bases-loaded, no-out predicaments. On the other hand, Heaney faced some traffic on the bases, and unfortunately, a runner managed to score during one of these instances.

In the second inning, Heaney allowed consecutive one-out hits to Ildemaro Vargas and Alex Call, resulting in Washington getting on the scoreboard. Despite this early setback, the left-hander displayed exceptional composure thereafter, surrendering just one additional hit and facing only one batter over the minimum in his final five innings of work.

“I’m pleased with my recent performances on the mound,” Heaney remarked. “However, in baseball, it’s the small details that can make all the difference, and this game is incredibly demanding. While I won’t dwell too much on it, those nuances often determine the outcome of the game. Sometimes, you have margin for error, and other times, you don’t.”

As Max Scherzer edges closer to his return following offseason back surgery, and with Jacob deGrom and Tyler Mahle both preparing for a summer comeback from Tommy John surgery, it appeared inevitable that Heaney would transition to the bullpen at some point this season.

The future remains uncertain, but Heaney has undoubtedly proven his consistency as a starter, making a strong case to remain in the rotation.

Since implementing some mechanical adjustments before his start in Atlanta, Heaney has displayed increased confidence and determination on the mound. His pitches have gained velocity and precision, contributing to a sense of comfort with every delivery. Overall, he appears to be performing at his peak level.

“Sometimes it takes a while to settle into a rhythm and fully trust your adjustments,” Heaney reflected, harkening back to his start in Atlanta. “But now I feel poised and ready to execute each pitch.”