ARLINGTON, Texas — The Texas Rangers returned home this week, looking to set off some fireworks during a Fourth of July series against San Diego. While they kicked things off that way in Tuesday’s opener to give hope that they could perhaps end the final leg of the first half strong, the celebration fell flat as the playoff-contending Padres were able to take the series from Texas in the final two games.
There were a few things to celebrate from this series, none of which were a string of wins that Texas needed, however, and the Rangers continue to be pushed to the back burner of the October picture.
- Game 85: San Diego 0, Texas 7 (W: Eovaldi, 5-3, L: Cease, 7-7)
- Game 86: San Diego 6, Texas 4 (W: Morejon, 2-1, L: Dunning, 4-7, Sv: Suarez, 21)
- Game 87: San Diego 3, Texas 1 (W: King, 7-5, L: Scherzer, 1-2, Sv: Suarez, 22)
Order of operations
Coming off an 11-run outburst against the Baltimore Orioles during Sunday’s road trip finale, the pattern has usually seen Texas fall flat offensively in the first game of a series after a big victory. The Rangers, however, surprised by not only scoring seven runs on Tuesday, but they also shut out the Padres en route to their only win of the series.
Nathaniel Lowe was a standout in the game, which coincidentally came on his own Bobblehead Night in honor of winning the Gold Glove award at first base in 2023. The former Silver Slugger first baseman hit two home runs in the contest to triple his total to six on the year.
Starter Nathan Eovaldi was also a featured player, as the Rangers' ace pushed along seven shutout innings against San Diego while allowing just one hit. The start of the series gave so much hope that July would bring a better time for the Rangers but that would quickly be snuffed out.
Bang and fizzle
After a superlative first many weeks to the season, Jon Gray might be hitting a bit of a wall as he’s had three subpar outings in his last four times on the bump. That included Wednesday’s game where he wasn’t as bad as when he gave up eight runs to the Orioles or nine runs to the New York Mets in recent outings, but he also wasn’t efficient and he let the Padres back in the game after Texas took a lead.
After giving up two runs early, the Rangers stormed back to take a 4-2 lead in a game that looked like it would deliver a third consecutive victory and a series win. Instead, Gray was relieved without recording an out in the fifth inning with the score 4-3. That left the iffy Texas middle relief to cover too much ground, even with Dane Dunning returning to that role.
The relievers gave up three more runs, and, of course, the Rangers’ offense abruptly halted. After Texas put up their fourth run in the fourth inning, the offense managed just a double and a single the rest of the way. They had no answers for a far more impressive Padres bullpen and that put a stop to their winning streak bid.
Hard luck status quo
Max Scherzer, barring a few outings that were shorter than he probably would have liked, looks like the pitcher that Texas was hoping would make his return after he spent the first three months of the season on the injured list.
Scherzer, closing out the series on Independence Day, held the Padres to three runs over 6 ⅓ innings – one of which was an inherited runner that reliever Jose Ureña allowed to score as he closed out the seventh inning.
The Rangers’ offense, however, again failed to string together hits to support the starting pitcher, scoring just once over the course of the game. Scherzer, encouragingly enough, was able to throw 90 pitches while taking the loss, a sign that he is either closer to full health or more attune at how to manage his ailments and still compete.
But if his lineup can’t score runs, and in the first half, it hasn’t done so nearly well enough, it doesn’t really matter how well the starting pitchers pitch, even a future Hall of Famer like Scherzer.
Love for the glove
The best takeaway from the finale was the number of outstanding defensive plays made by the Rangers. Rookie Wyatt Langford, who took home Rookie of the Month honors for the American League in June for his offensive prowess, showed that he is getting more comfortable in the outfield as well.
In the top of the second inning, Ha-Seong Kim lofted a deep fly Langford’s way in left field where the rookie made a leap that brought the would-be-homer back from its trajectory over the yellow line and ended the inning.
Langford would strike again two innings later, this time showing off his arm. Langford made a one-hop throw off the bat of Wednesday’s night home run hero David Peralta that met Donovan Solano at home plate where catcher Andrew Knizner was waiting for the inning-ending outfield assist.
Knizner, catching the afternoon tilt, made an outstanding throw to nail Luis Arraez attempting to steal second base. The throw beat Arraez in plenty of time and gave Texas a rare caught stealing, an area that has been a trouble spot for the Rangers this season.
Rounding out the defensive highlights was Josh Smith making an over-the-shoulder diving catch with his back to the infield on a blooper that looked targeted for Globe Life turf. The catch saved a run and kept the score at 3-1 to give Texas a chance at a comeback. Unfortunately, without the offense to back it up, the highlight reel-worthy moments will just be wistful memories for another series that got away from the Rangers.
Do you think Wyatt Langford can get hot enough to claim the Rookie of the Year award? Share your thoughts with Matt on Twitter @FisherWritesMLB.
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