The Texas Rangers scored six runs but the Tampa Bay Rays scored seven runs.
Maybe the Rays go on to enjoy some success in October as the American League’s best team but baseball’s like 12th best team. Who knows.
What I do know is they’re the only team that has given up a grand slam to the Rangers in 2026.
However, in prime 2026 Rangers fashion, the only time they’ve hit a grand slam was in a game where they also lost and their chances of meeting the Rays again next month dropped by a few more percentage
points.
Player of the Game: Down 6-1 in the bottom of the seventh after tonight’s starting pitcher Kumar Rocker was worked over despite being eased into the game with not one but two openers, catcher Elias Diaz stepped up to the plate with the bases loaded which is usually a death sentence for a team such as this.
Instead, Diaz drilled a laser over the left field fence to give Texas its first grand slam in 2026.
Suddenly the Rangers were back to within a run but the Rays added a ninth inning insurance run to tamp out the comeback bid that ended with Texas only getting one run back — via a Diaz sac fly — after the first two batters reaching in the bottom of the ninth and Tampa Bay’s closer Bryan Baker exiting early.
Up Next: More Rangers and Rays with RHP Jacob deGrom set to take the mound for Texas against RHP Drew Rasmussen for Tampa Bay.
The Saturday evening first pitch from The Shed is scheduled for 6:05 pm CDT and you can watch it on the Rangers Sports Network.
