The Texas Rangers scored eight runs while the Athletics scored one run.
Where has this kind of game been our whole 2026?
A part of the reason that the Rangers are in the mess that they find themselves in — currently trailing for an AL playoff spot — is the lack of success against teams below them in the standings and especially baffling, a miserable mark against teams trailing them in the American League West.
Tonight, however, they bullied the Athletics in a manner that finally matched expectations.
With the A’s leading the season series 6-4, the Rangers arrived back home after a two-stop midwestern road trip and promptly dunked on their division rivals.
Though held off the board in the first inning, the Rangers scored runs in each of the next four innings with a couple in the second, a run apiece in the third and fourth frames, and then three more runs in the bottom of the fifth. As if to punctuate the beating, Texas piled on for a final run in the bottom of the eighth.
The Rangers got RBIs from five of the members of the starting lineup and pinned seven of the eight runs on Athletics’ starter Gage Jump in his turbulent 4 1/3 innings of work. Corey Seager was one of four Rangers in the starting lineup who didn’t contribute a hit but he walked twice and scored two runs. Meanwhile, Brandon Nimmo and suddenly red hot Cody Freeman each had two hits and two RBIs to lead the way.
The victory gives the Rangers their second in a row, their fifth victory in eleven games against the Northern California team, and a final win in what had been a trying month of August.
See ya in September!
Player of the Game: Fresh off his worst start in like ten years and easily his worst performance with the Rangers, Jacob deGrom bounced back in a big way. After giving up eight runs in 3 2/3 innings last week in Chicago, tonight deGrom went seven innings and allowed just one hit — a Lawrence Butler leadoff single in the top of the second — and walked none while striking out eight.
deGrom is likely still managing whatever old man hip thing he’s got going on, so he’s probably going to be prone to some Jekyll and Hyde outings but the Rangers could certainly use more vintage deGrom down the stretch and tonight he delivered one his best.
Up Next: The Rangers will try to get a streak going tomorrow night against these A’s with LHP MacKenzie Gore set to make the start for Texas opposite a pitcher to be named for the franchise to be named.
The Tuesday evening first pitch from The Shed is scheduled for 7:05 pm CDT and you can catch it on the Rangers Sports Network.
