The Texas Rangers scored two runs but the New York Mets scored seven runs.
Oh. So baseball games are telling jokes now, huh?
With their season hanging very much in the balance, Texas went until the first batter of the fifth inning before their first time on base all night and by that point, they were already trailing 2-0 and had committed another couple of defensive miscues in what had swiftly devolved into a mistake-filled series at quite literally the worst time for it.
The Rangers did make there
first hit of the game matter as they finally worked a rally against Mets starter Nolan McLean that eventually plated the tying runs, but they also had a bases loaded, one out scenario after scoring their first run and they only managed to tie the game out of it and only just barely as Evan Carter beat out a would-be double play.
Instead of breaking through and taking the lead, the Rangers didn’t get another baserunner on against McLean or any other Mets hurler for that matter until there was one out in the ninth. Meanwhile, sensing the season was definitively on the line, Skip Schumaker called in closer Jacob Latz earlier than usual when the Mets threatened with two on in the seventh inning in a tied game.
After Latz wiggled out of that jam, he remained in for the eighth where, after a couple of outs, he allowed a solo home run to former Ranger World Series winner Marcus Semien. You know, the guy the Rangers traded away over the winter in an attempt to rinse off the stink of a couple of lost seasons that is nearing a third, now perhaps punctuated by Semien as the grim reaper.
Kind of funny, all things considered.
Not quite as funny, but at least relieved us of the last vestiges of hope for this one, with two outs in the top of the ninth, Brett Baty hit a pinch-hit grand slam to slam the door in Texas’ face.
The Rangers aren’t eliminated just yet but their path is exceedingly perilous now as they’ve dropped this series to the lowly Mets, their first home series loss in over two months.
Player of the Game:
Up Next: The Rangers close out this series against the Mets trying to avoid a sweep. They haven’t announced a starting pitcher but it’s probably RHP Kumar Rocker. New York will counter with LHP Zac Thornton.
The Thursday afternoon first pitch in the final home game of the season is schedule for 1:35 pm CDT and you’ll find it on the Rangers Sports Network.
