The Texas Rangers scored three runs but the Houston Astros scored nine runs.
Kumar Rocker made a couple of mistakes in the first inning. The first one wasn’t quite as big as the one that followed but he did allow an 0-2 single to Jeremy Pena to lead off the game. That was a mistake because that meant Yordan Alvarez was up with a runner on base.
That therefore meant the Rangers trailed 2-0 because Rocker’s second mistake was throwing a 93 MPH fastball right down the middle to the only player in baseball
with an OPS north of 1.000.
Rocker eventually made many more mistakes, including allowing a third inning grand slam to LaMonte Wade Jr. on another pitch right down the middle. Before his day was over, Rocker also allowed a solo dong to Christian Vazquez in the top of the fourth on, you guessed it, a pitch right down the middle.
About the best you can say about Rocker’s evening is that he gave a beleaguered Texas staff 5 2/3 innings despite allowing seven of the nine runs. The final tallies came in the top of the ninth when Chris Martin entered and allowed a couple runs in what should be the final appearance of his big league career if the Rangers are being serious.
Granted, Martin was the only person to get Alvarez out all night so maybe there’s still some juice in the old fella’s right arm.
The bats, meanwhile, collected just one run on three hits over six innings against someone named Peter Lambert. By the time they got to the Houston bullpen for a couple of runs in the ninth, it was already way too late.
The Rangers have gone 3-6 against Houston this season meaning one more loss will end their quest to secure the Silver Boot in 2026.
Player of the Game: Ezequiel Duran connected for two home runs and drove in all three of Texas’ runs.
Up Next: The Rangers close out the first half of the season with a rubber match against these Astros. Neither team has listed a starting probable.
The Sunday afternoon first half finale from The Shed is scheduled 1:35 pm CDT and it will be aired on the Rangers Sports Network.
