What is the story about?
Rays
7, Rangers 6
- A one run loss.
- Though it was a game that probably shouldn’t have been as close as it ended up being, that the Rangers were fortunate to be that close in.
- An underwhelming performance by Kumar Rocker, whose consistent inconsistency continues to be a hallmark of his season.
- Texas went with the ultra-rare double-opener, utilizing Trevor Williams for the first inning and Robby Ahlstrom for the second before turning to Rocker.
- Rocker inherited a 1-0 lead, then gave up a homer to the second batter he faced, resulting in his first career blown save.
- In his last appearance, Rocker needed 86 pitches to go just three innings. This time around, he didn’t walk anyone and struck out just three batters, resulting in much shorter plate appearances, on average, with the result being that he threw just 73 pitches to get through five innings.
- He gave up six runs on those five innings, though, so…
- We got to see three Rangers pitchers in the ninth inning, which is always fun. After Tyler Alexander, who had pitched the eighth inning, retired Taylor Walls to start the inning, Chase Silseth came in, faced three batters, and retired none of them, with one run scoring. Key trade deadline day acquisition Adam Macko was summoned to get the final two outs.
- Silseth’s misadventure turned a one run deficit into a two run deficit, which became relevant when the Rangers scored one run, but not two runs, in the bottom of the ninth.
- The one run was driven in by Elias Diaz, and a particularly amusing element of this game is that Diaz drove in five of the six runs the Rangers scored.
- Yes, that Elias Diaz.
- Diaz had turned a dull blowout into a close game with a grand slam in the seventh, making what had been a 6-1 game into a 6-5 game.
- This was the first grand slam of the year for the Rangers.
- It was also just the sixth extra base hit the Rangers have had with the bases loaded in 2026.
- It boosted the Rangers’ slash line on the season with the bases loaded to .225/.240/.304.
- The league as a whole, as a point of reference, is slashing .274/.313/.437 with the bases loaded.
- The Rangers, as a team, are slashing .243/.318/.399 this season. The league as a whole is slashing .244/.318/.400.
- If you’re wondering why the Rangers are 26th in the majors in runs scored per game despite having essentially a league-average slash line…well, the performance with the bases loaded isn’t the whole reason, but it certainly is a significant factor.
- The Rangers have scored 50 runs fewer than the average MLB team. Maybe I should go estimate how many more runs they’d have scored this year if they’d been just average in bases loaded situations.
- Anyway, Diaz’s ninth inning RBI came on a sacrifice fly. Jake Burger and Evan Carter drew walks to start the ninth, leading Skip Schumaker to send Nicky Lopez into the game as a pinch hitter for Cody Freeman to bunt the runners to second and third.
- The decision to bunt there was debatable, and maybe the Rangers should have just taken their chances with Freeman at the plate rather than give up an out to move the tying run to second base. Diaz and Justin Foscue were up behind Freeman, though, so its not like you’re super-enthused about the Rangers’ chances of walking it off regardless.
- I know the coterie of Nicky Lopez fans on LSB were excited to see him in the game, though. Its now been over two weeks since his last start, though this is his ninth appearance in that time. If you are tuning into games to watch Nicky Lopez, you probably don’t need to tune in until the later innings.
- Ezequiel Duran was responsible for the other Ranger run, on a home run, his 17th of the season. It was the first run of the game, and teased us into thinking the Rangers were going to win, what with their stellar record when scoring first.
- Texas, incidentally, was 1 for 2 with runners in scoring position in the game. Kind of amazing they scored six runs, given that.
- Corey Seager had a pair of hits, the only Ranger to record more than one hit.
- Jake Burger drew three walks to go along with his one hit, so that’s fun.
- Evan Carter had a hit and a walk. Good job, Evan.
- He also picked up an error that led to an unearned run, though, so, you know, mixed bag for Full Count Carter in this game.
- Trevor Williams hit 92.2 mph with his fastball. Robby Ahlstrom reached 94.3 mph with his fastball. Kumar Rocker touched 96.3 with his fastball, averaging 94.9 mph, and 96.2 mph, averaging 95.0 mph, with his sinker. Tyler Alexander maxed out at 92.6 mph with his fastball. Chase Silseth’s sinker hit 98.2 mph. Adam Macko’s fastball topped out at 95.5 mph.
- Elias Diaz had a 105.5 mph groundout to go with his 103.4 mph grand slam. Ezequiel Duran had a 104.7 mph groundout and a 104.2 mph home run.
- Anyway. Now to start a new winning streak.
