Texas Rangers: Team Swept By Houston Astros

The Texas Rangers come up short once again, this time resulting in a sweep. For the first time in three years, Texas gets swept by their in-state rivals, the Houston Astros. They’re now 15 games behind Houston. The fact that this series took place in Arlington adds insult to injury for Texas. Furthermore, the fact two weeks ago, Texas was 6.5 games behind Houston and in second place just rubs salt to their wound.

The Texas Rangers had a rough afternoon. The team’s under performing is the cause of this loss, much like in games one and two. At the start of the season, Texas dug themselves into a big black hole, falling deeper and deeper. But when they began a winning streak, slowly climbing out of it, but in the last two weeks, they’ve fallen deeper and deeper.

Martin Perez stepped on the mound looking to win his second straight game. He pitched 3.2 innings, allowing seven hits, a season-high six runs, and striking out two batters, falling to 2-6. Manager Jeff Banister didn’t have a choice but to pull him out of the game early. A rough afternoon for Perez.

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Tony Barnette relieved Perez. He pitched 2.0 innings, allowing one hit, one run, and striking out two batters. Nick Martinez then entered. He pitched 3.1 innings, allowing one hit, no runs, and striking out two batters.

Great performance by the bullpen. In any case, they must keep it up.

Pitching’s ERA of 4.27 keeps them at 18th in the league. They’re also ninth in the league in runs allowed with 269 and 27th in strikeouts with 388.

Offense finished 6-for-33, striking out 13 times. Fifth straight game with ten or more strikeouts. No players registered more than two hits and four players went hit-less. Elvis Andrus extends his hitting streak to ten games, which is currently the second longest hitting streak in the league. Rougned Odor blasted his eight homer this season to put Texas on the board, however, he’s a long way from climbing out of his slump. Same thing with Nomar Mazara, who went 1-for-4. Team’s batting average of .239 places them 24th in the league. Overall, Texas’ hitting is a long way from getting of their deep slump. Still plenty of baseball, but it’s coming to the point where we can’t say, “it’s still early in the season,” anymore. Excuses won’t cut it.

Texas is off Monday. They start a two-game series at home against the New York Mets on Tuesday. Let’s hope they begin to get it together to save their season.