Rangers' latest embarrassment includes losing in historic fashion

It's bad enough that the Texas Rangers aren't going to the playoffs themselves, but on Saturday night, they sent the Cleveland Guardians to the postseason in embarrassingly historic fashion.

Having already been eliminated, the Rangers could only play spoilers in the regular season's final weekend. It's not a total shock that they couldn't do that right either.

Texas Rangers send Cleveland to the playoffs in embarassing fashion

In the 9th inning of what was a 2-2 tie, much maligned Rangers reliever Robert Garcia took to the mound. With the bases loaded and two out, Garcia looked like he might send the game to extra innings. And then he promptly plunked C. J. Kayfus, forcing in the winning run and allowing the Guardians to clinch a playoff spot.

The loss was frustrating enough, as the video of the event shows Garcia ripping his hat off his head as he realizes what he's done. But according to famed baseball historian and analyst Sarah Langs, Garcia allowed the Guardians to be the first team since at least 1920 (the live ball era) to win via walk-off hit-by-pitch on the day they clinched a playoff spot.

Hitting a batter to send a team to the playoffs is weird enough. What's more bizarre is that while Garcia has not had an excellent season for Texas, he's not someone who really ever hits batters.

According to insider Kennedi Landry, entering Saturday night, Garcia faced 641 batters in his MLB career. He's had one (1) hit-by-pitch in that time. His second-ever hit batter allowed Cleveland to go to the playoffs.

There is a bright spot for this embarrassing chapter in Texas Rangers history. Cleveland clinching the postseason means that the Houston Astros miss the playoffs for the first time since 2016.