7-14 - Rangers don’t win the baseball game, lose instead 6-2

If it’s not the starting pitching, it’s the hitting. If it’s not the hitting, it’s the defense. If it’s not the defense, it’s the bullpen. The Rangers once again can’t seem to put together an effort where all phases of the game are competent enough for them to win a baseball game.

Tonight, it was the bullpen. (Well, also the offense for plating just two runs. And probably the starting pitching, as Mike Minor wouldn’t make it through six innings. But it wasn’t the defense for once.) The bullpen has been really good for Texas this season but it couldn’t convert a 2-1 lead with four outs remaining into a win.

Instead, a trio of Chris Martin, Keone Kela, and Jake Diekman gave up five Mariners runs in the final 1 1⁄₃ innings. Coming into the night, the Mariners had scored just seven runs in their last five games.

Player of the Game: Minor is still working out the kinks of becoming a starter all over again, and the offense continues to be disturbingly quiet, so let’s highlight the defense for once. Drew Robinson made a spectacular full on diving catch to snuff out a rally and the infield in general — Ronald Guzman in particular — made some nice plays to keep Seattle stranded before their late rally.

Up Next: In the premier matchup of the night in baseball, Bartolo Colon will take the mound for Texas against LHP James Paxton of Seattle. First pitch from The Ballpark is scheduled for 7:05 pm CT.