25-25 - Rangers crap the bed in 7-6 finale loss to Angels

Coming into today, the Texas Rangers had played in six rubber match games this season as defined by a series that was even at a game apiece heading into the finale. In those games, the Rangers had gone 6-0.

Now, after blowing a 2-1 lead in a walk-off loss last night, the Rangers have played in seven such games and are 6-1 after blowing a 5-1 lead in the seventh inning and ruining their chance to remain rubber perfect after first ruining their chance at a sweep.

Bummer.

Player of the Game: Ariel Jurado wasn’t the featured pitcher after an opener today but, heck, maybe he should have been. Maybe if an extra inning from a fungible arm had been piled onto the 6 ¹⁄₃ innings of two-run ball Jurado gave Texas at the beginning, things would have ended up differently in the late innings.

Nevertheless, Jurado deserved better and showed why he’s earned a longer look in the rotation. Perhaps he even should have stayed in this game longer since the soft underbelly of the bullpen that was utilized after him immediately allowed six runs before collecting the next two outs.

Up Next: The Rangers head off to Seattle to play the Mariners on Memorial Day with Lance Lynn set to make the start against LHP Tommy Milone. First pitch from not-Safeco Field is scheduled for 8:10 pm CT.