68-73 - Rangers go out with a whimper in 4-1 series finale loss to Yankees

Mark this one down as another example of the mounting evidence that it’s the hitting — not the pitching — that could be holding the Rangers back now and in the future.

Starter Lance Lynn wasn’t the sharpest he’s been this season but he still allowed just three runs in his five innings of work. The Yankees are second in baseball this season with 812 runs scored this year. Lynn wasn’t the problem tonight.

After a month of August that saw Texas produce one of their worst hitting months that they’ve experienced this decade, the Rangers followed up a seven run outburst in the opener of this series by scoring a total of two runs combined in the last two evenings to drop the set to New York.

Like last night, the Rangers avoided the embarrassment of a shutout loss with a solo home run in the ninth — this time off the bat of Rougned Odor — but they couldn’t avoid the loss and are now tied for a season-worst five games below .500.

Player of the Game: Well, um, Ronald Guzman had a couple of hits. That’s a good sign for a guy who was sent down to the minors for a month due to an underperforming bat.

Up Next: The Rangers will head south to Baltimore to begin a series against the Orioles with LHP Kolby Allard on the mound in Thursday’s opener. The O’s have yet to name a starter. First pitch from Camden Yards is scheduled for 6:05 pm CT.