18-23 - Rangers lose fifth straight as comeback bid falls short in Houston

The Texas Rangers scored five runs and the Houston Astros scored six runs.

For about 180 minutes of this three and a half hour game, this seemed like one of the least interesting contests for the Rangers this season.

Texas scored a run via a Nick Solak triple plus Nate Lowe sac fly combo in the top of the first inning and then either nothing at all happened or nothing good happened for virtually the entire evening until Joey Gallo blasted a three-run dong in the top of the eighth to give the Rangers an opportunity for another comeback victory.

Gallo and gang were forced into comeback-mode as, in the bottom of the first inning, starter Dane Dunning allowed four runs. After that, both teams kind of coasted through this one until Houston picked up a couple more runs in the seventh off new Texas reliever Hunter Wood.

Those insurance runs paid off as Gallo’s homer would have been enough to tie the game. Alas, after another run via an Andy Ibanez force out, Texas never scored the final tally they needed to even this one up and were saddled with another defeat.

With the loss, the Rangers have dropped a season-high fifth consecutive game and their record at five games below .500 ties their 2021 low-water mark.

Player of the Game: Texas second baseman Solak hit that triple and also reached base three additional times via two walks and a single.

Up Next: The Rangers and Astros close out this series with Texas turning to RHP Kyle Gibson in the hopes of salvaging a win in this series while RHP Lance McCullers Jr. will take the mound for Houston in the finale. Sunday’s first pitch from Minute Maid Park is scheduled for 1:10 pm CT.