/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/69605423/1234064101.0.jpg)
Tigers 14, Rangers 0
- I don’t even know what to say right now.
- Its not been a good season. Texas went through a 7-28 stretch earlier this year. But there have been stretches of decent play, periodic signs of life, moments that give hope.
- But this defies words.
- The Rangers have been shut out three games in a row for the first time in their history. Once can say, well, two of those three games were of the seven inning variety, but even still, I have little confidence than an extra four innings would have changed things.
- The Rangers have been outscored 29-0 in the last three games. They’ve been outscored 39-2 in the four games in the second half of the season. Only a ninth inning Eli White home run on Friday has kept the Rangers from being shut out in four straight games, from being scoreless in the second half.
- Texas scored one run in the final game of the first half. They are currently riding a six game losing streak, and have lost nine of their last eleven games.
- The Rangers hitters picked up four hits, drew no walks, and struck out ten times against Casey Mize and a collection of four relievers who each have an ERA over 5.
- Kyle Gibson, a deserving All Star this year, gave up eight runs. Brett Martin, a guy who had a quality first half and has been one of the team’s most solid and reliable relievers, faced five hitters and gave up five hits.
- Its baffling, frustrating, maddening.
- The benchmark I always use for Rangers offensive futility is September 2009, when the Rangers scored one run in a five game stretch. That felt bizarre, inexplicable, like fate and the universe were conspiring to vex us.
- This post-Break stretch though...I’ve got nothing. I thought that 7-28 stretch was the low point, the nadir, was when this team hit rock bottom.
- I may have been wrong.