The Mariners came into Globe Life Field in Arlington on June 3 and dealt the Rangers the team’s third straight loss of their current seven-game homestand, dropping them three games under .500 after Seattle scored two ninth-inning runs in a 4-3 victory.
The Rangers totted a 3-2 lead into the top of the ninth built through two run-scoring doubles in the bottom of the sixth (Corey Seager and Kole Calhoun accounting for the double-baggers). In the bottom of the seventh, Nathanial Lowe hit his fifth home run of the season on a line drive that sailed into the Texas bullpen.
Pitcher Dane Dunning got the starting nod for Texas in the contest and hurled seven innings, allowing just two runs on three hits while walking none and striking out seven. After exiting the seventh, Dunning left with the lead and a chance at his second win of the season.
“He used all his pitches,” Rangers Manager Chris Woodward said of his starter. “Sinker was really good today. We got a lot of weak groundballs … just the way he’s commanding the baseball, using both sides, using the change up against those lefties. Just a really good outing.”
Rangers closer Joe Barlow was brought in to finish the game, seeking his ninth save of the year. Barlow got Julio Rodríguez. Then, the wheels fell off. Barlow issued a 3-1 walk to J. P. Crawford, and then Eugenio Suárez belted a 2-0, 95.6 MPH four-seam fastball into the right-center field for his 10th home run of the season. Barlow collected the next two outs of the inning, but the damage was done.
“I mean, he’s gonna give up a run or two, obviously. He’s not going to be perfect all year,” Woodward said after the loss. “I think that was our opportunity to kind of pick him up. He’s picked us up so much … just made the one mistake.”
In the bottom of the ninth, Sam Huff was brought in to pinch-hit for Texas and earned a 3-2 base on balls, but Andy Ibáñez (also given a chance to pinch-hit), struck out swinging on a 3-2 fastball from Mariner closer Paul Sewald.
The Rangers will look to redeem themselves and snap their losing streak when they face Seattle on June 4, starting at 4:05 EDT. Probable pitchers in the game are Marco Gonzales (93-5, 3.55) for the Mariners and Glenn Otto (3-2, 4.33) for the Rangers.
The first 15,000 fans through the turnstiles for the contest will receive the 1980s 50th Anniversary Rangers Baseball Cards. The other promos for the game are the Karbach Brewing Skyporch Happy Hour and “Bark at the Park,” which requires a special event ticket.