Rangers Lose Second Straight to Orioles

Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images

July 20, 2024

Orioles 8, Rangers 4

ARLINGTON, Tex. (Jul 20) — In a game that lasted three hours and 13 minutes, the Texas Rangers fell to the Baltimore Orioles, 8–4, on Saturday. Home runs by Cedric Mullins, Jordan Westburg, and Ryan O’Hearn helped secure the series win for the Orioles. The Rangers will try to avoid another three-game sweep in the series finale on Sunday afternoon. First pitch is scheduled for 1:35 pm Central at Globe Life Field. Righty Dean Kremer (4–5, 4.38 ERA) will take the mound for the Orioles, while the Rangers will counter with left-hander Andrew Heaney (3–10, 3.79 ERA).

Orioles Grab Another Early Lead

The Orioles got their offense going in the top of the second against Rangers right-hander Max Scherzer. Westburg started the frame with a single to left. Colton Cowser, who homered in Friday’s series opener, drew a walk moments later. On deck was Mullins, who plated Westburg with a bunt single back to Scherzer. Mullins advanced to second on a throwing error by Scherzer. Both Cowser and Mullins scored on a single lined to center by Ramon Urias. Two batters later, Anthony Santander scored Urias with a single to right to make it 4–0 in favor of the Orioles.

Mullins and Westburg Connect

The Rangers cut the lead in half in the bottom of the second off Orioles starter Grayson Rodriguez. After Adolis Garcia grounded to short to lead off the inning, Nathaniel Lowe got the Rangers into the hit column with a single to right. On deck was Leody Taveras, who struck out swinging to bring up Justin Foscue, who was called up from Triple-A Round Rock on Saturday. He was on a rehab assignment recovering from a left oblique strain that he suffered in April. Foscue doubled to left to bring up Andrew Knizner. Moments later, Lowe and Foscue crossed the plate on a single to right by Knizner. This got some very appreciative cheers from the 38,410 in attendance.

Added Insurance

The Orioles put an insurance run on the board in the top of the fifth off Rangers reliever Jose Urena. It came on Mullins’ 10th homer of the season, a solo shot to right. They stretched their lead to 7–2 off reliever Jacob Latz in the top of the sixth. After Santander flied to center, Latz issued a free pass to O’Hearn. Up next was Austin Hays, who entered the game as a pinch-hitter for outfielder Heston Kjerstad. Hays struck out swinging to bring up Westburg, who blasted a two-run dinger to deep center.

The Rangers inched closer in the bottom of the eighth against Orioles reliever Cionel Perez. After walking Marcus Semien and Corey Seager, Perez got Josh Smith to line out to center before being lifted for Yennier Cano. Semien scored on a double to left by Wyatt Langford. That double snapped an 0-for-27 skid for Langford. On deck was Garcia, who grounded to short, plating Seager in the process. The Orioles added one more in the top of the ninth with Jose Leclerc on the mound for the Rangers. It was a solo home run to left-center by O’Hearn that extended the Orioles’ lead.

What Went Right for the Orioles

The Orioles had the long ball working for them again on Saturday evening. The home runs by Mullins and Westburg were crucial in this win for the Orioles. They also had plenty of base runners, as their lineup drew nine walks. In fact, the teams combined to issue 14 free passes. The Orioles’ pitching staff, while not perfect, was able to keep the Rangers from making a full comeback.

What Went Wrong for the Orioles

As mentioned above, the Orioles allowed more than a few base runners, and the Rangers capitalized on it. Langford’s RBI double seemed to be a shot in the arm, but there wasn’t enough juice to go around for the Rangers.

Abridged Outing for Scherzer

Rangers starter Max Scherzer allowed four runs, all earned, over two innings to take the loss. His record now sits at 1–3 with an ERA of 3.99. Opponents were 5-for-11 with a double, two walks, and one strikeout. Scherzer now has 3,391 career strikeouts, good for 11th on the all-time list. He missed a chance to tie or pass Justin Verlander (3,393) for 10th all-time.

Saturday marked Scherzer’s shortest start as a Ranger. It was the seventh start of his career to go two frames or fewer. The last one occurred on June 11, 2021 against the San Francisco Giants as a member of the Washington Nationals. He pitched a third of an inning before exiting with a groin injury.

Rodriguez’ Evening

Orioles starter Grayson Rodriguez fired seven innings of two-run ball, notching his third ‘ultra’-quality start of 2024. He earned his AL-leading 12th victory of 2024, breaking a tie with Kansas City Royals pitcher Seth Lugo. His record improves to 12–4 with an ERA of 3.83. After allowing two runs to score on a single by Knizner in the second, Rodriguez settled in to retire 13 of the last 14 and each of his final seven batters.

He struck out the side in the seventh, exiting after throwing 103 pitches. Saturday marked a return to the Globe Life Field mound for the Nacogdoches, Texas native for the first time since making his major league debut there on April 5, 2023. Rodriguez took a no-decision that day after tossing five innings where he surrendered two earned runs.

Postgame Comments

After the game, Rangers manager Bruce Bochy reflected on the effort that his offense put in on Saturday evening. “I really thought they did a good job there at the end and they were trying to get back in it,” Bochy said. “We got the tying run on deck a couple of times in the last couple of innings. Their guy (Grayson Rodriguez) threw well, he’s got good stuff. But yeah it was an uphill climb.”

Bochy also gave his remarks on Scherzer’s short outing. “We talked about (Scherzer going back out), but I said, ‘No that’s enough.’ We’ve got to keep him healthy and fresh. I’ll say this, we always check to see how they’re doing the next day and how they came out of it, but I think he’s going to be fine.”