Rangers Lose Second Straight to Marlins

Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images

September 20, 2025

Marlins 4, Rangers 3

ARLINGTON, Texas (Sept 20) — The Texas Rangers‘ losing streak has reached six games as they bowed to the Miami Marlins, 4–3, Saturday night. Troy Johnston and Connor Norby hit back-to-back home runs in the sixth inning to help nail down the series victory for the Marlins as the regular season winds down. The Rangers will aim to salvage the series in the finale Sunday afternoon with first pitch scheduled for 1:35 pm at Globe Life Field. Right-hander Eury Perez (7–5, 4.40 ERA) will take the hill for the Marlins, while righty Merrill Kelly (12–8, 3.46 ERA) will toe the slab for the Rangers.

Early Lead for Marlins

The Marlins grabbed a 1–0 lead in the bottom of the second against Rangers starter Jack Leiter. Otto Lopez led off with an infield single that was out of the reach of Josh Jung at third. Lopez promptly moved himself into scoring position with his 14th stolen base of the year. He advanced to third when Heriberto Hernandez grounded to short and scored on a single to center by Johnston.

The Rangers tied it in the bottom of the third off Marlins starter Adam Mazur. Ezequiel Duran led off with a single up the middle. He moved to second on a groundout to third by Michael Helman. Up next was Joc Pederson, who drew a free pass. Two batters later, Duran scored on a two-out single to center by Alejandro Osuna. Pederson scored moments later. A sharp single to left by Rowdy Tellez and fielding error by Hernandez gave the Rangers a 2–1 lead.

The Marlins evened the score in the top of the fourth. With one out, Norby doubled to left. A wild pitch by Leiter moved him to third. He ultimately scored on a sacrifice fly to left by Eric Wagaman.

The Marlins made it 4–2 in the top of the sixth. Johnston smashed a two-out solo homer to right. Norby made it back-to-back home runs with a blast to left.

The Rangers had a spark of energy in the bottom of the ninth off reliever Calvin Faucher when Kyle Higashioka led off with a homer to left-center to cut the lead to 4–3.

What Went Right for the Marlins

The back-to-back homers by Johnston and Norby sealed this one for the Marlins. They scored two other runs, but the homers had more flare and they stand out more in the box score. Sometimes in a low-scoring affair like Saturday’s, you need some excitement in your dugout, and those blasts certainly did the trick.

What Went Wrong for the Marlins

Pederson and Duran were the thorns in the Marlins’ side Saturday as they scored the Rangers’ two runs. Sometimes you don’t have power and contact on your side, but it does help if you have one or the other. The Marlins got contact hitting from the Rangers in the middle game.

Bochy Ejected

Rangers manager Bruce Bochy was ejected from Saturday’s game in the eighth inning by home plate umpire Stu Scheurwater for a disagreement over a time call with Pederson at the plate. Pederson called time but it wasn’t granted by Scheurwater. It is the third ejection of the season and the 89th of Bochy’s managerial career.

Off Night for Leiter

Rangers starter Jack Leiter allowed four earned runs across 5 2/3 innings and took the loss, bringing his record to 9–10 with an ERA of 3.92. His final line was 8 H, 1 BB, 4 K, 2 HR, 94 pitches/65 strikes, ending a 15-start streak of allowing three or fewer earned runs from June 22 to September 15. Saturday marked his first loss at Globe Life Field since June 17 against the Kansas City Royals.

Leiter needed 74 pitches to cover his first four stanzas but turned in a 10-pitch fifth and retired the first two batters he faced in the sixth.

Mazur’s Outing

Marlins starter Adam Mazur did not receive a decision during his sixth start with the Marlins this season after surrendering two runs, both earned, on five hits. All were singles, and he lasted five innings. His line was 2 BB, 2 K, 63 pitches/39 strikes.

Opposing hitters have batted .311 (19-for-61) against the righty on the road, compared to a .219 (14-for-64) BA at loanDepot Park in 2025. Saturday was the second time this season Mazur tossed 65 or fewer pitches, as he averaged 85.2 pitches in his first five outings.

Left-handed Cade Gibson recorded the win, improving his record to 4–5 with an ERA of 2.77. He hurled two innings, walking one and striking out two.

Faucher earned his 15th save of the season after allowing one earned run on two hits in the ninth. He also walked one.

Bochy’s Postgame Comments

After the game, Bochy emerged from his office to discuss Leiter’s start. “The first one just got out, I think the second one, that’s the pitch he’d like to have back,” he said. “He had good stuff tonight. Again, he made pitches when he had to, when we had the bases loaded. He’s just getting better. He just left a pitch, a breaking ball up there that they took advantage of.”

“With what you saw from day one and where he’s at now, he’s doing a good job of not letting the game get away and keeping his poise,” Bochy continued. “He’s been consistent with getting us in the sixth and seventh innings; he maintains his stuff and his focus. It just got better with Jack, and I think he should feel good about how he’s throwing the ball.”