Rangers End Losing Streak against Twins

Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images

September 24, 2025

Rangers 4, Twins 2

ARLINGTON, Texas (Sept 24) — The Texas Rangers got a much-needed win Wednesday night, beating the Minnesota Twins, 4–2. This put an end to their eight-game losing streak. Rookie outfielder Billy McKinney made a nice contribution with an RBI single in the seventh inning. The Rangers will have a chance to win this three-game set Thursday afternoon in their final home game of 2025. First pitch is scheduled for 1:35 pm Central at Globe Life Field. Right-hander Bailey Ober (5–9, 5.32 ERA) will toe the rubber for the Twins, while righty Tyler Mahle (6–3, 2.2o ERA) will get the ball for the Rangers.

Plenty of Wild Pitches

Joc Pederson led off with a home run in the bottom of the first to give the Rangers a 1–0 lead Tuesday. The feat was mirrored Wednesday, when Byron Buxton went yard to lead off the game for the Twins. Buxton sent a 1–0 pitch from right-hander Jacob deGrom over the wall in center for his 32nd blast of the season.

The Rangers answered back in the bottom of the fourth off Twins righty Taj Bradley, as Josh Smith blasted a 3–1 pitch to right-center for his 10th long ball of the year.

Momentum was on the Rangers’ side as they took a 3–1 lead in the bottom of the seventh off reliever Travis Adams. Ezequiel Duran singled to right with one out. He quickly swiped second for his 11th stolen base of the year. On deck was McKinney, who scored Duran with a single to left. He reached second when the throw home from Kody Clemens was offline. Jonah Heim reached on a single to left and advanced to second on a wild pitch from Adams, which also scored McKinney from third. After Michael Helman grounded to third, Twins manager Rocco Baldelli brought in reliever Genesis Cabrera, and Adolis Garcia pinch-hit for Pederson. Cabrera issued back-to-back walks to Garcia and Smith. Garcia’s free pass was intentional. Another wild pitch moved all three runners, with Smith scoring to make it 4–1 Rangers.

The Twins cut the lead in half in the top of the eighth with Shawn Armstrong on the mound. Edouard Julien led off with a sharp double to center, and Royce Lewis drove him in with a single up the middle.

What Went Right for the Rangers

Almost all of the Rangers’ scoring opportunities came in the seventh inning. They took advantage of the Twins’ miscues in order to get the 4–2 victory. As the saying goes, when your enemies make mistakes, don’t interrupt them.

What Went Wrong for the Rangers

The only roadblocks the Rangers had to deal with were the leadoff home run by Buxton in the first and the RBI single by Lewis in the eighth.

30 Starts for deGrom

Rangers starter Jacob deGrom made his 30th start of the year and twirled five sharp innings in a no-decision. His final line of 2025 was 2 H, 1 R-ER, 1 BB, 8 K, 1 HR, 74 pitches/46 strikes. He lowered his ERA to 2.97 on the season, becoming the eighth pitcher in franchise history with a campaign of 3o or more starts and an ERA under 3.00. He joins Martín Pérez in 2022 (2.89), Yu Darvish in 2013 (2.83), C.J. Wilson in 2011 (2.94), Jon Matlack in 1978 (2.27), Bert Blyleven in 1977 (2.72), Fergie Jenkins in 1974 (2.82), and Camilo Pascual in 1968 (2.69).

Jacob deGrom has posted a 0.921 WHIP in his 30 starts this year, the lowest mark by a qualified pitcher in franchise history, ahead of Nolan Ryan’s 1991 season (1.006). His 30 starts, 172 2/3 innings, and 185 strikeouts in 2025 are all his highest totals since his NL Cy Young Award-winning season of 2019 with the New York Mets. He finishes the 2025 campaign with a record of 12–8 and an ERA of 2.97.

Reliever Robert Garcia tossed two innings, allowing one hit. He struck out one to earn his fourth win of the year. That brings his record to 4–7 with an ERA of 2.84.

Phil Maton earned his fifth save of the year after striking out one in the ninth.

Bradley’s Night

Twins starter Taj Bradley did not factor into the decision despite tossing six innings of one-run ball. His line was 2 H, 2 BB, 9 K, 1 HR, 90 pitches/60 strikes. Bradley struck out five of the first six batters he faced and did not allow a hit until a two-out double by Helman in the third. He was tagged for the game-tying home run by Smith in the fourth inning, marking the sixth home run allowed by Bradley since being acquired by the Twins at the trade deadline.

After recording two outs in the seventh, Adams took the loss, bringing his record to 1–4 with an ERA of 7.67. He allowed three runs, all earned, on three hits.

Bochy’s Postgame Comments

After the game, Rangers manager Bruce Bochy had a little fun referencing the Twins’ wild pitches earlier in the evening. “It’s a stat that doesn’t show up that. often We call them RTI’s, or Runs Thrown In.” This got a fantastic chuckle out of the media members in attendance.