Rangers Flub Against Cubs in Series Opener

Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images

May 8, 2026

Cubs 7, Rangers 1

ARLINGTON, Texas (May 8) — The Texas Rangers started their six-game homestand with a rude welcome when they were blown out by the Chicago Cubs, 7–1, Friday night. A home run by Seiya Suzuki in the fifth inning was one of many highlights in this win for the Cubs, who are now on their second 10-game winning streak of 2026. The Rangers, meanwhile, will have the opportunity to even this three-game set Saturday with first pitch scheduled for 6:05 pm Central at Globe Life Field. Right-hander Edward Cabrera (3–0, 3.27 ERA) will face off against fellow righty Jack Leiter (1–3, 5.45 ERA).

Early Start for Cubs

The Cubs scored right away in the top of the first against righty Kumar Rocker. Michael Conforto reached on a one-out ground-rule double that barely snuck inside the chalk down the left-field line. After Rocker struck Alex Bregman out swinging, Conforto scored thanks to a single to left by Ian Happ.

Fast forward to the top of the fourth when the Cubs extended their lead to 3–0. Happ led off by drawing a free pass. Suzuki followed with a two-run blast to center, his seventh of the year.

The Rangers cut into the lead in the bottom of the fifth off right-hander Ben Brown. He issued a walk to Evan Carter to begin the frame. Up next was Andrew McCutchen, who entered as a pinch-hitter for Joc Pederson. McCutchen trotted to first on a walk to bring up Jake Burger who popped out to short. That brought Justin Foscue off the bench to hit for left-fielder Alejandro Osuna. Foscue plated Carter by lining a single to left.

The Cubs added on in the top of the sixth with reliever Cal Quantrill. With one out, Michael Busch walked and swiped second for his first stolen base of the season. After Carson Kelly struck out swinging, Busch sprinted home courtesy of a ground-rule double by Pete Crow-Armstrong.

The Cubs’ 4–1 lead became a 7–1 lead in the top of the seventh. Nico Hoerner reached on a fielding error by Foscue at second. On deck was Conforto, who drew a walk. Alex Bregman followed with a sharp single up the middle. Conforto was thrown out at home on a 4–2 force play that was grounded into by Suzuki, loading the bases in the process. Moments later, Busch stepped in and lined a double to left that allowed Bregman, Happ, and Suzuki to score.

What Went Right for the Cubs

Life can be great when you keep finding ways to score. Such was the case for the Cubs as they built a seven-run wall to keep the Rangers out of their own ballpark. Suzuki’s home run lit a spark inside the Cubs’ dugout as did the three-run double by Busch with mixed reactions coming from the 32,394 in attendance.

What Went Wrong for the Cubs

The only blemish that went against the Cubs was the RBI single by Foscue

Shocker for Rocker

Rangers righty Kumar Rocker made his seventh start of the season and suffered his fourth loss. He is now 1–4 on the season. After allowing three runs, all earned over 3 2/3 innings, the rest of his line was 4 H, 3 BB, 3 SO, 1 HR, 87 pitches/53 strikes. Rocker allowed a seeing-eye RBI single to Happ in the first, which preceded the Conforto double, getting the Cubs on the board.

He exited after yielding a two-out single to Dansby Swanson in the fourth, giving way to Quantrill. Rocker threw 39 pitches in the fourth inning, including 25 to the first three batters he faced in the frame. The 39 pitches were the second most by a Rangers pitcher in a single frame this season. Rocker has a 12.71 ERA over two starts in May, raising his season ERA from 3.38 to 5.01.

Brown’s Evening

Cubs starter Ben Brown tossed four hitless frames while walking one. He needed 46 pitches to carve through the Rangers’ lineup in his 13th appearance and first start of the season. Friday was his longest appearance of 2026 and longest hitless outing since May 28, 2024 against the Milwaukee Brewers, where he pitched seven stanzas. Friday was the right-hander’s first scoreless start since he put up six zeroes on May 2, 2025, once again against the Brewers. Brown lowered his season ERA to 1.82 in his second career appearance at Globe Life Field. He made his major league debut there on March 30, 2024, allowing six earned runs in an inning and two-thirds in relief.

The win went to reliever Javier Assad, bringing his record to 3–1 with an ERA of 6.00. He pitched 3 2/3 innings, surrendering a hit and a walk while striking out one.

Schumaker’s Postgame Comments

After the game, Rangers manager Skip Schumaker discussed what went wrong Friday night. “There were some defensive miscues,” he said. “We also couldn’t string anything together at the plate. A lot of guys got one– we just couldn’t find our rhythm out there. This is a good Cubs team and we’ll group and try again on Saturday.”