Rangers reaction after what might (hopefully) go down as the 2016 low point

There’s no sugarcoating this: the Rangers are in a bad way right now. They were swept Wednesday by the Angels for the first time since May 18 in Oakland and saw their lead in the American League West cut to 3 1/2 games.

(The Astros beat the A’s early on Wednesday.)

Martin Perez, who was on the mound when Texas was swept by the A’s, lost his third consecutive start after allowing seven runs on 10 hits and three walks in six innings.

The Rangers open a three-game series with the defending champion Royals in Kansas City on Friday. Two positive spins on that for the Rangers: They have Yu Darvish and Cole Hamels starting Friday and Saturday. Also, the Royals aren’t exactly world beaters so far in 2016. They’re sitting at .500 (47-47), have lost two in a row and are 4-6 in their past 10.

“You just have to continue to fight, which we’ve done,” said Mitch Moreland, who was 2 for 4 with a home run. “We’ve got a good team in here. We’ll right the ship, it’s only a matter of time. Obviously, it hasn’t gone our way here much lately but we’re going to try to change that first game in KC. It’s going to be a fight until the end, we know that. Everybody in here, in my opinion, is up for it.”

Three quick thoughts after a stinging sweep in Anaheim:

1. Peaks and Valleys — Every team has them, with varying degrees of highs and depths. The Rangers, perhaps, just hit their version of ground zero for 2016. Being swept for the first time in two months, by an Angels club 10 games below .500, on a day you placed two important players on the disabled list in Prince Fielder and Shin-Soo Choo, should, hopefully for the Rangers’ sake, go down as the low point of the season. Of course, if the club doesn’t get it turned around soon, the Astros, now just 3 1/2 games back, could add new low by passing the Rangers.

“There’s no panic. They’re still calm,” Rangers manager Jeff Banister said. “This is still a group of guys that is confident. They’re not searching; they’re still focused on the game. It comes down to our starting pitching. When we throw the ball very well from the starting spot we are a very competitive, lethal ball club. That’s what it comes down to.”

2. Perez’s problems — Martin Perez had a stretch from May 24 through July 1 where he didn’t lose and even if he received a no decision the Rangers won the game, eight in a row, in fact. Since then, however, Perez has struggled. He’s lost his last three starts, including Wednesday in Anaheim. In the three starts, he’s allowed 19 earned runs on 25 hits and seven walks. Perez said he thinks he identified an area in his windup, flying open his right shoulder — his lead shoulder — too early, which alters his command. He threw a scoreless fifth and sixth and started the seventh before leaving after a lead-off single.

Banister has confidence that Perez will snap out of it.

“Yes I do,” he said. “This is a guy even after the first inning who goes out and continues to throw the ball well. He has great stuff. When you’re behind [in the count] it makes it challenging. I think this kid is fine.”

3. Feeling for a teammate, friend — Moreland exchanged a few texts with Fielder after hearing the news that Fielder has another neck injury. Fielder is headed back home to have Dr. Drew Dossett examine his neck and help determine a course of treatment. If surgery is required, it would end Fielder’s season. Dr. Dossett performed cervical fusion surgery of the C5-C6 discs on Fielder in May 2014, which sidelined him for the rest of the season.

“It’s a tough situation to be in. I feel for him,” Moreland said. “He’s not just a good teammate but a great friend, too. We developed a good relationship over our time together here. He has so much fun at the field every day and what he brings to the table for this team it’s tough to see him struggle with the same thing he’s already been through.”

Both Banister and general manager Jon Daniels said the neck issue has likely affected Fielder’s performance. He’s batting .212 with eight homers and 44 RBIs in 89 games, well below his normal pace.

“I’m wishing the best for him and I’m behind him 100 percent, just like everybody in here,” Moreland said.

This story was originally published July 21, 2016 at 2:16 AM with the headline "Rangers reaction after what might (hopefully) go down as the 2016 low point."