Texas Rangers miss chance to slice early deficit, never recover in loss to LA Dodgers
Between the likelihood of trades involving star players and the potential that the upcoming series at Houston will be altered because of COVID-19, on-the-field matters didn’t seem to matter all that much Sunday at Globe Life Field.
If anything, the game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Texas Rangers confirmed what was already evident.
The Rangers should be sellers Monday at the MLB trade deadline.
The Dodgers connected for three home runs in the first three innings Sunday, including a two-run shot by Cody Bellinger, and MLB’s best team left with a 7-2 victory and a series win over the Texas Rangers.
Each homer came off right-hander Kyle Gibson, signed in the off-season to upgrade the starting rotation. The Rangers, though, have won only one of the seven games he has started and he is sporting a 6.16 ERA.
“I feel like whenever I make a mistake right now it’s getting hit pretty good,” Gibson said. “I don’t think anything changes. You’ve got to go out there and execute pitches and give the team a chance to win. My goals don’t change.”
Corey Seager connected for a solo homer in the first, Will Smith went deep into the second deck in left field in the second, and Bellinger, the reigning National MVP, connected in the third.
The Rangers had a chance to erase a 4-0 deficit in the third, loading the bases with no outs, but they scored only one run on a wild pitch. The Rangers’ 3-4-5 hitters were up, but Jose Trevino popped out and Joey Gallo and Todd Frazier struck out to end the threat.
The Dodgers followed by scoring another run off Gibson in the fourth, this time without a home run.
A sacrifice fly from Jeff Mathis in the fourth brought the Rangers within 5-2, but they never recovered from the chance they missed in the third.
“That was a crucial inning for us, and I knew it,” manager Chris Woodward said. “At least getting within a couple runs or at least getting within a run and to come out of it only 4-1, that hurt.”
The Rangers are off Monday but are planning to travel to Houston for a three-game series against the Astros that is scheduled to begin Tuesday. However, an Oakland A’s player tested positive for COVID-19 over the weekend at Minute Maid Park, and the Rangers are monitoring the situation with MLB.
Whenever the Rangers play next, they could have a different look to them. Right-hander Lance Lynn is prominent among the big names in the rumor mill, and Gallo has also reportedly been discussed.
