Sixth consecutive loss leaves Texas Rangers with the worst record in baseball
Kolby Allard took a big step back Monday from his previous two starts, allowing eight runs in 3 2/3 innings as the Seattle Mariners rolled to an 8-4 victory to complete a four-game sweep of the last-place Texas Rangers.
The Rangers have lost six consecutive games and 8 of 9, with their lone win Tuesday in extra innings at Houston.
The loss left the Rangers with 13-27 record with 20 games remaining in the shortened 60-game schedule. That’s the worst record in baseball, a few percentage points worse than the Pittsburgh Pirates.
“Nobody likes losing,” manager Chris Woodward said. “It’s not fun. My message to a lot of these younger guys is, ‘Don’t forget what it feels like, man. Don’t forget what this feels like.’ We’ve all been through it. I’ve been through a lot difficult times in a baseball career of 25 years. It won’t be the last time, but these guys have got to remember. You remember this moment in the good times so you don’t ever take a day for granted or a pitch for granted.”
Allard allowed two runs in each of his past two starts on only three hits, but Kyle Seager gave the Mariners a 2-0 lead in the first inning with his 31st career homer against the Rangers. Dylan Moore took Allard deep in the third for a 3-0 lead.
Joey Gallo cut the Rangers’ deficit to 3-2 with a two-run double in the fourth, but Allard immediately gave it back and more.
He went to a 3-2 count on back-to-back hitters with two outs in a bid for a scoreless inning, but walked J.P. Crawford to load the bases and saw Moore clear the bases with a double to left as Allard continued to struggle with runners on base.
“He’s got to be able to execute in those situations,” Woodward said. “He can’t seem to stop the bleeding. He’s out there competing harder than anybody, but we’ve got to find a way for him to be able to execute.”
Jimmy Herget allowed the two runners he inherited from Allard to score as the Mariners posted five runs and never looked back.
The Rangers have the worst road record in baseball at 4-17, but return home Tuesday for a six-game homestand against the Los Angeles Angels and Oakland A’s. They might be without one of the hottest hitters, Shin-Soo Choo, who sprained his right hand while diving into home plate on Gallo’s double.
“They didn’t find a break,” Woodward said. “I”m guessing he’ll be down a few days.”
This story was originally published September 7, 2020 at 6:11 PM.
