The Texas Rangers traveled to Philadelphia on Opening Day on Thursday looking to get off to a good start under new manger Skip Schumaker. However, the Rangers couldn’t finish off a furious ninth-inning rally, while Phillies starting pitcher Cristopher Sanchez was in midseason form in Texas’ 5-3 loss.
Here are three takeaways from the Rangers’ season opener:
Eovaldi struggles in season debut
Starting pitcher Nathan Eovaldi was having the best season of his career before injury ended his 2025 season prematurely and was hoping to get off to a similiar start this season.
Eovaldi got off to a rough start giving up a two run home run to last year’s NL home run leader designated hitter Kyle Schwarber but settled in throwing three scoreless innings.
With two runners on base with no out in the fifth inning and the Phillies looking to bust the game open, Eovaldi responded first by striking out Schwarber and first baseman Bryce Harper but third baseman Alec Bohm hit a three run shot with two outs to put the Phillies up 5-0 and knock the Houston native out of the game.
Eovaldi finished the game giving up five runs off eight hits in 4.2 innings of work with seven strikeouts.
Did the bats show progress?
Much conversation coming into the season was on how the Rangers would try and improve after back-to-back lackluster seasons at the plate.
Sanzhez’s change-up was paticularly lethal, but he wasn’t a one-trick pony, using his slider and sinker in giving up no runs and three hits with 10 strikeouts in six innings of work.
The Rangers fared better against the bullpen in the ninth inning, when first baseman Jake Burger’s two-run home run got Texas back into the game.
The Rangers had a runner on third base with one out, trailing by three with a chance for a comeback when the Phillies sent closer Jhoan Duran to the mound.
Duran faced infielder Ezequiel Duran first and struck him out on a sinker before catcher Danny Jansen hit a single to score a run, bringing the potential tying run to the plate. But outfielder Evan Carter grounded out to end the game.
Familiar face returns vs. Rangers
Rangers fans will never forget outfielder Adolis García, one of the biggest reasons the team was able to win its first World Series in 2023. How did he fare against his old team Thursday?
Lawrence Dow is a digital sports reporter from Philadelphia. He graduated with a master’s degree in journalism from USC. He’s passionate about movies and is always looking for a great book. He covers the Texas Rangers and other sports.
