Rangers go 1-2 in home series against Mets

ARLINGTON — The Texas Rangers returned home this week for a home stand, beginning with a three-game series against the New York Mets. The Rangers lost two of three games, avoiding a sweep by winning the final game.

For the first game, June 17, the Rangers suffered a 14-2 loss. The game’s outcome would be decided early on, as the Mets asserted their dominance from the beginning and never looked back, blowing out the Rangers.

The Mets immediately took the lead in the first inning with a run, pulling ahead 1-0. New York then added six more runs in the second inning, increasing their lead to 7-0.

The Rangers would score their only runs of the game in the third inning, when Robbie Grossman launched a two-run home run; Marcus Semien also scored. This trimmed the score to 7-2.

In the fourth inning, the Mets continued to light up the scoreboard with a two-run home run, extending their lead to 9-2. They would then add another pair of runs in the fifth inning, raising their lead to 11-2.

Another run was scored for the Mets in the sixth inning, bringing the score to 12-2.

After a scoreless seventh inning, the Mets added two more runs in the eighth inning, increasing their lead to 14-2. They then closed out the game in the ninth inning, handing the Rangers a 14-2 loss and taking the lead in the series.

As a team, the Rangers batted 6 for 32 (.188) from the plate. Ezequiel Duran and Grossman led with two hits each, while Corey Seager and David Wendzel recorded one hit each. Grossman and Semien scored one run each.

Jon Gray suffered the loss on the mound. Over three innings, he gave up 11 hits and nine earned run and recorded two strikeouts. Jonathan Hernandez then pitched 2 2/3 innings in relief, surrendering six hits, three earned runs, and one walk, tallying four strikeouts.

Cole Winn pitched two innings, allowing four hits and two earned runs, striking out one batter.

Andrew Knizer, the backup catcher, pitched the final 1 1/3 innings, conceding one hit and one walk.

In the second game, the Rangers suffered a heartbreaking 7-6 loss. Despite holding a 6-2 lead through the first five innings, the Rangers gave up five unanswered runs over the last four innings, losing the game and allowing the Mets to clinch the series win.

The first inning would be scoreless, as both pitchers got off to a strong start. The Mets would take the lead in the second inning with a solo home run, pulling ahead 1-0.

The Rangers answered back in the third inning when Duran scored a run on a sacrifice RBI from Seager, tying the score at 1-1. A scoreless fourth inning followed.

In the top of the fifth inning, the Mets reclaimed the lead with another run, pulling ahead 2-1. The Rangers would answer a strong bottom of the fifth inning.

Duran would score a run on an RBI single by Seager, knotting the score at 2-2. Soon after, Josh Smith launched a three-run home run, where Leody Taveras and Seager also scored, giving the Rangers a 5-2.

Later in the inning, Wyatt Langford hit a solo home run, extending the Rangers’ lead to 6-2.

The Mets would get on the board again with a solo home run in the sixth inning, trimming the score to 6-3. New York scored another run on a fielder’s choice in the seventh inning, reducing the score to 6-4.

The Mets erased their deficit in the eighth inning with a pair of runs, tying the score at 6-6. New York then pulled ahead with another run in the top of the ninth inning, taking a 7-6 lead. The Rangers then failed the score in the bottom of the ninth inning, allowing the Mets to polish off a 7-6 comeback win and clinch the series win.

As a team, the Rangers batted 9 for 35 (.257) from the plate. Duran and Smith led with two hits each, while Jonah Heim, Langford, Nathaniel Lowe, Seager and Taveras all added one hit each.

Duran was the leading scorer with two runs. Langford, Seager, Smith and Taveras all scored one run each.

Michael Lorenzen started the game at pitcher. Over six innings, he recorded three strikeouts, conceding only four hits, three earned runs and one walk.

Jose Leclerc pitched 1/3 of a relief inning, giving up two hits, one earned run, and one walk, recording one strikeout. David Robertson pitched 1/3 innings, striking out three batters while only allowing three hits and two earned runs.

Jacob Latz pitched 1/3 of an inning, conceding a walk. Kirby Yates would suffer the loss in his one inning, giving up the game-deciding run, while also allowing a hit and a walk, and striking out one batter.

For the final game of the series, June 19, the Rangers earned a 5-3 win. After falling behind after five-and-a-half innings, the Rangers would score four unanswered runs to win the game, avoiding a sweep and ending their five-game losing streak.

The Rangers got on the board first in the first inning when, in a bases loaded situation, Grossman scored after Langford was hit by a pitch, giving the Rangers a 1-0 lead. This was followed by scoreless second and third innings.

In the fourth inning, the Mets evened the score at 1-1 with a run of their own. A scoreless fifth inning ensued.

The Mets pulled ahead in the top of the sixth inning with a two-run home run, taking a 3-1 lead. The Rangers answered back with a pair of runs, scored by Grossman and Smith, in the bottom of the sixth inning, tying the score at 3-3.

The Rangers reclaimed their lead in the seventh inning when Taveras launched a two-run home run, where Seager also scored, to put the Rangers ahead 5-3. From there, Texas’ defense managed to preserve the lead, securing a 5-3 win and avoiding a series sweep.

As a team, the Rangers batted 5 for 29 (.172) from the plate. Langford led with two hits, while Grossman, Smith and Taveras added one hit each.

Grossman finished as the leading scorer with two runs. Seager, Smith and Taveras all scored one run each.

Andrew Heaney started the game at pitcher. Over six innings, he tallied nine strikeouts, surrendering just four hits, three earned runs and two walks.

Jose Urena earned the win in his two relief innings, striking out two batters and conceding just one hit. Yates pitched the last inning, a scoreless inning with a strikeout, earning his 11th save of the season.

With these results, the Rangers are now 34-40 on the season.

They resumed action Friday, continuing their home stand with a threegame series against the Kansas City Royals.