All the demons came out to haunt the Rangers last night. Their inability to hit with runners in scoring position. Their penchant for striking out. Their lack of a closer.

The trifecta of frustration.

The Rangers were 2-for-13 with runners in scoring position. They loaded the bases in the first against Framber Valdez and could score only on a wild pitch. They let him off the hook.

The first hit they had with runners in scoring position was a solid single to left in which, for some mysterious reason, Corey Seager didn’t score from second. 

In the top of the eleventh, they got their second hit with runners in scoring position to take a 4-3 lead. But with Adolis Garcia at second, they couldn’t score him.

Instead, they struck out. A total of nineteen times. That’s embarrassing.

And, with a one-run lead in the eleventh, they don’t have the closer to shut down the Astros. Instead, Robert Garcia walks the first two batters to load the bases and put the Rangers lead in danger. 

Two batters later, they lost the game.

That was the Rangers 2025 season in a nutshell. Just not good enough.

*****