The six-game winning streak ended when the Rangers lost a 2-0 lead, eventually losing the game 5-3.

Jacob Latz, getting the chance to be part of the Rangers rotation because of the injury to Nathan Eovaldi, did his best Eovaldi imitation for five innings, holding the Diamondbacks scoreless. But walks were his undoing in the sixth, and walks usually are. After getting the first man out, Latz’s command eluded him. Bruce Bochy replaced Latz with Luis Curvelo, who gave up the lead in two batters, with a single and a sac fly that featured one of the worst throws home, from Michael Helman, seemingly closer to Rowdy Tellez at first than to Jonah Heim at home. The ball wasn’t hit deep, and a good throw would have nailed the runner at home. Helman’s throw would have nailed the runner halfway to first, if that was a baseball thing. But it’s not.

The next inning, tied 2-2, Hoby Milner, who is usually as reliable as a 100-degree day in the summer in Texas, rained on the Rangers parade by giving up a single, another single, then a home run. And just like that, the Rangers were down 5-2. They scored a run in the top of the ninth to make it 5-3, but that wasn’t enough.

It was a night in which both Houston and Seattle lost, and Texas couldn’t take advantage. The Rangers supply of games in which to make up ground is dwindling, with only twenty-two remaining. Six against Houston. None against Seattle.

They just have to keep finding ways to win.

*****