Rangers starter Andrew Cashner was dealing for five innings until Baltimore finally broke through for a run in the sixth, then two in the seventh. He pitched well enough for the win.

Ten runs, twenty-two hits.

For a lot of teams, that’s a good game’s worth of work.

For the Rangers, that’s the sum total of their offense for the first four games of the second half.

Which is a shame, because the Rangers starting pitching those first four games has been very good.

They have wasted some really strong efforts.

Martin Perez gave up just three runs in 7.1 innings. Cole Hamels followed that up with a brilliant 7.2 shutout innings. Yu Darvish threw 6.2 innings, allowing two earned, and Andrew Cashner went 6.2, giving up three.

Rangers starters have a collective ERA of 2.57 after the break. Toss in the bullpen, and it’s 2.34.

After last night’s anemic three-hit performance, the Rangers offense is hitting .177 in the second half.

That is exactly why they are 2-2 after the break.

And it’s exactly why they continue to spin their wheels. Because, as it’s been the entire season, the minute the offense kicks in, the pitching will disappear. If it’s not one thing, it’s another.

Offense, defense, rotation, bullpen. Pick one, maybe two. You’re rarely getting all four.

And that’s exactly why the Rangers are holding steady at two games under .500 for the year. This is the team they are.

*****
TODAY’S GAME:

Tyson Ross (2-1, 5.33) vs. Dylan Bundy (8-8, 4.33)
Game time: 6:05

How the Rangers hit against Bundy.
How the Orioles hit against Ross.