The Orioles tried. Give them credit for that, and a mountain of gratitude.

They tried to help the Rangers score more than their customary one run.

They tried to help them out of their season-long offensive slump.

They tried to let the Rangers mount a rare comeback when trailing after six innings.

They tried. But the Rangers are so inept, they couldn’t do it.

In the top of the seventh, the Orioles took out their dominating starter and decided to give the Rangers. They couldn’t hit starter Albert Suarez, so how about Yennier Cano?

The first Rangers batter was Adolis García. Cano threw him five pitches that were nowhere near the strike zone. The first one was called a strike. The umpire didn’t realize at the time that the Orioles were trying to help out the Rangers.

So, with Garcia at first, it was Wyatt Langford’s turn. He got four pitches that missed the strike by half a foot. Runner now on first and second. It was the only rally the Rangers had mustered to this point, and they didn’t put a bat on the ball.

Now it was up to Nathaniel Lowe. His first two pitches were even further out of the strike zone. Finally, after eleven straight misses, the Orioles reliever threw a strike. Lowe, as he should have, let it go by. It was the next pitch he swung out. Which was four inches high and out of the strike zone. It was a fastball, though, which Lowe cannot hit. He fouled the fifth pitch. And the sixth pitch, which should have been ball four, was another fastball. Lowe hasn’t met a high fastball he can’t swing and miss at, and he did it here, too.

Now, there was one out and two on.

Travis Jankowski takes the first two pitches. They are way out of the strike zone. But he gets one to hit and singles meekly to the outfield. Not nearly far enough to score a run, but it does load the bases.

So, the Orioles say enough of this gift giving. They change pitchers. The Rangers have the worst hitter in Major League Baseball due up in Andrew Knizner, he with his .125 batting average and even more embarrassing .308 OPS. So, Bruce Boche pinch hits Jonah Heim.

Of course, Heim strikes out.

Now, with two outs, it’s all up to Leody Taveras. Anytime any game is all up to Leody Taveras, you know you are in trouble. With bases loaded, the take the first three pitches far outside. It’s 3-0. Then 3-1. Then 3-2. But, somehow, Taveras draws a walk.

The Rangers score their run.

Marcus Semien, mired in a month-long slump, grounds out weakly to third and with that, the Rangers rally died.

The Orioles tried. They tried to help the Rangers out of their slump.

Thanks for the gesture, Baltimore. The Rangers just could not do it.

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