Rangers Collapses Like Sunday’s Will Likely Be The Rule Moving Forward

Despite establishing leads of 7-2 and 10-5, the Texas Rangers still found a way to lose to the Seattle Mariners on Sunday afternoon, 11-10. Unfortunately, this will likely be the norm for this season.  Such is life when a team loses the likes of Yu Darvish and Derek Holland.

The loss of top-flight pitching is one thing, but the inability to lock down the opposition after taking large leads only serves emphasize the lack of pitching depth on this club.

For all the moaning this year about the team’s batting average (.201), that number wasn’t the factor in yesterday’s loss.  No, this one can be placed solely on the pitching.

Starting pitcher Ross Detwiler promptly gave up 2 runs in the first inning on solo shots from Austin Jackson and Nelson Cruz,

The Rangers countered and took their first lead in the third inning.  That rally featured a two-run Jake Smolinski homer that gave the Rangers a 6-2 lead.  Leonys Martin subsequently singled Carlos Corporan home to cap the scoring in the top half of the inning.

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The Mariners then answered in the bottom of the third when Nelson Cruz hit his second home run–a three-run moon ball–that pulled them to within 7-5.  That shot summarily ended Ross Detwiler’s day with a less-than-stellar 2.1 innings pitched and 10.95 game ERA.

The real turning point of the game came when Rangers reliever Tanner Scheppers entered the game in the eighth inning.  Only two days after being activated from the disabled list, Scheppers came in and promptly walked the bases loaded while only recording one out.

Texas Manager Jeff Banister brought in Anthony Bass to stem the tide.  To his credit, the 27-year-old right-hander came in and promptly shut down the Mariners over 3.2 innings.  He posted an impressive line of no runs on three strikeouts and four hits over that span.

The Rangers then scored three more runs in the sixth inning to take a 10-5 lead.  Seattle countered with a run in their half of the seventh when Robinson Cano scored on a Kyle Seager single to make it 10-6.

The real turning point of the game came when Rangers reliever Tanner Scheppers entered the game in the eighth inning.  Only two days after being activated from the disabled list, Scheppers came in and promptly walked the bases loaded while only recording one out.

That disaster left Rangers relievers Keone Kela and Neftali Feliz to clean up the mess.  Kela came in to face Robinson Cano with the bases loaded and walked him.  Logan Morrison trotted in from third base to make it a 10-7 game.

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Jeff Banister then called on Feliz to come in and try to get the two-inning save.  He did get Nelson Cruz to strike out, but then gave up a two-run single to allow the Mariners to creep to within 10-9.  Further damage was prevented, as Dustin Ackley flied out to end the threat.

The Rangers did threaten in the top half of the ninth, but couldn’t not capitalize on a Carlos Corporan walk and Leonys Martin double.

The Rangers would regret not cashing in on that opportunity.  Logan Miller singled to right to start the bottom of the frame, and got moved over to second after a walk to pinch-hitter, Seth Smith.  Austin Jackson then drove Miller home with a single to tie the game.  Jackson’s hit also put Seth Smith on third base.

Jackson took second base on defensive indifference.  After a shallow fly out from Rickie Weeks prevented Seth Smith from attempting the tag up, it was Nelson Cruz’s turn to come in and complete the Rangers meltdown.  He promptly singled to left, thereby allowing Smith to score and seal Texas’s fate.

Fitting that the guy many fans blame for 2011 is the one now doing the damage to his former team.  Nelson Cruz accounted almost half the Mariners offense, and came through in the clutch to win it for his ball club.

Fitting that the snake-bitten Texas Rangers could find a way to score 10 runs, yet snatch defeat from the jaws of victory and their first series win of the season.

It’s probably going to be a long season, Rangers fans.

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• Published on 04/20/2015 at 20:01 PM
• Last updated at 04/20/2015 at 19:17 PM