Texas Rangers pitcher MacKenzie Gore pitches the ball during a game against the Cincinnati Reds on April 3 at Globe Life Field. MacKenzie threw nine strikeouts.
The Texas Rangers (4-3) dropped a 5-3 back-and-forth duel against the Cincinnati Reds (4-3) on their home opening day Friday at Globe Life Field.
The Rangers are now 27-28 in home openers, their most recent being a 5-2 loss to the Boston Red Sox. The game marked Globe Life Field’s seventh and pushed the opener record in the ballpark to its fourth loss.
“It was great to see them out there and hear the crowd, and just too bad that we didn’t get the win on our home opening day because, even up to the last out, it felt like everybody was still in the stands, which was pretty sweet,” manager Skip Schumaker said. “We’ll win more than we lose. I’m confident in that.”
Royse City, Texas, resident Robert Ankrum, 74, presents his dog, Buttercup, during the Texas Rangers’ home opener against the Cincinnati Reds on April 3 at Globe Life Field. Ankrum said he brings Buttercup to every home opener, and they attend about 20 games a year together.
The Rangers trailed or kept it even for most of the game, never gaining a lead. A late rally was in sight after some momentum from big hits put runners on base, but they were stranded as the team failed to deliver in clutch moments.
Only two Rangers got more than a single hit throughout the game, while four missed the mark on all of their at bats.
Globe Life Field’s 2026 season debut began with MacKenzie Gore taking the mound for the second time as a Ranger, engulfed by chants off the back of the first pitch. After a quiet first inning, the Reds opened the scoring with a two-run home run. Back-to-back outs in the next at bats stopped the Reds’ scare.
Evan Carter, Texas Rangers center fielder, right, celebrates with Josh Jung, Texas Rangers third baseman, during a game against the Cincinnati Reds on April 3 at Globe Life Field. Carter had one hit.
Gore was pulled after the sixth inning and was relieved by Cole Winn after giving up three runs. Before the call to the bullpen, Gore put up nine of the Rangers’ 11 strikeouts, allowed six hits and no walks during his 88 pitches.
“We were able to make the adjustment of when guys are trying to see balls tonight, stuck some at the bottom and I think we’re mixing all the pitches,” he said. “The two homers; the execution wasn’t great, but the shapes have been good.”
Texas Rangers catcher Danny Jansen swings the bat during a game against the Cincinnati Reds on April 3 at Globe Life Field. Jansen was at bat four times and had one hit.
A single from third baseman Josh Jung and a double from center fielder Evan Carter in the bottom of the second inning allowed the Rangers to get into scoring position, setting up catcher Danny Jansen to send the ball into left field to drive in two runs, tying the game and reigniting a rally.
A three-inning lull ended when shortstop Elly De La Cruz smashed the Reds’ second home run of the day over left field to regain the lead in the sixth inning.
Evan Carter, Texas Rangers center fielder, slides to second base during a game against the Cincinnati Reds on April 3 at Globe Life Field. Carter had one run.
The Rangers fired back with a triple from right fielder Brandon Nimmo, which prepped an RBI for left fielder Wyatt Langford, who doubled off a hit to right field to level the score in the bottom of the seventh inning. Hopes of a Ranger comeback drifted away after another two-run home run by Reds’ catcher Tyler Stephenson, advancing and holding their lead at 5-3.
The Rangers collected eight hits on three earned runs throughout, all on RBIs, but left 12 runners on base and fizzled in the final inning after three consecutive outs.
Dallas residents Brad Hirsch, 47, left, and Charlotte Hirsch, 10, cheer during a game against the Cincinnati Reds on April 3 at Globe Life Field. Hirsch said it was fun to see the new team.
“We just didn’t get the clutch hit, that’s the reality of it,” Schumaker said. “We had guys in scoring position, we had guys up in the right spots we felt good about, just didn’t get that two-out hit or one-out hit.”
The Rangers look to prevent the Reds’ sweep in their first home series, with games at 6:05 p.m. Saturday and 1:35 p.m. Sunday at Globe Life Field.
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