{"id":665427,"date":"2026-04-05T23:24:19","date_gmt":"2026-04-05T23:24:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/665427\/"},"modified":"2026-04-05T23:24:19","modified_gmt":"2026-04-05T23:24:19","slug":"rangers-run-into-last-seasons-issues-as-they-fall-to-reds-in-series-sweep","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/665427\/","title":{"rendered":"Rangers Run into Last Season\u2019s Issues as They Fall to Reds in Series Sweep"},"content":{"rendered":"

ARLINGTON, Texas \u2014 It was a throwback weekend for the Texas Rangers<\/a> \u2014 and not in a good way. <\/p>\n

The Rangers<\/a> (4-5) lost to the Cincinnati Reds (6-3), 2-1, on Sunday and were swept for the first time this season. Texas started the season on the road and were 4-1. Now, they\u2019re on a four-game losing streak going into Monday\u2019s opener for a three-game series with the Seattle Mariners. <\/p>\n

Texas<\/a> had one of baseball\u2019s worst offenses last season. After a strong start on the road, the lineup squandered three solid starting pitching performances, scored a combined four runs and their co-closers each lost a tie game in late inning work.<\/p>\n

In other words, the series looked a lot like 2025. <\/p>\n

\u201cI think we were 0-for-5, 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position [on Sunday] and we just couldn\u2019t get that big hit, you know, really all series,\u201d Rangers<\/a> manager Skip Schumaker said. <\/p>\n

The Offense and the Closer<\/p>\n

Joc Pederson\u2019s home run. Very emotional response afterward. First home run last season was on May 10 in Detroit. pic.twitter.com\/zL2nCuDBw9<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Matthew Postins (@PostinsPostcard) April 5, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Joc Pederson ended an 0-for-16 slump with a solo home run that tied the game in the seventh, which came with an emphatic bat toss after the ball cleared the right field fence. He drew a walk in the following inning but was stranded when Evan Carter\u2019s long fly ball to center field didn\u2019t get over the fence. <\/p>\n

For the weekend, Texas was 3-for-18 with runners in scoring position. <\/p>\n

\u201cWe hit some balls hard in this ballpark,\u201d Pederson said. \u201cThey would be hits elsewhere. I mean Evan Carter, that last one he hit, he smoked it to center field. But this is our field and we have to find ways to manufacture runs.\u201d<\/p>\n

Carter\u2019s ball went 405 feet. He needed 410 feet to get over the wall at that part of Globe Life Field. He said after the game he wasn\u2019t expecting it to clear the wall, saying he had never hit a Major League home run to center field. <\/p>\n

\u201cI think the quality of contact is there,\u201d Carter said. \u201cI think it would be unwise for us to change our decision making or our approach because I feel like we\u2019re smoking balls right now.\u201d<\/p>\n

The bullpen had little margin for error with a sputtering offense. But the unit pitched well except for two critical situations. On Friday, Chris Martin surrendered a tie game in the ninth inning. On Sunday, Robert Garcia surrendered a tie game in the eighth, giving up an RBI single to Elly De La Cruz. The designated co-closer don\u2019t have a save yet this season. <\/p>\n

\u201cThe command was just off,\u201d Schumaker said of Garcia. \u201cHe hadn\u2019t pitched in four days. It all happened kind of quick.\u201d<\/p>\n

Just like the offense\u2019s back-slide this weekend. With the Mariners coming to town on Monday, the Rangers need to flip the switch back just as fast. <\/p>\n