Wyatt Langford sets a Rangers rookie HR record, but the offense sputters in a 4-2 loss to the Mariners on June 27. Eovaldi's gem isn't enough to stop the slide.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
It's a frustratingly familiar story for the Texas Rangers right now. A brilliant starting pitching performance, a flash of individual brilliance from a rookie phenom, and ultimately, another loss. The Rangers dropped their fourth straight game on Friday night, falling 4-2 to the division-rival Seattle Mariners, but the story of the night was the widening gap between the team's few bright spots and its collective offensive struggles.
'We have to find a way to get the offense going. The pitching has kept us in games, but we need to string together better at-bats.'
If there's one reason to tune in every night, it's Wyatt Langford. The rookie sensation provided all of the team's offense with a towering two-run homer in the fourth inning, his 14th of the year, which now leads the team. The blast wasn't just another long ball; it was his 8th in June, setting a new franchise record for home runs by a rookie in a single month. Slashing .271/.340/.495, Langford isn't just making a case for AL Rookie of the Year—he's becoming the primary offensive engine for this team.
On the other side of the ball, Nathan Eovaldi was once again superb. He battled through six innings, allowing just two earned runs while striking out five Mariners. The effort lowered his season ERA to a microscopic 1.59. Eovaldi's performance is a testament to the resilience of a starting rotation that has weathered injuries to Jon Gray, Cody Bradford, and others to remain one of the best in the American League. But as has been the case too often lately, it wasn't enough to secure a win.
Outside of Langford's homer and a double from Adolis García, the Rangers' bats were largely silent against Seattle's Logan Gilbert. The team managed just two runs, a number that simply won't cut it when the pitching is performing at such a high level. Manager Bruce Bochy summed up the frustration post-game, stressing the urgency for the lineup to provide support. 'We need to string together better at-bats,' he said, a sentiment echoed by every fan watching the team fall two games below .500.
Now sitting at 40-42 and fourth in the AL West, the Rangers are at a crossroads. The pitching is keeping them competitive and Wyatt Langford is providing historic power, but a four-game losing streak has magnified the team's offensive woes. With the trade deadline looming and a crucial series against a division leader underway, Texas needs to find answers—and fast. The pressure is on to stop the skid in tomorrow's game and prove that this team is more than just a great rotation and a rookie star.
