The Rangers fall 4-1 to the Royals on June 19, getting swept at home as rookie Jac Caglianone hits two HRs. Can Texas's offense bounce back from this loss?
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
Well, that's one to forget. The brooms were out at Globe Life Field on Thursday as the Kansas City Royals completed a three-game sweep of our Texas Rangers with a frustrating 4-1 loss. On a day where the offense just couldn't get going, a Royals rookie had a career day at the Rangers' expense, leaving fans wondering where the bats went.
Marcus Semien extended his hitting streak to 11 games with an RBI double, the only Texas run and the longest streak by a Ranger in 2025.
The story of this game can be summed up in one name: Jac Caglianone. The Royals rookie picked a tough time to introduce himself, launching his first two career big-league homers against the Rangers. He started with a 387-foot solo shot in the second and added a 439-foot exclamation point in the ninth. The damage started early, though. Vinnie Pasquantino hit a two-run homer in the very first inning off opener Shawn Armstrong, snapping Armstrong's impressive 11-game scoreless streak. Just like that, Texas was in a hole they'd never climb out of.
It wasn't all bad news. In a planned bullpen game, Jacob Latz was an absolute workhorse. The lefty came in and delivered a career-high 5 2/3 innings of stellar relief, giving up just one run and keeping the team in the game. It was a gutsy performance that saved the rest of the bullpen. On the offensive side, the ever-reliable Marcus Semien continued his tear, stretching his hitting streak to 11 games. His RBI double in the sixth inning plated the team's only run. Unfortunately, with Adolis García representing the tying run later that inning, a pop-out ended the only real threat Texas could muster.
A sweep at home always stings, but in baseball, you have to have a short memory. The team gets a chance to wash this bad taste out of their mouths immediately as they welcome the Pittsburgh Pirates to town. And who's taking the mound to set the tone? None other than Jacob deGrom. The Rangers ace (6-2, 2.19 ERA) will make the start a day after celebrating his 37th birthday. There's no better way to stop a skid than by handing the ball to your best pitcher.
This was a tough series, no doubt about it. Getting swept by the Royals at home is a bitter pill to swallow. But the beauty of a long season is that redemption is always just one day away. With Jacob deGrom on the hill against Pittsburgh, it's the perfect opportunity to hit the reset button, find that offensive firepower, and start a new winning streak. Let's see if a little birthday magic from the ace can get the job done.
