Paul Goldschmidt's late homer led the Yankees past the Texas Rangers 3-2 on Aug 6, 2025, snapping their streak despite Ezequiel Duran's 3-hit night.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
All good things must come to an end. The Texas Rangers' eight-game winning streak at Globe Life Field was snapped Wednesday night in a nail-biting 3-2 loss to the New York Yankees. A lone pinch-hit home run from veteran Paul Goldschmidt in the seventh inning proved to be the difference, spoiling a brilliant individual effort from Ezequiel Duran and leaving Texas to lament a golden opportunity with the bases loaded.
Ezequiel Duran, batting ninth, went 3-for-3 and scored both of Texas' runs in the 3-2 loss.
The game turned entirely in the seventh inning. First, lefty reliever Robert Garcia, who has struggled with the long ball recently, served up a go-ahead solo shot to pinch-hitter Paul Goldschmidt. It was the third straight appearance Garcia has allowed a homer, and this one gave him the loss. The Rangers' offense then mounted the perfect response, loading the bases with two outs for one of their most clutch hitters, Adolis García. But in a moment that defined the game, García grounded out, stranding three runners and ending the team's best threat of the night. It was a classic case of 'so close, yet so far.'
While the offense as a whole struggled to string hits together, Ezequiel Duran was a one-man wrecking crew from the nine-hole. Duran was perfect at the plate, going 3-for-3 and accounting for both Rangers runs. He singled and scored on a Sam Haggerty base hit in the third, then doubled and came home on a Marcus Semien sacrifice fly in the fifth. In a game decided by the thinnest of margins, Duran's performance was a massive bright spot and a reminder of the depth this lineup possesses.
Rookie starter Jack Leiter's development continued with another learning experience on the mound. While he only allowed one earned run, his command wasn't sharp. Leiter lasted just 3.1 innings, issuing four walks that drove his pitch count up and led to an early exit. He showed flashes of his top-prospect stuff with three strikeouts, but his inability to work deep into the game put pressure on a bullpen that ultimately bent just enough to break. Finding that consistency will be the next step in Leiter's promising career.
Losing a tight one to a rival like the Yankees always stings, and seeing an eight-game home winning streak come to an end is tough. But at 60-56, the Rangers are still right in the thick of the AL West hunt. The key now is to shake off this loss, come back tomorrow with a short memory, and find a way to solve New York's pitching. This team has shown its resilience all year; it's time to start a new streak.
