Rangers fall to Orioles 10-8 on July 1, 2025, in an 11-inning heartbreaker. A gem from Jacob deGrom and heroics by Corey Seager are wasted by a bullpen collapse.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
It was a night that had everything: a vintage performance from an ace, clutch hitting, and late-game drama. Unfortunately for the Texas Rangers and their fans, it ended in the most familiar and frustrating way possible. A back-and-forth battle against the Baltimore Orioles ended in a 10-8 loss in 11 innings, spoiling a heroic effort and spotlighting the team's most glaring weakness.
'We have to find a way to finish games. The guys are battling, but we need to execute better in those late innings.' - Manager Bruce Bochy
Jacob deGrom was every bit the ace the Rangers needed him to be on Tuesday. Facing a potent Orioles lineup, deGrom was dialed in, carving his way through 6.2 innings of work. He scattered seven hits and allowed three runs, but his eight strikeouts and command kept Texas in the fight all night. He left with the game tied, having delivered yet another quality start and keeping his ERA at a sparkling 2.18. It was the kind of performance that should anchor a victory, but once again, a deGrom gem was left in the hands of a shaky bullpen.
The offense certainly did its part to back up their ace. Corey Seager was on fire, going 3-for-5 with a towering home run and 3 RBIs that kept the Rangers neck-and-neck with Baltimore. When the team needed a hero in the 7th, Adolis García delivered, lacing a clutch two-run double to tie the game and send Globe Life Field into a frenzy. It was a gutsy, resilient performance at the plate, a sign that this team, as García posted later, is 'never out of the fight.'
For all the good that happened in the first nine innings, the story of the game was written in extras. The Rangers bullpen, a source of anxiety all season, faltered when it mattered most. After both teams traded runs in the 10th, the Orioles broke the 8-8 deadlock in the 11th when Gunnar Henderson launched a two-run homer off Yerry García. It was a gut punch, marking the 9th time this season the bullpen has blown a lead after the starter exited in line for a win. Manager Bruce Bochy's postgame frustration was palpable, and it's a sentiment shared by every fan watching.
While the big league club dealt with heartbreak, there were some positive signs down on the farm. In Round Rock, top prospect Wyatt Langford continued to swing a hot bat, going 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI in the Express's narrow 5-4 loss. On the mound, Jack Leiter showed his potential, striking out seven batters over five innings. These glimpses of the future provide a silver lining on an otherwise tough night for the organization.
This one stings, there's no way around it. A brilliant start from your ace and a resilient offensive performance should equal a win. But the recurring nightmare from the bullpen continues to haunt this team. With the club now at 41-44, the front office has some serious soul-searching to do. Do they make a move for a lockdown reliever before the deadline, or do they trust the current group to figure it out? One thing is certain: they can't afford many more losses like this one if they want to see October.
