The Rangers lost to the Mariners 4-3 on Aug 2, 2025, after J.P. Crawford hit a walk-off homer off José Leclerc. Recap the stunning finish and Leiter's gem.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
It was a gut punch. A victory was in sight, a crucial road win against a division rival, only to be ripped away in a flash. The Texas Rangers led the Seattle Mariners 3-2 heading into the bottom of the ninth, but a two-run walk-off home run by J.P. Crawford off closer José Leclerc sealed a devastating 4-3 loss, leaving Rangers fans stunned.
We have to regroup and keep battling. That's a tough way to lose.
The ninth inning felt like a recurring nightmare for the Rangers faithful. With a one-run lead, the ball was handed to José Leclerc to lock down the save. Instead, the closer suffered his fifth blown save of the season in the most painful way possible. After allowing a runner on, Leclerc faced J.P. Crawford, who sent a pitch sailing over the wall, flipping the script and the score in an instant. The walk-off blast not only handed Leclerc the loss but also raised his ERA to a concerning 4.12, leaving major questions about the back end of the bullpen.
The final score overshadows what was otherwise a promising performance. Rookie right-hander Jack Leiter was brilliant, delivering 5.2 strong innings where he allowed just two runs while striking out seven Mariners. Leiter, who now boasts a 3.41 ERA, has been a steadying force in the rotation, notching at least six strikeouts in four straight starts. At the plate, Corey Seager stayed red-hot, launching his 16th home run of the season. The shortstop has been the team's best hitter since the All-Star break, and his offensive production, along with an RBI double from Adolis García, had put Texas in a position to win.
This loss stings more because of the standings. The Rangers (57-54) are now tied with these same Mariners for second place in the AL West. More importantly, they fell to 5.5 games behind the division-leading Houston Astros. With the trade deadline in the rearview mirror, this is the team that will have to make the push. Every game, especially within the division, carries immense weight, and letting one like this slip away is a major missed opportunity.
There's no time to dwell on this one. The Rangers have to flush this painful loss and come back tomorrow ready to even the series. A short memory is a requirement for a playoff contender, and this team's resilience will be tested. They need to find a way to support their starters and, most critically, find a way to close out games. The hunt for October continues, but the margin for error just got a little bit smaller.
