Rangers swept by Rays 4-3 (June 5, 2025) after Walls' walk-off. Semien's 2 HRs not enough as Texas' offense struggles. Can they rebound vs Nationals?
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
Man, that one stung. Just when we thought the Rangers were about to salvage a game in Tampa, the ninth inning happened. A three-run rally by the Rays, capped by Taylor Walls' walk-off infield single, handed Texas a devastating 4-3 loss on Thursday night and a bitter three-game sweep. It's a tough pill to swallow, especially after Marcus Semien went yard twice.
You've got to put this behind you. Turn the page. This one got away, and there's nothing to do about it.
Thursday night, June 5th, was a rollercoaster of emotions that unfortunately ended at the bottom of the steepest drop. Marcus Semien was on fire, launching two solo shots, and Jake Burger added another to give the Rangers a 3-1 lead heading into the bottom of the ninth. Victory seemed within grasp, but then the Rays mounted their comeback. Three runs later, punctuated by Taylor Walls' two-run walk-off infield single, and the Rangers were walking off the field swept and stunned. It's the kind of loss that sticks with you, but as Manager Bruce Bochy said, they have to move on.
This sweep by the Rays unfortunately wasn't an isolated incident; it's part of a larger, troubling trend for the Rangers' offense. The bats have been ice-cold. We're now into June, and the team batting average is languishing at a paltry .222. That's just not going to cut it. Remember that shutout against the Blue Jays back on May 28? That was our seventh time being blanked this season. The road hasn't been kind either, with eight losses in the past nine away games. Something needs to click, and soon.
Alright, deep breaths everyone. The beauty of baseball is there's (almost) always another game. Tonight, Friday, June 6th, the Rangers (3rd in AL West) open a series against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park. It’s a chance for a fresh start. Patrick Corbin (3-4, 3.71 ERA) gets the ball for us, and he’ll be facing Mike Soroka (2-3, 5.81 ERA) for the Nats. Despite the struggles, we've got guys who can produce. Josh Jung is leading the team with a .267 average, Wyatt Langford has quietly mashed 11 homers, and Adolis García still leads with 27 RBIs. We're averaging 3.4 runs per game and have 61 dingers as a team – the potential is there, we just need to unlock it consistently.
This trip to D.C. feels like a crucial turning point. After a brutal sweep and ongoing offensive struggles, the Rangers desperately need to find some momentum against the Nationals. Let's hope Corbin can set the tone and the bats wake up. Time to turn the page, indeed. Go Rangers!
