J.P. Crawford's walk-off homer gives the Mariners a 4-3 win over the Rangers on Aug 2, 2025. Robert Garcia takes the loss in a stunning ninth-inning collapse.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
Just when it seemed the Texas Rangers were poised to secure a crucial road win, the game was ripped away in a single, heartbreaking swing. A two-run, walk-off home run by Seattle's J.P. Crawford in the bottom of the ninth inning handed the Rangers a devastating 4-3 loss, a painful setback in the tight AL West and Wild Card races.
Closer Robert Garcia surrendered a leadoff single before J.P. Crawford's game-winning blast, dropping his record to 1-6 and handing the Rangers a crushing loss.
The Rangers carried a 3-2 lead into the final frame, turning the ball over to closer Robert Garcia. But the inning unraveled quickly. Dominic Canzone led off with a single, putting the winning run at the plate. Garcia then faced J.P. Crawford, who sent a pitch over the right-field wall for the game-winning home run, leaving the Rangers stunned. It was a tough pill to swallow for Garcia, who was charged with his sixth loss of the season and couldn't lock down what would have been a massive victory.
Earlier in the game, the offense showed exactly what it's capable of. The Rangers put together a fantastic third inning to take a 3-1 lead. The rally was a team effort: Rowdy Tellez doubled to score Joc Pederson, Josh Smith followed with an RBI single to bring Tellez home, and Marcus Semien capped it off with an RBI double of his own. It was a textbook inning of manufacturing runs, but the bats went quiet afterward, unable to add any insurance against Seattle starter Luis Castillo and the Mariners' bullpen.
Despite the gut-punch loss, there's no time to dwell on it. The Rangers have a chance to bounce back immediately in the series finale. All eyes will be on right-hander Merrill Kelly, the prized acquisition who is set to make his Texas debut. Kelly (9-6, 3.22 ERA) will be thrown right into the fire, tasked with salvaging the series against Seattle's ace, Luis Castillo. A strong outing from Kelly could be the perfect antidote to this loss.
Saturday's loss was a brutal one, no doubt about it. But in a playoff race, the most important game is always the next one. With new arm Merrill Kelly on the mound for the rubber match, the Rangers have a chance to wash away the bitter taste of defeat and head home with a critical series win.
